MARK OAKS

Mark Oaks served as pastor of Pleasant Home Baptist Church, Holt.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

J. E. OATES

J. E. Oates was born in England. He served as pastor of Ancient City Baptist Church on two occasions. (1986-1901; 1915-1920).

Secondary Source:
The Long Road with God. . . a living history of Ancient City Baptist Church, 1887-1987, p. 28.

DAVID OATS

David Oats served as pastor of Hickory Hill Baptist Church.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

R. J. O’BRYANT

On June 24, 1916, R. J. O’Bryant of Lucedale, Mississippi, became pastor of East Hill Baptist Church of Pensacola. He served for one year and then went to serve First Baptist Church in Geneva, Alabama.

Secondary Source:
East Hill Baptist Church. . . 1906-1956,
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

J. B. O’CONNOR

J. B. O’Connor served as pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Quincy in 1912.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

W. F. ODDY

W. F. Oddy served as pastor of Orange Park Baptist Church, Hogan Baptist Church, and Trinity Baptist Church both in Jacksonville and Hillcrest Baptist Church, Patlaka. Oddy and his wife Bessie had five children.

Source:
History Hogan Baptist Church, p. 31.

T. R. ODENAPH

T. R. Odenaph served as pastor of Oak Grove Baptist Church, Escambia County.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

A. C. ODOM

A. C. Odom became pastor of East Hill Baptist Church in Pensacola on October 24, 1917. He served until 1922.

Secondary Source:
East Hill Baptist Church. . . 1906-1956,
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

DONALD R. ODOM

Donald R. Odom (March 6, 1956- ) was born in San Diego, California. He attended William Carey College (B.Mu., 1978; M.Mu., 1980), and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (D.M.A., 1990). Odom served as Minister of Music at the Westside Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, Mississippi (1976-1977), First Baptist Church, Sumrall, Mississippi (1977-1980, 1984-1987), First Baptist Church, Houston, Mississippi (1980-1984) and Lakeview Baptist Church, New Orleans, Louisiana. Odom married Sarah P. Odom of New Orleans, and they had two children; Ashley in 1984, and Jarrod in 1988. Odom joined the music faculty of the Baptist College of Florida in 1990.

Secondary Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

LEON THOMAS ODOM, JR.

Leon Thomas Odom, Jr. (1932-2011) was born in Dothan, AL to Leon Thomas, Sr. and Elisabeth Dempsey Odom. He served as pastor of First Victory Baptist Church, Victoria, AL, Grace Baptist Church, Lake Forest Baptist Church, Gainesville, Providence Baptist Church, Palatka, Bethel Baptist Church, and Hillcrest Baptist Church, Gainesville. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Louise Odom. Odom was survived by his second wife Laverne Edwards Odom and his children, Leon Odom III of Starke, FL, Michael Odom of Trenton, FL, Bobby Odom of Hampton Lake, FL, and Cynthia Barnum of Starke, FL.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

NASH A. ODOM

Nash A. Odom (1933-2011) was born in Robeson County, NC, the son of Bernice M. and Emma W. Johnson Odom. He graduated from Campbell University, Wake Forest University, East Carolina University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Odom served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Dublin, North Carolina, and went as pastor of First Baptist Church, Lake Park in 1980. He and his wife Helen Allen Odom had three daughters.

Secondary Source:
Florida Baptist Witness, July 31, 1980, p. 6.
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

THOMAS ODOM

Thomas Odom served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Middleburg.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

W. W. ODOM

W. W. Odom served as a traveling missionary in the Florida Panhandle in 1867 serving as pastor of Orange Hill Baptist Church, Washington County and Ebenezer Baptist Church, Holmes County.

Secondary Source:
West Florida Baptist Association Minutes, p. 11.

W. H. OELLERICH

W. H. Oellerich served as pastor of Five Points Baptist Church, Fernandina Beach, 1947-1951.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

ZUELL COLON O’FARRELL

Z. C. O’Farrell (1886-1945) graduated from Southwestern Theological Seminary and moved with his family to Wyoming where he served as an
evangelist. He helped establish the churches at Casper and Glenrock. He later served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Butte, Montana. He left there to serve First Baptist Church in Milton, Florida, and Bagdad Mission as pastor (1926-1930). He left Milton to go as pastor of First Baptist Church in Douglas, Georgia. He later became manager of an orphan’s home in Baxley, Georgia, and upon his death in 1945, the home was taken over by the Georgia Baptist Convention and is now known as the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home.

