Reverend Douglas G. Aldridge

Douglas Gene Aldridge, 37, Buckner, MO passed away April 19, 2007. A Celebration of Doug�s Life will take place at 1 pm, Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at the First Baptist Church of Buckner; interment at Mt. Washington Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10-noon, Tuesday at the church. Kindly omit flowers. In lieu of flowers, a Memorial Fund, "First Baptist Church Aldridge Family Memorial� has been established for the family at the First National Bank of Missouri, 100 S. Hudson, Buckner, MO 64016. Donations may be made directly to the bank or sent in care of First Baptist Church of Buckner, P.O. Box 537, Buckner, MO 64016.
Douglas Gene Aldridge was born July 10, 1969, in Columbus, MS to Denzil and Norma Jean Aldridge. He was born with a congenital heart defect and when Douglas was five years old, he had surgery to repair his heart at the University of Alabama Hospital, Birmingham, AL. He attended South Lamar High School and the University of Northern Alabama. He received his Certificate of License to preach the Gospel from Fernbank Baptist, Millport, AL, Oct. 9, 1988.
In 1989, Douglas came to Missouri to attend William Jewell College in Liberty, graduating in 1991. He then attended Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, receiving his diploma in 1994. He served as a summer missionary at Susquehanna Baptist Church. He was ordained to the work of The Gospel Ministry in May, 1994, at Immanuel Baptist Church, Independence, MO and served as their Youth Minister from 1989 to 1994. At Slater, MO he was Associate Pastor and Youth Minister from 1994 to 1996. He served as Youth Minister at the First Baptist Church of Raymore, MO from 1996 to 2001. He was called to his first Pastorate at First Baptist Church, Buckner, MO in 2001, serving until his untimely death. When older Pastors asked how he liked being a Pastor, he always replied, "If I had known it was this much fun, I would have done it years ago.�
It was at Immanuel Baptist Church that Doug met his future wife, Martha Vivian Crain. They were married May 25, 1991. Two children were born to their family, Elizabeth Ashley, on October 1, 1992 and Jonathan Douglas on December 26, 1996. Doug was so proud of his family and was a devoted husband and father.
Doug was President of the Buckner Ministerial Alliance in Buckner, MO and was very active in the Buckner Caring Communities organization.
Doug is survived by his loving wife of 16 years, Martha, and two children Elizabeth and Jonathan, all of the home; his parents, Denzil and Norma Jean Aldridge, Millport, AL; brother Dennis Aldridge and wife Lora, a niece and a nephew, all of Kennedy, AL; and his aunt Marlene Honeycutt, who was very instrumental in his early Christian training. He is also survived by his loving Church family and his many friends.