On Sunday, April 12, 2015, Rev. O.L. “Toby” Stokes was promoted to his heavenly reward.
The memorial service for Rev. Stokes will be held Wednesday, April 15, 2015, at Tifton’s 1st Assembly of God at 2:00 p.m. Rev. Phillip Wall, Rev. Randy Stokes, Rev. Rob Patrick and Rev. Jerry Elder will officiate. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, 2015, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Stokes will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service.
Pallbearers for the service will be Steve Edenfield, Buddy Cawley, Dale Delk, Randy Carmichael, Brandt Patrick, and Brock Patrick. Friends who will serve as honorary pallbearers will be R.B. Delk, Thurman West, Mike McBrayer, Lamar Brooks, Bobby Hobby, Orris Hobby, Sam Wood, Gary Vowell, Fred Horne and Bill Rippy.
Rev. Stokes was born December 22, 1929, in Gordo, Alabama, the son of the late Olin Lee Stokes, Sr. and Jesse Nolan Stokes. He was married to the late Margaret Ann “Peggy” Stokes for nearly 57 years.
Rev. Stokes pastored in Tifton for nearly 35 years. He served as the senior pastor of Tifton’s 1st Assembly of God. Pastor Stokes was a city pastor. In the time of his pastoring Tifton’s 1st Assembly, he loved and pastored the entire city of Tifton. He was a strong prohibitionist. Also, Pastor Stokes & Mrs. Peggy had a radio broadcast that was broadcast live from the sanctuary of the church for over 25 years. While pastoring 1st Assembly, he led the church in multiple building projects. He led the congregation from South Central to North Central and there they built four buildings for the purpose of building strong families spiritually, emotionally, and academically. Stokes and congregation built a successful school, TCDI, which was strong in building students spiritually and academically. Besides being an effective pastor, Rev. & Mrs. Stokes owned Cornerstone Christian Bookstore.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a sister Ethell Grammar, and two brothers, Edward & Bill Stokes.
Rev. Stokes was a successful father. He is survived by his children and their families, Cyndi Delk (Mike) of Tifton; Randy Stokes of Tifton/Hawkinsville, GA., and Rob Patrick (Janice) of Chula, GA; 6 grandchildren, Natalie Delk Slimp, Michael Delk (Lisa), Kadi Stokes Higginbotham (Kyle), Connor Stokes, Brandt Patrick & Brock Patrick. Also, he has seven great-grandchildren, Hope Goodman, Hagan Slimp, Hudson Slimp, Taylor Wade, Jaxson Hughes, Lilah Hughes and Brooklyn Patrick.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to First Assembly of God Memorial Fund, 1800 North Central Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794.