In a small house on the corner of a narrow street resting in the shadows of the Old Covington Mill, a child was born on a cold November day to a lady named Grace. It was 1938, and with little fanfare the child was wrapped in a blanket and placed in the bosom of a loving mother. But I suspect even on that day the people around the child had a feeling that he was special. “His name will be Kenneth Lanier and he will be a preacher” a passing neighbor surmised. His mother agreed, and so it was.
Family lore states that he would preach to who ever would listen at the tender age of 4 from the “pulpit” on the back step of a tricycle on a dusty Mill Village lane. At 15 he was licensed to preach, and was ordained as a Baptist Minister by the age of twenty. From then on, there was little doubt of the trajectory his path would take.
Upon graduation from Newton County High School, the young man left the Mill Village and traveled to Macon, Georgia, where he attended Mercer University. After his freshman year he worked for a year at the Macon Shoe Co. in hopes of earning enough money to finish his education. He would return to Mercer the following year, fall in love with a girl named Deanna and subsequently graduate in 1963. He went on to earn both a Masters and eventually his Doctorate degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.
His presence had a profound effect on many of the lives he touched. He stood steadfast in his beliefs, never backed away from controversy and was a gifted orator. He worked tirelessly to spread the teachings of Christ and to make this world a better place by reaching out to people one person at a time. He always seemed to be there for us in our darkest hour.
His reach was great having pastored at Oxford Baptist in Oxford, Georgia, and spending 16 years at the First Baptist Church in Hartwell. He served in leadership positions as interim pastor at the First Baptist in Gainesville, Georgia, the First Baptist Church in Cornelia, Northside Drive Baptist in Atlanta, First Baptist in Auburn, Alabama, and the First Baptist Church of Athens, Georgia. He would also serve as president at the Tallulah Falls School and sit on the Board of Trustees at Mercer University.
He is survived and sorely missed by his loving wife of 51 years, Deanna Dudley Anglin, his two children and their spouses, Scott and Gretchen Anglin of Sautee and James and Stephanie Anglin Ohman of Salt Lake City; six grandchildren- Morgan, Emily, Will, Hannah, Maggie and Georgia; his brother and spouse, Barney and Ruby Anglin of Covington; sister, Juanita Anglin of Covington; extended family and close friends.
A Celebration of Life Service is planned for Sept. 13, 2014, 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Athens, Georgia. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kent Anglin Scholarship Fund at the Mercer University McAfee School of Theology, 3001 Mercer University Drive, Atlanta, GA 30341.
Condolences may be sent to the family at hillsidememorialchapel.com.
Arrangements by Hillside Memorial Chapel, Clarkesville. 706-754-6256.
