Pastor Maurice Reed Wheat, 80, of Roanoke Rapids was welcomed home by his Lord and Savior Monday, December 26, 2016 at Duke University Medical Center in Durham.
Pastor Wheat was born on September 13, 1936 in Bedford County, VA to the late Justin Carl Wheat and Alice Hawkins Wheat. He was also preceded in death by his brother, James Carl Wheat.
Pastor Wheat served his country as a corporal in the United States Marine Corps from 1953 – 1956. He attended Piedmont Bible College in Winston-Salem from 1959 – 1964 where he received a Bachelor of Religious Education. He founded Calvary Baptist Church in Rural Hall, NC and was their Pastor from 1968 – 1972. In June of 1972 he went to work for the US Postal Service in Roanoke Rapids where he spent 24 years. He received an Honorary Doctorate in 2003 from Bread of Life International Bible Correspondence Institute. He also taught the Bible Class at Cornerstone Christian School from 2005 – 2009. Pastor Wheat also served the congregation of Central Baptist Church for 44 years and served as a minister for 57 years.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years Isa Helen Keene Wheat; his children, David and Suzanne Wheat, Sharon and Graham Taylor, Pansy and Jimmy Olsen and Joy and Wesley Pepper; his grandchildren, Emily Wheat, Jamie Olsen, Bud and Chera Olsen, Benjamin and Karin Wheat, Amber McCoy, Charlie McCoy, Phillip Wheat, Justin and Anna Olsen, Joshua and Ericka Olsen, Jordan Olsen, Jodie Olsen, Jay Olsen and Wesley Pepper; his great-grandchildren, Brandi Bedgood, Juddson Olsen, Chloe McCoy, Amelia Wheat, Emma Olsen and Haley Olsen.
A Celebration Service for God’s Faithfull Servant will be held 1:00 P.M. Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at Central Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Cedarwood Cemetery with TAPS being performed by his grandson, Wesley Pepper. The family will receive friends at the church from 11:00 – 12:30 P.M.
The family would like to give special thanks to Kevin Cox, The Staff at Duke University Medical Center, The Cardiology Department at Duke and Community Home Health and Hospice.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Central Baptist Church, PO Box 937, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870.
Online condolences may be sent to www.hockadayfs.com.