A fund has been set up to help the family of a former Oak Ridge pastor and his wife with expenses after the couple died in a car crash in Southaven, Tennessee, on September 4.
Bobby Mullins was the pastor of Kirk Baptist Church in Piperton. His wife, Wanda Mullins, worked as a receptionist in the intensive care unit at Baptist DeSoto Hospital. He previously served as senior pastor at Central Baptist Church of Oak Ridge.
In a statement posted to Facebook on Sept. 4, the couple’s children confirmed their father’s death and said their mother suffered “catastrophic injuries” in the crash. Wanda Mullins later died in hospital.
The couple owned a home in Hernando.
In their statement, Mullins’ three children, Brandon, Melody and Mallory, mourned their loss and thanked others for their prayers.
“We are devastated and shocked, but at complete peace,” the statement said. “We know where our father is because he faithfully preached the hope of Jesus Christ and eternity week after week. But most importantly, he lived that hope out for his family every day.”
A memorial service was held in Memphis on September 12.
Bobby Mullins, a native of Memphis, served as the national alumni president of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary from 2004 to 2006. He also served on the board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention from 2006 to 2011.
In 2009, Mullins founded Back To The Basics Ministries. According to a biography on Mullins’ website, the goal of the project is “to encourage and help those who want to make a fresh start in life and to teach them how to do so from a Biblical perspective. Because at some point, we all need a fresh start.”
One of the main focuses of the ministry is the Christian television program “A Fresh Start”.
Mullins served in pastoral ministry for more than 40 years, serving on the pastoral staff of at least nine churches, writing two books and composing dozens of hymns, according to his biography.
At the time of his death, he and his wife had been married for 44 years.
How to give
On September 11, Tom Melzoni — another former pastor of Central Baptist Church of Oak Ridge — posted on Facebook that the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board had set up a fund to help the family pay for funeral and cremation expenses, plus other unexpected expenses, which were estimated at $35,000. Checks can be sent to: Mullins Family Fund, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, PO Box 682789, Franklin, TN 37068.
You can also donate digitally via this link.
Donna Smith, news editor of The Oak Ridger, contributed to this story.
Jacob Wilt is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal. You can reach him at jacob.wilt@commercialappeal.com.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Former Oak Ridge pastor, wife killed in crash; donations accepted
