Lamar N. Denkins

The funeral service for LTC Lamar N. Denkins, U.S. Army, retired, 90, of Tucker, GA, formerly of Jacksonville, AL, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at First Baptist Church of Williams. Dr. Don Carroll will officiate, and interment will follow at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church Cemetery in Jacksonville. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Mr. Denkins passed away January 11, 2026, in Tucker. Mr. Denkins was a native of Anniston, AL, and a 1953 graduate of Anniston High School. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Jacksonville State University in 1960 and a Master of Divinity degree from New Orleans Theological Seminary in 1964. He served for 30 years in the U.S. Army as a reservist, as well as the Alabama Army National Guard, serving in units in North and South Alabama, and retired as a military chaplain with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Mr. Denkins served on active duty during Operation Desert Storm as the Family Life Chaplain with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY. He served 25 churches as pastor or interim pastor in North and South Alabama. Mr. Denkins also worked for 25 years with the Alabama Department of Mental Health. He served eight years at Bryce Hospital in Tuscaloosa and Searcy Hospital in Mount Vernon, as well as 17 years at Calhoun-Cleburne Mental Health Center in Anniston. Mr. Denkins also served as a Congressional staff member in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving as Executive Assistant to Congressman Glen Browder and District Director for Congressman Mike Rogers. Mr. Denkins is preceded in death by his loving wife of 64 years, Joyce Phillips Denkins, and a brother, Bill Denkins. Survivors include his son, Jeffrey Lamar Denkins; a daughter, Susan Elizabeth Chastain and her husband, Ron; and his grandsons, Hayden Chastain and Caleb Chastain and his wife, Chandler. Pallbearers will be Ben Phillips, Justin Brown, Jonathan Shofner, Hayden Chastain, Caleb Chastain, and Ron Chastain. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Brown, Charles Casey, Mike Phillips, David Jenkins, Steve Green, and Jim Green. The family requests memorial contributions be made in Mr. Denkins' memory to the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Jimmy Littlejohn, 1745 Pleasant Valley Road, Jacksonville, AL 36265 or to Samaritan's Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 (www.samaritanspurse.org). Online condolences may be made to the family at www.klbrownfuneralhome.com.