Michael Andrew Campbell

August 13, 1959 - July 13, 2015 Mike Campbell died on Monday, July 13, 2015, as the result of an automobile accident. He was born in Fort Pierce, Florida, on August 13, 1959, and is survived by his wife, Charlene B. Campbell, and four children: Lauren Campbell van der Bijl; Robert Andrew Campbell, MD; Taylor Michael Campbell; and Katie Campbell Gardner. He was blessed with two grandchildren, Jeremiah and Beatrix van der Bijl. Mike was the son of Howard Harris Campbell and the late Helen Richards Campbell, and is also survived by his sister, Deborah L. Campbell, MD, and stepmother, Nita Campbell. Mike was an orthodontist in Mobile, Alabama, where he had practiced since 1986. He was an Eagle Scout at Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, from which he graduated in 1977. He continued to excel academically at the University of South Alabama, graduating magna cum laude in 1980, and the University of Alabama School of Dentistry in 1986. He diversifiedhis graduate education by completing a Master of Biblical Studies by extension from the Birmingham Theological Seminary in 1998. But privileged as they were, Mike was not defined by his academic and professional accomplishments. His family and his faith were the center of his life. Mike met the love of his life, Charlene, at South Alabama; and they enjoyed 33 years together, serving the Lord and raising a loving family. That family expanded significantly in the past several years with their move to Trinity Gardens, an under-resourced neighborhood in Mobile. Both before and after the move, Mike was animated by his favorite verse, "What does the Lord require of you To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8, NIV). The move "was the culmination of 12 or more years of regular involvement in the community. Learning about people. Loving people in their situation. Crying with them in their struggles. Helping them when possible." While Charlene was able to make the neighborhood her spiritual home for those years, it was not until the fall of 2013 that Mike was able to join her in their leap of faith. They sold their historic home on Government Street in Mobile, where they had raised their family. Joined by their beloved rescue hounds, Toby, Sadie and Mollie, Mike and Charlene moved into the Trinity Gardens neighborhood. "It is time to cross the tracks, cross the city, cross into another zip code, cross the church aisle, or perhaps cross the room to befriend someone different than ourselves," Mike wrote on his blog. "To love them, to listen to them, and to learn from them." Ever the builder, tinkerer and technophile, Mike took as much pleasure in designing, overseeing and swinging a hammer at their new home in their new community as he took delight in living with, meeting and sharing his faith and family with his new neighbors. To learn from Mike in his own words, visit his blog at https://trinitygardensmobile.wordpress.com/. Mike's life was defined by grace, and he used his gifts particularly to help others with numerous projects both large and small. We are confident that Jesus welcomed him with these words from Matthew 25:21, "'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'" He has reached his heavenly home, and knows true and utter peace with God now. A funeral service will take place at 4 o'clock on July 18, 2015, at Mount Hebron Church, 2531 Berkley Ave, Mobile, AL 36617. In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family would appreciate your donation to Trinity Family Ministries, 2467 Victory Ave, Mobile, AL 36617, http://trinityfam.org/.