BSK mourns the loss of Rev. Dr. Jeremy Shoulta, who graduated from BSK with the Master of Divinity degree in 2010. Jeremy passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2026, after a battle with cancer. Jeremy most recently served as Pastor of First Baptist Church in Gainesville, GA.
Dr. Greg Earwood, President Emeritus at BSK, says, “I have known Jeremy Shoulta all of his life because his parents, Bill and Jill, and I are good friends. When Jeremy was at Georgetown College, we had time to share his college experience. I was not surprised but very pleased that he became a student at BSK. One of his final classes was taking Hebrew online with me. Jeremy was a gifted and thoughtful minister in the various churches he served. We will remember Jeremy as kind and gracious.”
Dr. Mark Medley, Academic Dean and Professor of Theology remembered Jeremy as a student, “I am deeply saddened by Jeremy’s death. As a student, he warmly welcomed me as a new BSK faculty member in 2007. Jeremy was an outstanding student. I especially remember his final project in Christianity and Culture—on the complexities of sin in an episode of the television drama “Law and Order.” Most of all, I remember that Jeremy had a pastor’s heart and would be an exceptional congregational leader, which he was.”
Dr. David Adams also remembers Jeremy’s kindness, “I have a class where we require students to do things that are totally out of character and talk about how they’ve grown from doing such things. When Jeremy took it, I remember how he did something that just didn’t fit his pacifist beliefs and yet he did it and came to tell us about them. For some reason, the story he told has stuck with me for years and it’s an example I still use in class. He was one of those rare people who could be both uncompromising and extremely kind at the same time.”
Dr. John Inscore Essick remembers Jeremy to have a “quick smile, a composed pastoral presence, and an abiding kindness.”
Dr. Wade Rowatt, Senior Professor of Pastoral Care at BSK says, “Jeremy Shoulta journeyed with others in moments filled with joy and in times of deep crisis and trauma. He was a faithful shepherd, focused on the spiritual well-being of his members, and provided a pastoral presence to sustain them through life’s hardships. His presence with family, friends, and parishioners was characterized by honesty, integrity, and deep empathy. He took time to listen when others seemed preoccupied. He was indeed a faithful servant.”
BSK gives thanks to God for Jeremy’s life. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, April 19, at 5 PM, Eastern Time in the sanctuary at First Baptist Church of Gainesville. The service will also be live-streamed on FBC’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
