Leon Tew

Rev. L. Earl Tew, husband, father, friend and faithful servant of God's church, died April 26. He was 93.

Rev. Tew was born to Harcus and Gladys Tew on December 8, 1929 on their farm near Slocomb, Alabama. Having understood a call to be a pastor he enrolled at Howard College (now Samford University) to begin his theological education which he continued at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

In over six decades of ministry Rev Tew served as pastor of Goodman Baptist Church, Pinckard Baptist Church, Lakeside Baptist Church in Birmingham, Calvary Baptist Church in Dothan and Hover First Baptist Church. He also served as Executive Director of the Birmingham Baptist Association for 12 years. After retiring from full time ministry Rev. Tew went back to Lakeside Baptist as minister to senior adults in 2007, then retired again in 2010.

Rev. Tew was heavily involved in missions work traveling to Brazil, Romania, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Canada, and Panama. He also served on the board of directors of The International Missions Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Rev. Tew led the Birmingham Baptist Association in a ministry partnership with sister churches in Birmingham, England.

Rev. Tew, in addition to his pastoral roles, wrote the Life and Work Sunday School commentary for The Alabama Baptist for nearly 15 years, ending that work in 1995 when he passed it to his son, David. He was elected Vice President of the Alabama Baptist Convention and served in many other positions in the denomination. Rev. Tew was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Judson College after his years of service on the intitution's Board of Governors.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Juanita, who died in 2022. He is survived by a sister, Patsy Richardson of Dothan, his sons, David (Melody) of Huntsville, and Mark (Ann) of Millbrook, and daughter, Delane (Nancy) of Birmingham, and their families including 6 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

There will be visitation with the family at Lakeside Baptist Church, 2865 Old Rocky Ridge Rd, Birmingham, AL 35243, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Tuesday, May 2. Funeral service will be at Lakeside Baptist Church at 10:00 am, Wednesday, May 3.