Secondary Source:
Joe M. Bamberg. The History of First Baptist Church of Milton, Florida. p. 31.
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

OVERL OGLESBEE

Overl Oglesbee (1919-1990) was a native of Columbia, Mississippi. He served for 15 years as pastor of Oakcrest Baptist Church in Pensacola. He and his wife, Pearl, had two daughters, Kaye and Carol.

Secondary Source:
Florida Baptist Witness, March 15, 1990, p. 14.

J. ALLEN O’HARA

J. Allen O’Hara served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Pensacola, in 1886. He was a traveling evangelist at heart and did not stay long with the church.

Secondary Source:
Toni Moore Clevenger. On the Bay—On the Hill, p. 79.

ROBERT O’KANA

Robert O’Kana served as pastor of West Bay Baptist Church, Panama City.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

ARTEMAS FRANKLIN O’KELLEY

Artemas Franklin O’Kelley (September 4, 1871-July 1, 1945) was born in Hall County, Georgia. He was one of the three O’Kelley preacher brothers. He graduated from Mercer University and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. O’Kelley served as pastor in Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Florida. He retired from pastoral work in April 1940, after serving in Perry, Florida.

Secondary Source:
Florida Baptist Witness, July 12, 1945, p. 8.

JOHN FRANCIS MARION O’KELLY

John Francis Marion O’Kelly (1799-1882) served in New River Association as pastor and died in 1882. Kelly was born in South Carolina and moved to Florida about 1858. In two different marriages he was the father of 18 children. John served as a preacher in the New River Association.

Secondary Source:
Florida Baptist Convention Annual, 1883, p. 34.
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

NATHANIEL BOAZ O’KELLEY

Nathaniel Boaz O’Kelley (November 27, 1866-August 4, 1946) was born in Hall County, Georgia and died in Jacksonville, Florida. He was 80 years of age at his death. O’Kelley was a graduate of Mercer University and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was one of the three O’Kelley preacher brothers. He served as pastor in Texarkana, Arkansas; Atlanta, Georgia; and as pastor of First Baptist Church, Gainesville, Florida (1915-1922); Riverside Baptist and First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida. While pastor at Gainesville, the wife of O’Kelley died of bronchial pneumonia in March 1920. Alberta B. O’Kelly was 45 years of age at the time of her death. The O’Kelley brothers made a tremendous mark in the Southern Baptist Convention. N. B. O’Kelley organized Druid Hill Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. T. W. O’Kelley was pastor for many years of First Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Frank O’Kelley served in Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Florida. At the Southern Baptist Convention held in Saint Louis in 1913, Frank read the scripture, N. B. led in prayer and T. W. preached the Convention sermon from the text of II Corinthians 8:4.

Secondary Source:
Florida Baptist Witness, August 22, 1946, p. 4.
George C. Osborn. The First Baptist Church, Gainesville, Florida, 1870-1970, pp. 25-28.
Southern Baptist Convention Annual, 1913.

TONY OLESKY

Tony Olesky graduated from Miami-Dade College and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as the Baptist Campus Ministry director, University of West Florida and Pensacola, for the Florida Baptist Convention. Olesky and his wife, Randa, have three sons.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

J. HILTON OLIVE

J. Hilton Olive was a native of Bascom, Florida and the Mount Olive Baptist Church. Olive graduated from Howard College and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Olive served as pastor in Alabama, Kentucky and Florida. Olive served as pastor of Silver Church, Daytona Beach; First Baptist Church, High Springs; Riverview in Jacksonville and Fifth Avenue Church in St. Petersburg. He and his wife, Alice Jo have two daughters: Lois and Sharon.

Source:
Florida Baptist Witness, February 10, 1972, p. 11.

CREIGHTON M. OLIVER

Creighton M. Oliver was a graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was ordained to the ministry by the First Baptist Church, Tampa in 1954. Oliver served as pastor of Bay Street Baptist Church, Eustis, 1954-1956.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

W. S. OLIVER

W. S. Oliver served as a Baptist pastor in Florida and died in Jacksonville in 1934.

Secondary Source:
Florida Baptist Convention Annual, 1934, p. 7.

