Dr. D. Perry Ginn

Dr. D. Perry Ginn was born just in time for Christmas in Athens, GA on December 21, 1928. Later his family moved to Atlanta where he grew up. Dr. Ginn graduated from Boys High, attended Brewton Parker Junior College, the University of Georgia, and entered the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, earning his Ph.D. in Old Testament Studies in 1958. Dr. Ginn was ordained at Sylvan Hills Baptist Church in Atlanta on March 29, 1949. While attending UGA he met and later married Betty Harvill Ginn on April 14, 1950. Dr. Ginn was the pastor of churches in Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, including First Baptist Church in Gainesville, GA from 1965-1973 and Peachtree Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA from 1990 - 1997. Dr. Ginn preached his final sermon at North Clarendon Baptist Church in Avondale, GA on July 15, 2012, just before his diagnosis of ALS. He went to join the Lord on May 17, 2013. Throughout his life and ministry, Dr. Ginn promoted equality, acceptance, love and grace. Basing his teachings on scripture, Dr. Ginn often said that problems with scriptural interpretation occur when people do not interpret the scripture in its full context and with an understanding of the meaning of the original text in Greek and Hebrew. He taught that God's love and grace is meant for everyone and never let anything - race, gender, status, sexual orientation, where you lived or how much money you had- become a distraction from God's message of acceptance, love and grace. In the 1950's, Dr. Ginn was outspoken about the Christian stance on integration basing his stand on Biblical principles. As the 27 year old pastor of First Baptist Church in Hodgenville, KY, Dr. Ginn preached powerful sermons calling on the community to embrace desegregation of the schools and took stands combating racial injustices and prejudices throughout his life. He left the ministry for 15 years during which time Dr. Ginn was a Senior Vice President of Management Training at Days Inns, a speaker and lecturer, a lay church leader and the Executive Director of the Christian Council of Metropolitan Atlanta where he opened a shelter for women and children that also provided work re-entry training. Dr. Ginn returned to the ministry in 1988. Long a believer that women should have an equal role in ministry, in 1996 while at Peachtree Baptist Church, Dr. Ginn ordained the first African American female Southern Baptist minister in the Southeast. Everyone who knew him is familiar with his messages of God's love and grace, his emphasis on our responsibility to grow in faith and to act toward other people in ways that demonstrate God's love. In fact, every church Dr. Ginn ever led adopted the principle that the doors of the church would be open to all who wish to enter. He set the standard for acceptance and unconditional love. Dr. Ginn was a scholar, a member of Mensa and the World Future Society. He co-authored a Sunday School Lesson Study Series of the Old Testament for the Southern Baptist Convention in the 1960s and taught adjunct seminary classes after his first retirement. He was creative; always open to innovative approaches and was well loved as a mentor, teacher and coach impacting thousands of those who worked with him, heard his sermons or were privileged to attend one of his many Bible study series. He had a gift for being able to break down complex scripture so that the essence of the scriptural message could be easily understood. Every person who came in contact with Dr. Ginn throughout his 84 years was enriched and a better person for having known him. Kindness and compassion radiated from him. Dr. Ginn had an insatiable curiosity, was an avid reader and loved roller coasters and amusement parks. He loved learning and had a lifelong interest in science which he said only affirmed his belief in God's creation. In 2008, Dr. Ginn endowed the D. Perry and Betty H. Ginn Lecture Series on Christian Faith and Modern Science at Mercer University's McAfee School of Theology. Dr. Ginn retired from full time ministry in 1997 to care for his wife, Betty, but continued his service as Pastor at Valley Brook Baptist Church in Decatur on a part time basis until he retired again in 2005 to provide fulltime care for Mrs. Ginn. After Mrs. Ginn's death in May 2007, Dr. Ginn became the pastor of North Clarendon Baptist Church in December 2007. While there, Dr. Ginn who loved music and singing hymns enjoyed singing solos and duets with his daughter, Kathy, for the first time in his life. As a resident of Clairmont Crest Apartments, Dr. Ginn also conducted weekly Bible Studies and Prayer Services for 12 years and was very touched when they dedicated the Ginn Chapel in his honor last year. Dr. Ginn is survived by his sister and brother in law, Joyce and Alvin Denman of Morrow, GA; Daughter, Kathy Ginn Brown Colbenson and son-in-law, Pete Colbenson of Atlanta, GA; Son, David P. Ginn, Jr. and daughter-in-law, Rhonda Ginn of Clarkesville, GA; Daughter, Christine Barker and son-in-law, Raymond "Skip" Barker of Dawsonville, GA; Granddaughter, Shannon Brown of Atlanta, GA; and Granddaughter, Hayley Ginn of Clarkesville, GA; the other children he loved, Jay Smithson of Atlanta, GA , Joe Smithson of Atlanta, GA and Nancy Smithson of Gainesville, GA and their families; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, friends; relatives and countless brothers and sisters in Christ and in faith. A Memorial Service to honor Dr. Ginn's life will be held on May 19, 2013 at 2:30 PM at Peachtree Baptist Church, 2108 Briarcliff Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30329. In lieu of flowers, Dr. Ginn requested that donations in his memory be made to further the work of God by helping children and families through CHRIS Kids which is led by his daughter, Kathy. (CHRIS Kids, 1017 Fayetteville Road, Suite B, Atlanta, GA 30316 or online at www.chriskids.org); or to North Clarendon Baptist Church (P.O. Box 633, Avondale Estates, GA 30002) where Dr. Ginn last was pastor.



Funeral Home:
A. S. Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033