Walton Eugene "Gene" Stokes

Walton Eugene "Gene" Stokes—known to many as Bro. Gene or Preacher, and to his favorite people as PawPaw—went home to Heaven peacefully from his earthly home in Fortson, Georgia, on July 11, surrounded by the family he loved so dearly. He was 81 years old.

Born on November 27, 1943, in Pensacola, Florida, Bro. Gene dedicated his life to serving the Lord, loving his family, and bringing joy to everyone he met—often through his unforgettable sense of humor and his legendary lack of a filter. You never quite knew what Bro. Gene would say next, especially in the pulpit, which kept everyone on their toes—but that was part of what made him Preacher.

He married Faye Nall on August 5, 1965. Later, they moved to Texas where he attended and graduated from Arlington Baptist Seminary. In 1975, he moved to Century, Florida, where a year later he planted Faith Bible Baptist Church. He faithfully pastored there for 30 years until retiring in 2007 due to health issues. Though he eventually moved away, his heart never left Century. Even after moving to Georgia, he remained deeply connected to the people he ministered to in Century—visiting them as often as he could, faithfully calling them, praying for them, and continuing to love them as his own.

In 2008, Bro. Gene and Mrs. Faye relocated to Fortson, Georgia, to be near their children and grandchildren. They joined Maranatha Baptist Church in Columbus, where Bro. Gene found great joy and fellowship as a member of the Senior Saints Sunday School class.

A butcher by trade and a preacher by calling, Bro. Gene was a man who enjoyed the simple things in life. He loved hunting with his beloved beagles, fishing for mullet (and frying and eating them afterward), sitting by the water at Fort Morgan, building campfires, and watching deer from his bedroom window.

Some of his family’s fondest memories were made at Fort Morgan, Alabama, where he loved nothing more than packing his entire extended family—25 or so of them—into a single beach house for a week of chaos, laughter, and love.

One of Bro. Gene’s greatest joys was seeing several men, including his son Cliff and son-in-law Mark, surrender their lives to preach the gospel under his ministry. He was incredibly proud of his “preacher boys,” and he continued to encourage and support them long after they left his church. Their ongoing ministries stand as a living testimony to his influence and faithfulness.

Bro. Gene had a deep love and admiration for Christian missionaries, and he regarded them as royalty. He believed the whole world should hear about Jesus and personally supported several missionaries with faithful monthly offerings. He was passionate about taking the gospel far beyond the walls of the church, and his support for missions was one of the great joys of his life.

In the final days of his life, as word spread that Bro. Gene's time was drawing near, comments and messages began pouring in from all over—testimonies of lives changed by his preaching, his prayers, his visits, and his laughter. His legacy lives on in the countless hearts he touched with the gospel and with his love.

He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, Faye Nall Stokes of Fortson, GA; daughter Tracy Brown (Mark) of Clarksville, TN; son Cliff Stokes (Beth) of Fortson, GA; eight grandchildren: Jessica Newman (Zach), Troy Brown (Brittany), Kelli Farmer (Josh), BriAnn, Hayden, Nate, Levi, and Ellie Grace Stokes; and eleven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Clara Jean Stewart, brother Calvin Stokes, and many loving in-laws, nieces, nephews, and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his infant son, Paul Howard Stokes in 1980; his parents, Clifford and Lulean Stokes; his sister Beverly Saucier; his brother JW Stokes; and several cherished in-laws and other relatives.

Bro. Gene spent his life telling everyone—family, friends, and even strangers—about the redeeming love of Jesus Christ. In his final days, though very weak, when asked how he knew he was going to Heaven, he raised his hand triumphantly and hollered out joyfully, “I’m redeemed!” That was his message to the world: God loves you, and He gave His Son Jesus to redeem you. Bro. Gene wanted everyone to know that salvation is found not in what we do, but in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. His prayer would be that you too would be able to shout, “I’m redeemed!” If you would like to know more about how you, too, can be redeemed, please reach out to the family. Nothing would make Bro. Gene happier than knowing someone entrusted their eternal soul to Jesus.

There will be a memorial service at Maranatha Baptist Church in Columbus, GA, on Sunday, July 20, at 5:30 PM ET officiated by Bro. Gene’s grandson Pastor Troy Brown. The family will receive friends on Monday, July 21 from 5:00-8:00 CT at Faith Bible Baptist Church in Century, FL. We will celebrate his life on Tuesday, July 22 at 10:00 AM CT, also at Faith Bible Baptist Church officiated by his son-in-law Mark Brown. Burial will follow at Pensacola Memorial Gardens in Pensacola. Pallbearers will be his grandsons Troy Brown, Hayden Stokes, Nate Stokes, Levi Stokes, Zach Newman, and Josh Farmer. Honorary pallbearers will be Bro. Gene’s preacher boys.

The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Andrew Pippas, the staff at the John B. Amos Cancer Center, and Columbus Hospice for their compassionate and dedicated care.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.