MIGUEL OLMEDO

Miguel Olmedo (1935-2014) was born in the Republic of Panama. He graduated from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Mill Valley; California Baptist College, Riverside and Baptist Seminary of Havana, Havana, Cuba. Olmedo served as a language catalytic missionary for the Florida Baptist State Convention from 1992-2002. He and his wife Amparo had three children. Olmedo started 72 new churches and worked in two continents and three states. He attended the Baptist Seminary in Havana, Cuba, and then returned to Panama to pastor. He also served as the President of the Panama Baptist Convention. In 1970 he attended the California Baptist College in Riverside, and then studied at Golden Gate Theological Seminary at Mill Valley, California. He served as pastor in California, and then became Language Missions Coordinator for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans from 1979-1992. In 1992 Olmedo came to Florida to start churches with various language groups. He retired from the Florida Baptist Convention staff in 2002.

Secondary Source:
Florida Baptist Witness, January 2003.

CAREY OLSON

Carey Olson served as pastor of Rocky Bayou Baptist Church, 2006-2015.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

CARL M. O’NEAL

Carl M. O’Neal served as pastor of Pine City Baptist Church.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

F. A. O’NEAL

F. A. O’Neal was pastor of Delray in 1927.

Source:
1927 Miami Baptist Association Minutes, p. 24.

SCOTT ANTHONY O’NEIL

Scott Anthony O’Neil (1959-   ) was born in Coral Gables, Florida. He graduated from Southern Illinois University. O’Neil served in the U. S. Navy from 1976-1999. He as pastor of Paran Baptist Church, Gradin; Dunham Woods Mission, Hollister and Pecan Park Baptist Church, Jacksonville. O’Neil and his wife Laura Griner O’Neil have one son and one daughter.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

JAMES LAWRENCE O’NEILL

James Lawrence O’Neill (1928-2008) served as pastor of Ephesus Baptist Church in Kingsferry, Florida; Northside in Fort Pearce; and First Baptist Church, Dania. He served faithfully on the summer staff at the Florida Royal Ambassador camp. He received two degrees and taught at Luther Rice Seminary in Jacksonville. He and his wife Lamona had one daughter, Heather.

Source:
Email from Lamona O’Neill, October 19, 2008.

JAMIE W. OPPERT

Jamie W. Oppert served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Vero Beach.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

DARRELL ORMAN

Darrell Orman serves as pastor of First Baptist Church, Stuart.

Source:
Florida Baptist Witness, January 18, 2007, p. 15.

MICHAEL J. ORR

Michael J. Orr (August 25, 1968- ) was born in Canton, Georgia. He and his wife, Stephanie Wann Orr, met and served together as members of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Georgia. Orr surrendered to the call to preach in July 1994, and was licensed and ordained by First Baptist Church, Woodstock, on December 11, 1996. He graduated from Florida Baptist Theological College in 1999 (B.A.), and served at Madred Baptist Church, Madrid Alabama (1996-2000), and as pastor of First Baptist Church, Chipley
(2000-). He and his wife, Stephanie, have one daughter, Savannah.

Secondary Source:
Joan P. Chance, History of First Baptist Church, Chipley, 1887-1987, p. 11.

LINDA H. OSBORNE

Linda H. Osborne (1964-   ) was born in Winona, MS. She graduated from Mississippi State University and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Osborne served as director, Baptist Student Ministry, Tallahassee area for the Florida Baptist Convention. She and her husband, John Douglas Osborne were married in 1988.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

MILES OSBORNE

Miles Osborne served as a pastor in Florida and died in 1910.

Secondary Source:
Florida Baptist Convention Annual, 1911, p. 83.

W. H. OSBORNE

W. H. Osborne served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Tampa.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

LOWELL O’STEEN

Lowell O’Steen served as pastor of First Baptist Church, White Springs (1979-1986) and Calvary Baptist Church, Lake City (1986-1990). He and his wife Gwen have one daughter, Karen.

Source:
First Baptist Church White Springs, p. 24.
Calvary Baptist Church, Lake City.

