Lynn Clayton, Longtime Editor of Louisiana's Baptist Message, Dies at 86
Clayton led the Louisiana Baptist newspaper from 1978 until 2005, then pastored New Life Baptist Church in DeRidder. His funeral is Monday, Nov. 9.
See where this is ›DeRIDDER, La. —
The Rev. Lynn Parks Clayton, who edited the Baptist Message, the newspaper of Louisiana Baptists, for nearly three decades and later pastored a church in DeRidder, La., died Thursday, Nov. 5, according to his obituary from Myers-Colonial Funeral Home and a report by the Baptist Message staff. He was 86.
See where this is ›Clayton was born Aug. 20, 1940, in Seminole, Texas. He studied at Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, then served as a youth pastor and as college and career minister at First Baptist Church in Waco, Texas. He was pastor of University Baptist Church in Wichita, Kan., and edited the Baptist Digest for the Kansas-Nebraska Baptist Convention.
He came to Louisiana in 1978 to lead the Baptist Message and retired as editor in 2005, the paper reported. Under his leadership the paper steadied its finances, built up its endowment and reserve funds, and was redesigned several times. He won many writing awards, especially for his editorials and his “On Second Thought” columns, and he chaired what was then the Christian Life Commission and led the Association of State Baptist Publications.
In DeRidder, Clayton served First Baptist Church as minister of music and later as mission pastor, and he was pastor of New Life Baptist Church until he retired in 2017. He was also interim pastor of Texas Avenue Baptist Church in DeRidder in 2021, according to the Baptist Message.
Joe McKeever, a former pastor of First Baptist Church in Kenner and former director of missions for the New Orleans Baptist Association, said in a tribute, “Lynn was sharp, straight-shooting, reliable, a friend forever.” He added, “Hebrews 6:10 has Lynn Clayton's name all over it.” Clayton's daughter, Stephanie, wrote on her own page, “well done, good and faithful servant.”
Clayton is survived by his wife, Leah Rush Clayton; his son, Ron Clayton of Baton Rouge; his daughter, Stephanie Crawford of Baton Rouge; his sister, Judy Clayton Wileman of Manhattan, Kan.; and nine grandchildren, according to the obituary.
Visitation will be held Monday, Nov. 9, from noon until the 2 p.m. funeral service at New Life Baptist Church in DeRidder. Pastor George Lee Glass will officiate.
