Dr. Melvin Wise, age 82 of Atlanta, went home to be with his Heavenly Father on November 4, 2009. Celebration of Life service will be held at 3:00 PM Sunday, November 8, at Briarlake Baptist Church, 3715 LaVista Road. Officiating at the services will be Dr. Tommy Ferrell, pastor. The family will receive friends at A. S. Turner & Sons from 4:00 – 7:00 PM on Saturday, November 7. Rev. Wise will lie in state at the church from 2:00-3:00 on Sunday. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Briarlake Baptist Church, 3715 LaVista Road, Decatur, GA 30033, or to the ministry of your choice. Internment will follow at Floral Hills Memory Gardens on Lawrenceville Highway. He was a loving, devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Emily Benson Wise, the love of his life; children, Dr. Paul Wise (Sandy), Melanie Wise and Jim Wise; grandchildren, Kendra Wise, Olivia and Ariel Wise, and Victoria Abbey; and great granddaughter, Emilia Goosen. Dr. Wise began his first pastorate when he was 19. For nearly six years while a pastor at Talmadge Heights Baptist Church in Athens, GA, he wrote a religious column, “Think on These Things,” for the Athens Banner Herald newspaper. His column was widely read and quoted. After spending 13 years as a pastor, including his student pastorates, he spent the rest of his ministry in full-time, vocational evangelism – over 60 years in ministry. He has conducted over 900 revivals. Christian leaders described his preaching as “moving, forceful and most effective.” He was born and raised in Turner County, GA. After attending public schools there, he graduated from Abbeville High School in Wilcox County, GA. He is a graduate of Bob Jones University and also studied at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and the University of Georgia. Immanuel Baptist College and Seminary conferred on him an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree. Dr. Wise was honored by the Baptists of his native state by electing him vice president of the Georgia Baptist Convention. He has also served in key positions in the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists. He was elected by his peers as the first President of the Conference of Georgia Baptist Evangelists and served several terms. Since semi-retiring from a traveling ministry, he has had many opportunities to serve in his home church, Briarlake Baptist. He served as a teacher in the Businessmen’s Bible Class as well as president. He also served as a deacon, including Chairman of the Deacons. For several years he served as president of the Young at Heart Club, an organization for senior citizens sponsored by Briarlake Baptist Church. Evangelist Wise dealt Biblically with present day problems faced in everyday life. His scriptural approach appealed to people of all ages and from all walks of life. He took mission trips to South Korea, Jamaica, Russia, Australia and India. Since 1970, in conjunction with his evangelistic ministry, Dr. Wise and his wife Emily have organized and led nearly 100 Christian-oriented tours, about 60 of these to Israel. A. S. Turner & Sons
