Rev. Eugene Benjamin Hager

Rev. Eugene Benjamin Hager
Rev. Hager, 76, of 154 Shumaker Drive, Statesville, died Wednesday, April 20, 2005 at his home following a lengthy illness. Born in Mecklenburg County on June 13, 1928, he was a son of the late Eugene D. Hager and Hattie Price Hager.
He was the retired Director of Missions for the Southern Baptist Convention. Rev. Hager graduated from Mars Hill College with an A.A., Wake Forest University with a B.A. and Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY with his Master of Divinity. While a student at Mars Hill, he was a member of the Mars Hill Touring Choir. During his career he served as Pastor of Garners Chapel, Jones Chapel, Alum Springs Baptist Churches in Duplin County, NC, Johnsons-New Hope Baptist Churches in Warsaw, NC, Director of Missions for the Eastern Baptist Association in Duplin and Sampson Counties, Director of Missions in the Neuse Baptist Association in Wayne, Lenoir and Greene Counties and Director of Missions for the South Yadkin Baptist Association in Iredell and Davie Counties. He retired July 1, 1993 after 6 years as a pastor and 34 years as a Director of Missions. He taught several classes in Old and New Testament at the Wayne Community College in Goldsboro. He went on a mission/fact finding trip to Brazil to establish a partnership with the South Yadkin Baptist Association.
Survivors include his wife, the former Lou Bagwell, whom he married on August 24, 1951; three sons, Michael Hager and his wife, Ann, of High Point, David Hager of Statesville and Mark Hager and his wife, Debbie, of Mocksville; one daughter, Mrs. Linda Perez and her husband, Richard, of Sarasota, FL; and one sister, Mrs. Peggy Eldridge and her husband, Eddie, of Boone, N.C. Also surviving are grandchildren, Daniel and Caroline Hager of High Point, Laura Perez of Sarasota, FL, Sarah Hager of Washington State and Jennie-Rae and Tara Hager, both of Mocksville.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 PM Sunday at First Baptist Church of Statesville with Dr. Jeff Porter, Rev. Jack Bagwell and Rev. Bobby Stafford officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in Adams Hall of the church. Burial will then follow in the First Baptist Church of Huntersville Cemetery. The family will be assembled at the residence and Rev. Hager will remain at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home for viewing until 1:30 Sunday afternoon. Active pallbearers will be David Gilbreath, Keith Norris, Orville Burwell, Charles Neill, Jr., Rusty Chapman and Julio Perez. Honorary pallbearers will be Max Howie, Cecil Herrin, J.T. Holland and former Sunday school class members of Fairview Baptist Church taught by Rev. Hager and current Sunday school class members of the Pioneer Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church, where he was a teacher and member.
Condolences may be sent on-line to the family at www.legacy.com. Memorials may be given to Hospice of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Rd., Statesville, NC 28625; the Mission Fund of First Baptist Church, 815 Davie Ave., Statesville, NC 28677; or the the Gideons International, P.O. Box 148, Statesville, N.C. 28687.
Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home of Statesville is entrusted with the arrangements.