Julian Ray LeRoy's Obituary
Julian Ray LeRoy, age 92, of Austell passed away August 30, 2024. He was born in Newry, South Carolina to Alvin and Dora LeRoy. At an early age, the family moved to Marietta, Georgia.
Julian graduated from Marietta High School in 1948, and in 1952, received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Mercer University. He was active on the varsity track team, setting a new school record in the half-mile run, and was later inducted into the Mercer University Hall of Fame.
In August 1952, Julian was ordained into the gospel ministry by Roswell Street Baptist Church, and then became pastor of Lost Mountain Baptist Church. In 1953, he married Jeanelle Davis of Marietta and entered the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. In May of 1956, he received his Master of Divinity degree and became pastor of Clarkdale Baptist Church.
Julian and his wife were appointed by the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board as missionaries to Brazil in December of 1962. At that appointment, he served as Director of Missions at Porto Alegre Baptist Association in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, pastor of the First Brazilian Baptist Church in Porto Alegre, and secretary treasurer of the Rio Grande do Sul Convention. After 15 years, they resigned from the Mission Board and returned to the United States. On his return to the U.S., he became Director of Missions of the West Metro Baptist Association in Austell, Georgia.
During this time, he also became a Certified Resident in Pastoral Counseling, which he received from the Georgia Baptist Medical Center in Atlanta, and a certified member of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, and a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.
After 18 years as Director of Missions at West Metro Baptist Association, he retired in July of 1996. Julian and his wife continued their interest in serving the Brazilian people and found a large community of Brazilians living in the metro Atlanta area. For the next 10 years, they assisted in working with the First Brazilian Baptist Congregation of Atlanta, and now have their own Brazilian pastor.
For the past 11 years, Julian and Jeanelle have been residents at Presbyterian Village in Austell.
Julian is preceded in death by his parents; and daughter, Rebecca Jean; and siblings, Joyce Berry, Jack Edward LeRoy, and Peggy Jean Davis.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Jeanelle Davis LeRoy; children, Nancy Anne Rice of Smyrna, GA, Julian Mark LeRoy of Charlotte, NC, David Ray LeRoy of Palm Springs, CA, and Edward Alvin LeRoy of Winston-Salem, NC; and grandchildren, Nathan Rice, Julianna Rice, David LeRoy, Kelly LeRoy, and Emma LeRoy.
A memorial service honoring Julian’s life will be held at a later date.
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