William E. Abernathy

Abernathy Pastor William E. Abernathy was born June 26, 1925 in Charlotte, NC to Victor and Elizabeth Abernathy, and he was promoted into the presence of the Lord Jesus whom he loved and served on February 26, 2015. He met his beautiful bride, Shirley Videon of Staten Island, NY while serving with the US Navy. They were married on July 20, 1946 and built a strong and vibrant marriage. She preceded him in death by four days. He is survived by three children and their spouses, Betty (Bob) Allen of Gahanna, Ohio, Joy (Pastor Thayne) Bodenmiller of Westfield, NY; and Pastor Bill (Peggy) Abernathy, Jr. of Portage, MI; ten grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and his sister-in-law, Kathryn Stapleton of Charlotte, NC. He is now rejoicing in heaven with his wife, newborn twin sons and one granddaughter Audrey Allen and his brother Ray Abernathy. Pastor and Mrs. Abernathy served full-time in four churches: Jones Memorial Methodist Church, Mooresville, NC; Pennside Community Chapel in New Castle, DE; First Baptist Church, Newfield, NJ; and Immanuel Baptist Church, Columbus, OH. He was an active servant of the Lord Jesus and proclaimer of the Gospel. He was preaching and teaching until a few months before his death. Pastor and Mrs. Abernathy also served four terms of approximately one year as interim for churches who were temporarily without a permanent pastor: Pine Hills Baptist Church, Columbus, OH; Alton Road Baptist Church, Galloway OH; Calvary Baptist Church, Delaware, OH; and for shorter periods of time at other churches. Pastor Abernathy was very involved in pro-life ministry, served many years as part-time field representative for Baptists For Life of Central Ohio and was a significant volunteer at BFLCO's Maternity Resource Center. Pastor Abernathy was active in leading Bible studies and church services at the Hilltop Senior Village, where he lived for almost ten years. Many friends from "the Senior Village" will miss him greatly. A private graveside service will be held. Visitation hours will be held at Immanuel Baptist Church, 3417 Palmetto St. in Columbus on Friday, March 6 from 1-2 p.m., and a celebration of rejoicing will be held at Immanuel at 2 p.m. on March 6. Officiating at the service of memorial will be Pastor Bill Abernathy, Jr., Pastor Thayne Bodenmiller and Pastor Brad Rickard. The family is grateful for the outpouring of support from friends around the country and the world, and especially for the exceptional care given to both our parents in these last weeks by the great staff of National Church Residences Hospice, Dr. Mark Evans and the caregivers at Columbus West Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent to Immanuel Baptist Church to be used for missionaries at the discretion of the family.