Delbert Ray Young Jr.

Delbert Ray Young, Jr., age 77, passed away on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Delbert was born on September 18, 1948, in Miami, Florida. His parents, Delbert Ray Young, Sr. and Rennie Wallace Young, sister Carol Young Smith, and sister-in-law Brenda Ballard each preceded him in death. Delbert married the love of his life, Judy Phillips, in 1967, and they would be married for almost 59 years. He graduated from Griffin High School in Griffin, Georgia, and later earned an associate's degree in business and several degrees in biblical studies and theology. He worked at Dundee Mills as a shift supervisor until he was called into the ministry full time in 1985. He founded Life Gate Church in LaFayette, Georgia, where he served the congregation and community for more than thirty years. He and Judy retired to Panama City Beach, Florida, where he loved fishing and spending time on his 11th floor balcony overlooking the beautiful ocean. In his retirement, Delbert served the congregation and community of Northstar Church in Panama City Beach for almost ten years as the Online Campus Pastor. During his lifetime of ministry, he also authored several online books and messages. With a fulfilling and luminous life, he was most proud of his children and grandchildren. Since Delbert's passing, the family has been overwhelmed by the outreach from those who were impacted by him in deep and meaningful ways.

Survivors include his wife, Judy Phillips Young; son, Lance Young, and his wife Jennifer Woodard Young and children Michael Lance Young, Jr. and Jonathan David Young; daughter, Bonnie Young Spencer and her husband Jody Spencer and children Jonathan Phillips Spencer and Maxwell Gilreath Spencer; sister-in-law Betty Cleveland; and nieces and nephews, Chad Young, Carol Young Barry, Ken Ballard, Kimberly Ballard, Jeff Cleveland, Brian Cleveland, Brandi Cleveland Hughes, and their families.

Visitation with the family will be Friday, March 27, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Eagles Way Church in Griffin. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. in the church sanctuary. Entombment will follow at Oak Hill Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Life Gate Church in LaFayette in honor and memory of Delbert.