A longtime Huntsville pastor and former president of the Alabama Baptist Convention has died.

Jimmy Jackson, who served as pastor at Whitesburg Baptist Church for 40 years, died Friday. He was 84.

“Dr. Jackson’s impact and legacy continues, not only in the life of Whitesburg Baptist Church, but around the world,” senior pastor Darryl Craft said in a post on the church’s Facebook page.

Jackson was the pastor at Whitesburg Baptist from 1978 until he retired in 2018.

In an interview with AL.com when he retired, Jackson reflected on his career.

“I believe God put me on this earth to be pastor of this church,” he said at the time. “I just felt I was called to be here.”

Under his leadership, Whitesburg Baptist grew from a weekly attendance of 600 to more than 2,000.

Before coming to Huntsville, the Mississippi native was the pastor of Union Baptist Church Grand Bay in Mobile County, and First Baptist Key West and First Baptist Merritt Island in Florida, according to his obituary.

He served as president of the Alabama Baptist Convention from 2009-2010 and first vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 2006-2007. He also served as a trustee for the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and as a member of the University of Mobile’s Board of Regents.

“Jimmy Jackson was a statesman among Alabama Baptists and Southern Baptists,” Rick Lance, the executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, wrote on Facebook. “He was an excellent president of our state convention. He served us so well at a critical time. To say he will be missed is a vast understatement.”

Members of Whitesburg Baptist shared memories of Jackson on the church Facebook post.

“So thankful for his faithfulness to preach truth unashamedly,” one person wrote. “Thankful for his leadership and his tender heart for all. Man of integrity. Man of God. He was our family’s pastor for 40 years and the impact he has had on every one of us will be felt the rest of our lives.”

Another commenter wrote, “Brother Jimmy was such a real person to our family. You could come up to him easily at a ballpark or at an altar, and he was ready to give an encouraging word and his friendship,” one post read. “‘Well done good and faithful servant,’ were no doubt the words spoken as he entered into the presence of our Lord and savior today.”

Jackson had several grandchildren and great grandchildren, according to his obituary. He was also survived by his wife, Bobbi; daughter, Rhonda; and son, Russell. His son Randy died in a car crash in 1992.

Jackson’s visitation is Monday from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Whitesburg Baptist. The funeral will also be at the church on Tuesday at 1 p.m., with burial at Maple Hill Cemetery immediately following.

The funeral will be livestreamed on the church’s YouTube channel.