T. F. O’STEEN

T. F. O’Steen (1908-) was known as “The Walking Preacher” in Polk County. He was born in Coffee County, Georgia, one of nine children. He preached his first sermon in 1923 in Mora, Georgia. In 1930 he married Bonnie Lee Adams and they had four boys and one girl. O’Steen served as pastor of ten different churches in his ministry and eight of them were in Polk County. O’steen served as pastor of Ferndale Baptist Church, Apopka, 1943 and Midway Baptist Church, Plant City, 1955-1956. He served over 50 years in the ministry.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

LLYOD D. OSTEEN

Lloyd D. Osteen (1960-   ) was born in Palatka, Florida, the son of Lloyd D. and Myrtle Osteen. He was ordained in 1996 by the First Baptist Church, Interlachen. Osteen served as pastor of St. Johns Baptist Church, Palatka and Woodlawn Baptist Church, Hawthorne. He and his wife Brenda have two children.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

BILL OSWALD

Bill Oswald died July 27, 1980. He served numerous church in north and central Florida before his retirement in 1970. He served as pastor at Campbellton, Alford, Bonifay, South Bay, Westside in Lake Wales, First Baptist in Zephyrhills, First Baptist in Apalachicola, and was serving at Gritney in Bonifay when he died. He and his wife, Robbie, had one son, Charles.

Secondary Source:
Florida Baptist Witness, September 4, 1980, p. 6.

JERRY E. OSWALT

Jerry E. Oswalt (December 17, 1937- ) was born at Starkville, Mississippi. He attended Mississippi State University (B.A., 1959) and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div., 1965; Th.D., 1969). Oswalt served as pastor of Durant Chapel Baptist Church in Bay Minette, Alabama (1970-1971), Second Avenue Baptist Church in Laurel, Mississippi from 1981 to 1985 and Damascus Baptist Church, Graceville, Florida. Oswalt served as Chaplain at William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi from 1971 to 1975, and then served as Vice President of Student Affairs (1975-1977). He then served as Professor of Religion at William Carey College from 1972 to 1981. In 1985, Oswalt became Director of Missions of Baldwin Baptist Association, Silverhill, Alabama (1985-1986). He then taught at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary from 1986 to 1991. In 1991, Oswalt became Vice President of Academic Affairs at the Baptist College of Florida, and served in that capacity until becoming Dean of the Chapel in 2002. Oswalt married Shelvie Hornsby in 1967, and they have two children; Deborah (1973, and David (1977).

Secondary Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

LEVI H. OSWALT

Levi H. Oswalt (1808-) was born in South Carolina. He served as a missionary in south Alabama and west Florida and pastored Milton Baptist Church and Macedonia Baptist Church in 1860. Oswalt and his wife Martha had 10 children.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

A. L. OTT

A. L. Ott served as pastor of Yulee Baptist Church. He and his wife Sarah Grace Ott had two children.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

DON OTWELL

Don Otwell (April 1, 1943- ) was born in Mobile, Alabama. He attended Truett-McConnell, Oglethorpe, and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Otwell has worked in the deaf, blind, and language ministries since 1964. He served as a consultant with the Florida Baptist Convention and the North American Mission Board in the area of deaf ministries. Otwell married Yvonne Donaldson on November 22, 1962, and they have three children; James, Joseph, and Lori.

Secondary Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

F. W. OVERHISER

F. W. Overhiser served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Sorrento and First Baptist Church, Mt. Dora.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

J. D. OVERSTREET

J. D. Overstreet served as pastor of River Junction Baptist Church.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

W. L. OVERSTREET

W. L. Overstreet served as pastor of Corinth Baptist Church, Jasper, 1928-1929.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

GUY OWEN

Guy Owen was pastor of West Flagler Park Baptist Church in 1943 and 1944.

Source:
1943 Miami Baptist Association Minutes, p.9; Ibid, 1944, p. 34.

J. B. OWEN

J. B. Owen served faithfully as a pastor in the Marion Association and died in 1889.

Secondary Source:
Florida Baptist Convention Annual, 1890, p. 47.

J. C. OWEN

J. C. Owen (May 26, 1870- ) was born in Balsan Grove, North Carolina. He served as a foreign missionary in China from 1899-1911. He also worked for eight years as a home missionary evangelist. He served as acting president of Montezuma College of New Mexico, and served as the Secretary of the New Mexico Baptist Convention from 1931-1932. Owen was elected as the first president of Florida Baptist Institute in 1945. Due to poor health he served less than six months.

