Aug. 4, 2009 | By Staff
NEW ORLEANS -- Retia Dukes, long-time New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary employee and professor’s wife, passed away Aug. 3, in New Orleans.
A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m., Aug. 5, at Leavell Chapel on the NOBTS campus. Visitation with the family is scheduled for 10 a.m. until time of service.
“People don’t come more precious than Retia Dukes,” said NOBTS President Chuck Kelley. “She served the seminary in many ways. Her greatest service, however, was as a living illustration of the kindness, gentleness, and graciousness of God. All of us who had the privilege of knowing her will miss her greatly.”
Earlier this year, Dukes, 68, and husband Jimmy, were struck by a vehicle as they crossed Gentilly Boulevard near the seminary’s main campus in New Orleans. Retia Dukes died of complications related to injuries suffered in the April 4 accident. Mrs. Dukes had been making progress in recent weeks, but her condition worsened over the weekend.
Retia and Jimmy Dukes have served the seminary in many capacities over the years. Jimmy Dukes, professor of New Testament and Greek since 1984, serves as the director of theological education/distance learning for the Florida Baptist Convention. In an arrangement with the FBC, he also serves as associate dean of the seminary’s Florida extension centers and director of the NOBTS Orlando hub.
Retia Dukes, a native of Vardaman, Miss., served in a variety of roles at the seminary, including secretary to the late seminary President Landrum P. Leavell, II, administrative assistant to the Vice President for Development and Administrative Assistant at the seminary’s North Georgia campus in suburban Atlanta.
Along with her husband, she is survived by her sons, Erik Dukes, a physician in Booneville, Miss., and Jason Dukes, co-pastor of Westpoint Fellowship Church in Windermere, Fla.
“Jimmy and Retia Dukes have been backbones of this institution for many years, as well as personal friends. We watched their sons grow up and become outstanding young men. It is a family all Southern Baptists would take to their heart,” Kelley said. “I hope all will join us in praying for their comfort in a hard loss today that will become a great joy in their reunion at the feet of Jesus.”
A second memorial service for Retia Dukes will be held Aug. 18, at First Baptist Church Sweetwater in Apopka, Fla. The service is scheduled for 3 p.m., visitation with the Dukes family will begin at 1:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Jimmy and Retia Dukes Recovery Fund c/o NOBTS, 3939 Gentilly Boulevard, New Orleans, La., 70126, or on the NOBTS web site at www.nobts.edu.
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