Rev. Virgil R. Vickers, 80, of Irwinville, Georgia, was called Home by the Lord on Sunday, March 24, 2019, at Dorminy Medical Center in Fitzgerald.
Funeral services will be held 2 PM, Friday, March 29, 2019, at The Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald, with the Rev. Terry Rice officiating. Friends and family are also welcome to share testimonies and memories about Bro. Virgil. Interment will follow in Irwinville Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-9 Thursday evening at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Rev. Vickers was born July 28, 1938, in Berrien County, Georgia, to the late Troy M. & Mary Etta Musslewhite Vickers. He was saved at Irwinville Baptist Church on a Thursday night in June, 1948 during a revival meeting and was baptized by Rev. Tom Matthews in Bussell Mill Pond. At the age of 16, he served as Sunday School Superintendent and as church treasurer at the age of 18. He was a 1956 graduate of Irwin County High School. He was married at Irwinville Baptist Church in June, 1957 and ordained there in November, 1962. He graduated, along with his wife Carmen, from the Baptist Bible Institute in Graceville, Florida in 1967 with a degree in Pastoral Training. As a young man, Rev. Vickers tended the family farm and was working as a heavy equipment operator for Georgia Kraft when he received the call to preach. He later worked as a foreman for Kenneth Ross Construction. Together with his wife, they served the following Baptist congregations: Pope City in Wilcox County, Bland Memorial in Stuart County, County Line in Lake George, Damascus in Cuthbert, Westside in Fitzgerald, Chase in Columbus, Westview in Panama City, FL, Bethlehem in Irwin County, Grace in Eastman, Cedar Creek in Winder, Agape in Panama City, FL and Mt. Zion in Turnerville. He retired from Mt. Zion in Turnerville on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010, after 48 years of ministry. He returned home to Irwin County in 2011 following the death of his beloved Carmen.
He is survived by his two daughters: Selena Jane Evans of Panama City, Florida and Mary Celeste Coleman of Eastman; grandchildren: Troy Evans, Jeremy & Alison Evans, Kyle & Holly Evans, Hannah & Will Morgan, and Joshua Coleman; great-grandchildren: Justin Evans, Ivy Jane Evans, Lawson Evans, Kinslea Rose Evans, Anniston Mary Morgan, and a great-granddaughter on the way, Nora Michael Morgan; a sister, Patsy Spradlin of Irwinville; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and brothers and sisters in Christ. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Carmen Nichols Vickers; a brother, Kenneth Vickers; two sisters: Faye Vickers and Joyce Vickers Jones; and a son-in-law, Fred Evans. The family also wishes to acknowledge two very special caregivers, Paulyna McIntyre and Margaret Ring, and thank them for their compassionate care of Rev. Vickers.