James Hugh McDonald

Reverend James “Hugh” McDonald The Rev. James “Hugh” McDonald, 93, of Pensacola, a tireless servant of the Lord for almost seven decades, died Monday at Summer Vista Assisted Living Retirement Community. Visitation will be Thursday from 5-7 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home in Cantonment. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino with the Rev. Jimmy Cook, pastor of Aldergate Church and Rev. Alan Gantzhorn, superintendent of the Demopolis (Ala.) United Methodist District and former pastor of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Aldersgate Cemetery. Rev. McDonald led United Methodist Church congregations in Florida and Alabama for many years, retiring in 1989 after serving six years at Ensley (Fla) United Methodist Church. He previously served Florida congregations in Molino, Gonzalez and Jay, and pastored at a number of Alabama churches, including Mobile, Brewton, Selma and Robertsdale. McDonald was born September 5, 1925 in Geneva County, Ala., to John Barton and Clara Bell (McLaney) McDonald. A veteran of World War II, he began serving in the U. S. Army at age 17. He was a member of Company 1, 29th Infantry Regiment and discharged as a Sergeant First Class. After returning home from the war, McDonald graduated from Geneva County (Ala.) High School in 1947 and received his divinity degree from Asbury University (Wilmore, Ky.) in 1951. He also studied at Emory University. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Clay; and sisters, Miriam Berry, Mary Johnson and Mellijo Helms. McDonald is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Margaret Lenora (Woodham) McDonald. She was his partner in Christ for 66 years. They married July 2, 1952. Other survivors are son John Bentley McDonald of Pensacola, daughters, Margaret Ann (Keith) Pyron of Daphne, Ala., and Mary Elizabeth (Bill) Zimmerman of Ridgeland, Miss., eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, all of whom he loved dearly. Grandchildren are Michael (Kyna) McDonald of Atmore, Ala., Matt (Dara) McDonald of Cleveland, Tenn., Melanie McDonald of Birmingham, Ala., Jason (Stephanie) Zimmerman of Brandon, Miss., Michelle (Stephen) Fitzsimmons of Brookhaven, Miss., Jenny (Ross) Black of Gulf Breeze, Leah Pyron of Atlanta, Ga., and Laurel Pyron (Jay) Boulton of Palm Beach. Great grandchildren are Landon and Addison Zimmerman, Gigi Fitzsimmons, Draco and Maddox McDonald, Morgann McDonald and Emma, Allie and Isaac Black. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Michael and Matthew McDonald, Jason Zimmerman and grandsons-in-law, Ross Black of Gulf Breeze, Jay Boulton of Palm Beach and Stephen Fitzsimmons of Brookhaven, Miss. Honorary pallbearers will be retired Methodist ministers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Rev. McDonald’s name to the Stegall Seminary Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 241661, Montgomery, Ala. 36124. Throughout his ministry, Rev. McDonald strived to win souls for Jesus Christ, stressing family unity and answering a never-ending call to witness for the Lord. He served as Mission’s Secretary for the Pensacola District for more than 10 years, leading crews and building churches in Belize, Guatemala, Panama, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Mexico, helping to spread God’s word. FAITH CHAPEL FUNERAL HOME NORTH, 1000 Hwy. 29 South, Cantonment, FL entrusted with arrangements. You may express your condolences online at www.fcfhs.com.

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James Hugh McDonald

September 5, 1925 - October 1, 2018