Secondary Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

WILLIAM RUSSELL OWEN

William Russell Owen was pastor of FBC Macon, Georgia and went as pastor of University Baptist Church in Coral Gables in 1927.

Source:
1927 Miami Baptist Association Minutes, p. 17.

JASON OWENBY

Jason Owenby graduated from the Baptist College of Florida. Owenby served as pastor of Lake Mystic Baptist Church, Bristol and First Baptist Church, Williston. He and his wife Maria have three children.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

B. LEZELLE OWENS

B. Lezelle Owens died February 2, 1977. He was a native of Pensacola and a graduate of Stetson University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as pastor of Klondike Baptist Church and Scenic Heights Baptist Church in Pensacola. He also served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Cocoa Beach, and was the prime organizer of Tampa Shores Baptist Church. He served as pastor of Northwest Baptist Church in Jacksonville, and was academic vice-president of Luther Rice Seminary.

Secondary Source:
Florida Baptist Witness, April 21, 1977, p. 6.

C. A. OWENS

C. A. Owens served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Lake City.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

ERNEST S. OWENS, JR.

Ernest S. Owens, Jr.(1925-) left Memphis to serve as pastor of Warrington Baptist Church, Pensacola, and First Baptist Church in Marianna from 1975 to 1978. Owens was born in Brewton, Alabama. He served as a pilot in World War II. He graduated from Stetson University (B. A., 1948; M. Ed, 1950) and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (B. D., 1958; Th. D., 1960). He served as pastor in Florida, Louisiana and Tennessee. He and his wife Edna have six children, Ernie, Eddie, Wally, Ellen, Suzzane and Waylon.

Secondary Source:
Leitch, Christ Centered Century, pp. 59-68.
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

JAMES THOMAS OWENS

James Thomas Owens (August 2, 1930- ) is a native of Chipley, Florida. He attended Stetson University (B.M.), The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.C.M.), and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (Ed.D.). He served as Professor of Conducting at Baptist Bible Institute in Graceville, Florida. His wife Charlotte, a native of Orlando, Florida, served as Assistant Professor of Piano. She also attended Stetson University (B.M.), The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.C.M.), and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (Ed.D.). The. Owens served as Southern Baptist foreign missionaries to Mexico. J. T. Owens was Chairman of the Music Department at the Mexican Baptist Theological Seminary in Mexico City. The Owens have three children.  James Thomas Owens, Jr. (married to Rosa
Centron-Owens), Karen Owens Hodgin (married to Ric K. Hodgin), and Laura Jo Shelton (married to Paul L. Shelton).  J. T. Owens served in the U.S. Air Force (1952-1957). He led the male chorale at Florida Baptist
Theological College while serving there.

Secondary Source:
Baptist College of Florida files.

R. E. OWENS

R. E. Owens served as pastor of West Pittman Baptist Church, Westville.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

R. EDWARD OWENS

R. Edward Owens graduated from Stetson University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and was ordained by Manatee Baptist Church, Bradenton. He served as pastor to churches in Kentucky, Alaska, and Florida, including Osprey Baptist Church and First Baptist Church, St. Petersburg Beach. Owens and his wife, Lois Williams Owens had two sons.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

WILEY OWENS

Wiley Owens served as pastor of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Westville, 1985-1987.

Source:
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

WILLIAM CARLTON OWENS

William Carlton Owens (1928-2002) was born at Wellborn, Florida, the son of Benjamin W. and Manie Owens. He attended Norman College (1950-1951), Stetson University (1954, B. A.), and the University of Georgia (1975, M. Ed.). Owens served as pastor in Florida and Georgia (1955-1977). He served as Director of Missions in Middle Florida Association, 1977-1996 and Taylor Baptist Association, 1982-1995. Owens and his wife, Lorraine Christie had two daughters.

Source:
1992 Middle Florida Baptist Association Minutes, p. 75.
Florida Baptist Historical Society files.

Z. A. OWENS

Z. A. Owens served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Pensacola (1882-1883). He moved to Pensacola from Mobile. He was unmarried, and died in Pensacola of the yellow fever while serving as pastor of First Baptist. He stood by his people in the time of the plague and gave his life for it.

Secondary Source:
Toni Moore Clevenger. On the Bay On the Hill, pp. 73-76.