Seminary mourns passing of
President Emeritus Dr. Landrum P. Leavell II

WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Dr. Landrum P. Leavell II, President Emeritus at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, age 81, died Sept. 26, 2008 in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Born in Ripley, Tenn., Nov. 26, 1926, Leavell was raised in Newnan, Ga., where his father, Dr. Leonard O. Leavell, served as pastor of the First Baptist Church. On July 28, 1953 he married JoAnn Paris of New Orleans, a graduate of Sophie Newcomb College. He went on to become the President of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and one of the most influential Southern Baptist leaders of his generation. Read More...

The funeral will be at First Baptist Church, Wichita Falls, Texas at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30 with visitation to follow in the church’s parlor. Interment will be Friday, Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery in Newnan, Ga.. A memorial service will be held in New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary's Roland Q. Leavell Chapel Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 11 a.m.

A Celebration of Greatness: Remembering Dr. Landrum Leavell

By Dr. Chuck Kelley
President, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

In the summer of 1975, my wife and I were finishing college and preparing for a move to seminary. Our decision was mostly made, or so we thought. After a day of fasting and prayer to finalize what would be one of the more important decisions of my life, I found myself certain that I should not go to that school with a great evangelism program, in the city where my wife had just gotten her dream job, in a state where I was already known and preaching revivals widely. Instead I knew quite clearly that God wanted me to go to a seminary without an evangelism program, in city where Baptists were few in number and neither my wife nor I had a job, and a state in which no one had any idea who I was or had ever called on me to lead in silent prayer. What did God use to redirect my thinking? He showed me that He intended to use living in the city of New Orleans as my primary classroom for evangelism, and He convinced me that a seminary led by its new President, an outstanding SBC pastor named Landrum P. Leavell II, was bound for great things. The reputation of Dr. Leavell was an important influence in my seminary decision. The reality of his greatness as a leader became an important influence in shaping my life. Read More...

Watch Memorial Service to Dr. Leavell

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Tributes to Dr. Leavell

Special memories, stories, tributes, and photos shared by the seminary family can be found here.

Memorials Gifts

Memorials gifts are requested to be given to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and First Baptist Church, Wichita Falls, Texas.

Click here if you would like to make a gift in memory of Dr. Leavell to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Please be sure to designate that the gift is in memory of Dr. Landrum Leavell when you make your gift.

Page Last Edited 09/28/2008 9:45pm