Pastor and educator L.J. Hatcher dies at 95
Lawrence James ‘L.J.’ Hatcher died May 28, 2026. He was 95.
He was born Dec. 31, 1930, and grew up in McEwen. L.J. was the son of Charlie P. (C.P.) Hatcher and Effie Greenwell Hatcher.
He graduated from Austin Peay State University in 1954 and from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1959.
L.J. became a Christian at age 13 and joined Oak Grove Baptist Church. He surrendered to preach in 1951 and was ordained by Oak Grove.
He married Ethel Sisk on Dec. 20, 1952. They were married for 67 years.
L.J. loved the Lord, his family, teaching and sports. He also enjoyed traveling.
L.J. had a heart for missions and traveled to Jamaica, Texas, Tennessee, Wyoming, Ohio, New Mexico, American Samoa and Hawaii, usually serving as a bivocational pastor. This allowed him to work as a teacher, coach and guidance counselor to high school students.
He was a 55-plus-year member of McEwen Lodge No. 525 and a 50-year member of Royal Chapter No. 213, Order of the Eastern Star, in Erin, Tenn.
L.J. is survived by three daughters, Amy Jackson (Dennis), Lynn Mansfield (Tom) and Kathy McCubbin (Rex); two grandchildren, Denise Jackson and Jessica Edwards; and three great-grandchildren, Keith Lucero (Katherine), Daemon Stevenson and Alice Samuels, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Along with his parents, L.J. was preceded in death by his wife, Ethel Sisk; a brother, Howard C. Hatcher; and sisters Estelle Clevenger and Glennis Thompson. B&R
Books
Union University Press has published a new book featuring sermons on stories from the Old Testament, drawn from select Union chapel services during the spring semester of 2025.
Edited by Ray Van Neste and Justin Wainscott, “Great Stories of the Old Testament” includes sermons from Mark Catlin, Dub Oliver, John Oswalt, Andy Pettigrew, Eric Smith, Van Neste, and Wainscott.
Van Neste and Wainscott note that while the great stories of the Old Testament have long played a central role in Christian discipleship and formation, declining biblical literacy has made these stories increasingly unfamiliar. The book is available for purchase on Amazon.
Events
First Baptist Church in Lexington recently hosted an Oasis senior adult event for West Tennessee featuring Allisen Speer, Frank Jones, and comedian Dennis Swanberg. The Oasis event, led by Frank Jones ministry, travels throughout the country, encouraging senior adults to engage or re-engage in the life of the church. First Baptist Lexington hosted this event for West Tennessee.
New Bethlehem Baptist Church, Dyer, celebrated 175 years Sunday, May 17. Andy Milam, Gibson Baptist Association AMS, left, presented a plaque to pastor John Coleman who has served the church since 2000. Coleman and his wife Denise also dressed in their “historical” Sunday best.