Dr. Dan H. Coker Sr.

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at 10:30 AM, at First Baptist Church of Picayune Chapel, and also on March 21, 2026, at 10:00 AM, at Love Baptist Church, Phoenix, AZ, and at a later date in Seaside, CA, for Dr. Dan H. Coker, age 82, of Picayune, MS, who passed away Saturday, January 31, 2026.

Arrangements are under the direction of McDonald Funeral Home.

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on May 18, 1943, Dan attended high school at North Little Rock High School, where he graduated in 1961. He began his college education at Arkansas State Teachers College, Conway, AR. After receiving the call to ministry, he transferred to Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR, where he graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in Religion in 1965. Dan then attended Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (now Gateway Seminary) in Mill Valley, CA, where he graduated with his Master of Divinity in 1969, and then his Doctor of Ministry in 1978.

While at Ouachita Baptist University, he began his pastoral ministry at Dalark Baptist Church, Dalark, AR, where he was ordained on November 4, 1962. Other churches that he served as Pastor included, First Baptist Church, Kingsland, AR, Pittsburg Baptist Church, Pittsburg, CA, and Evergreen Mission of Alum Rock Baptist Church, San Jose, CA. In April 1969, Dan was called to serve as Pastor at Nineteenth Avenue Baptist Church, San Francisco, CA. During this time he worked alongside Pastor Henry Mu and Pastor Raymond Ozasa in forming one of the first multi-ethnic, multiple-congregation churches in the United States in the late 1960's. Other churches where he served were, Sierra Heights, Fresno, CA, First Southern Baptist Church of the Monterey Peninsula (now Lighthouse Baptist Church), Seaside, CA, Love Baptist Church, Phoenix, AZ, First Southern Baptist of Tuscon, AZ, First Southern Baptist Church, Black Canyon City, AZ, First Southern Baptist Church, Buckeye, AZ. After retiring in 2012, he returned to Love Baptist Church in Phoenix, AZ as Pastor of Care and Support from 2020 until 2022.

Other ministry included, Director of Missions for Peninsula Southern Baptist Association, San Francisco, CA; Associate Executive Director for the Baptist Foundation, Fresno, CA; Executive Board Member, California Southern Baptist Convention; First Vice President, Arizona Southern Baptist Convention; President, Arizona Southern Baptist Convention; Interim Director, Golden Gate Theological Seminary-Arizona Campus; and Trustee, GuideStone Financial Resources, Dallas TX.

Dan was involved in the development of the Theological Field Education (TFE) class at the Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. Roles during this time included, first Peer Group Leaders for on-campus classes, Field Mentor and Spiritual Mentor for GGBTS students from 1983 - 1998, and TFE Coordinating Professor for the Arizona Regional Campus from 2001 - 2015.

Dan received several awards throughout his ministry career, including: Who's Who in Religion in America, Outstanding Young Men in America, Mayor's Commendation Award for 15 years of ministry and service to church and community, Seaside, CA, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary Alumni Achievement Award (2003), and as a recognition of 24 years of faithful service at Love Baptist Church, Phoenix, AZ, he was named, Pastor Emeritus.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harrell Rector Coker and Eathel Mae Herring Coker; his son, Danny Hal Coker, Jr.; his brother, Vernon Harrell Coker; his sister, Norma Kathryn Carpenter; and his brother-in-laws, W.C. Carpenter, Jr. and Charles Danny Fiser, Sr.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Jacquelyn Spence Coker; his daughter, Rebecca (Timothy) Kay Lane; his son, William (Aleshia) Asa Whitson Coker; his 5 grandchildren, Emily Rose Lane, Aaron Gray Lane, Matthew Glenn Lane, Savannah Mae Coker, and Madison Jean Coker; his sister, Wilma Joyce Fiser; his sister-in-law, Maxine Phillips Coker; and his numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Dan's hobbies included, bicycling, hiking, chess, reading, and fishing.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the IMB Lottie Moon Christmas Offering at: 3806 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA 23230, or at: www.imb.org/generosity/lottie-moon-christmas-offering