John Melvin Herndon

John Melvin Herndon passed on to light and love at 4:22 am on May 17, 2025 at Madison Manor at the age of 93. John was preceded in death by his brother Albert, his wife of 68 years Norma, and infant son Charles Michael. He is survived by his sisters Minanelia and Ivadean and sister- in-law Grace, and children Debbie, Mark, and Susan. Additionally, John is survived by 9 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

John remained strong in his faith throughout his life, and never met a stranger. He was a kind and compassionate husband, father, grandfather, and pastor. Throughout his life, John performed 200
marriages, 371 baptisms, and 204 funerals - he kept a list of these services, as they were particularly meaningful to him, and he was always willing to offer help and guidance to those who needed it. His life of service reflects this attitude.

John was born on August 24, 1931 in Greene County Alabama, north of Eutaw Alabama to John Henry Herndon and Annie Florence Wilson. He attended Howard College in Birmingham, AL (now Sanford University) where he met Norma Lee Headrick. He accepted his first pastor position at Sumterville Baptist Church in 1951, and he married Norma on May 25, 1952. He was active in the Baptist Student Union while at Howard College, and also worked at a Baptist Book Store. He graduated in 1953 and began Seminary at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. While there, he and Norma worked at the Baptist Bookstore in Louisville, and John preached at the Goose Pond Baptist Church.

Their first daughter, Debra Lynn, was born on November 10, 1955. John graduated in 1956, and the family moved to Vinemont, Alabama, where John took a job pastoring at Berry Baptist Church in Berry, Alabama. The family welcomed twin boys, Charles Michael and John Mark, on August 27, 1957. On December 19, 1957 Michael passed away after injuries from a car accident. John and Norma welcomed their daughter, Susan Leigh, on December 9, 1958.

The family moved to Vernon, Alabama, and John pastored First Baptist Church from 1959-1964. During this time, Norma became interested in foreign missionary work, and they answered the Call and were appointed to Portugal in 1964. Leaving from New York, the family sailed for Lisbon in November 1964 to begin the next chapter of their lives. John served as General secretary of the Portuguese Baptist Convention starting in 1964, started a Baptist radio program, and a Baptist bookstore in Lisbon. John was the driving force and director of Agua de Madeiros, a summer camp, every summer while living in Portugal.

John served at many churches in Lisbon, Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, and the Azores islands. He opened a Baptist Seminary in Queluz, near Lisbon in 1969. In 1974-76, he served as executive secretary of Portuguese Baptist Convention and pastor of a church he started in Caçem. During this time, Portugal experienced a political revolution moving from a dictatorship to a democracy, which greatly impacted their daily lives. John and Norma went to the Azores Islands in 1977 where they lived on the island of Terçeria and John pastored the Azorean Baptist Church, which served American military families. He established a radio station there, and this concluded their missionary work.

In 1982, they resigned from the Foreign Mission Board due to Norma’s health, and they moved to Virginia. John served at Round Oak Baptist Church in Corbin, VA, and then in 1983 he accepted a position at Jefferson Park Baptist Church in Charlottesville, VA. John served at Jefferson Park until he retired in 1995 and they returned to Alabama. John served as Interim pastor several times in Alabama, and he and Norma moved to Huntsville in 2005.

John and Norma moved into an apartment in Debbie’s house in 2013, where Debbie and her husband Greg graciously cared for them in their final years. During this time, they were active members of Mount Zion Baptist Church, where John was affectionately known as “Pastor John”.

Services will be held on Tuesday, May 27th, 2025, at Mount Zion Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM with the Funeral Service at 2:00 PM. John will be laid to rest in Mount Zion Baptist Church's Cemetery immediately following the Funeral Service. 

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

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