Jack Milton Loflin

1934 - 2017

Jack Milton Loflin

Star

Jack Milton Loflin, 82, was a visionary servant-leader of God, passionate and persistent, through over fifty years of ordained ministry with people and communities throughout the state of Mississippi. He understood and taught adaptive organizational process for decades before such thinking became common, seeking to lead congregations and groups of people beyond dualistic, win-lose scenarios toward models of discernment and consensus.

His love of Nature, in all forms, was an extension of his love of God. He loved to hike, camp, canoe, and grow crops; and he loved to share these experiences with others. He was a devoted steward of the land his father had farmed and his greatest desire was to pass that gift along to his children and their children.

Until the end of his life, Jack had an amazing gift for remembering the name of every person he met. His ministry was deeply relational and always about partnership. The legacy of his influence continues to ripple throughout the United Methodist connection in the lives and witness of laity and clergy alike.

Jack was born to the late Milton Howard and Tina Hilton Loflin, in Star, MS on July 10, 1934. Immersed from an early age in the Christian community that would be his lifelong support, he graduated from Florence High School in 1952, Millsaps College in 1956, and received a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt University in 1959. An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, Jack served as senior pastor at Bude, First Columbia, Broadmeadow in Jackson, and Central in Meridian. He also spent many years of his ministry in service to the United Methodist "connection" as Mississippi Conference Youth Director, Brookhaven District Superintendent, and Conference Council on Ministries Director.

Jack is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jo Nall Loflin; daughters, Vicki Loflin Johnson (Roger) of Longview, TX, Anne Loflin McDonald of Jackson, MS, and Lynn Loflin Brooks (Rick) of Ocean Springs, MS; grandchildren, Martha Wilson (Nic), Will Gary (Trisha), Catherine Brooks, Anna Claire Gary, Savannah McDonald, John Wesley Brooks, and Jaclyn McDonald;great grandchild, Sorcha Rose Gary, brother, Jan Loflin (Cora), and sisters, Patsy Phillips (Henry) and Jenny Walker (Roland).

A service of remembrance and celebration is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 13 at Wesleyanna United Methodist Church, Hwy 49 S, Star, MS. Visitation will be on Wednesday, April 12 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the church and beginning at 9:30 a.m. Thursday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent through Wesleyanna United Methodist Church, PO Box 13, Star, MS, 39167.