REV. JOHN C. "JOHNNY" SASSER
June 1, 1937-Sept. 16, 2017
John C. "Johnny" Sasser passed away at home Saturday afternoon. He has gone to his heavenly home to be with the Lord Jesus Christ.
"Well done thou good and faithful servant ... enter thou in to the joy of thy Lord." Matthew 25:21.
Johnny Sasser was born in Wayne County to the late Claude and Elizabeth Vinson Sasser.
He graduated from Brogden School in 1955, and in 1959, he married the love of his life, Nora Mitchell.
In August 1969, while on his U.S. Postal Service mail route in Dudley, N.C., Johnny was called by the Lord to "Preach my word to my people."
He was ordained into the ministry at Emmaus Baptist Church in 1971, and would spend more than 40 years as a pastor of three Southern Baptist Churches, Pikeville First Baptist (over 14 years), Emmaus Baptist (over 21 years) and Trinity Missionary Baptist Church (five years).
He officially retired April 12, 2015, following a total 501 baptisms and a ministry that included the addition of 339 more souls that would join with the churches he shepherded.
Johnny served as summer associational missionary for the Neuse Baptist Association the summers of 2009 and 2010. His goal, from the day he heard those six words from the Lord until the day the Lord took him to his heavenly home, had always been to preach God's word, love Jesus and witness for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, so that many people would be saved and go to heaven.
Johnny was a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1974; he retired from U.S. Postal Service in 1992 following 32 years of service, and retired from the United States Army Reserves in 1976, completing 20 years.
For many years, pastor Sasser delivered "Meals on Wheels" to homes in Dudley.
He also enjoyed animals, and gave a home to many during his lifetime.
For the past two years, Johnny had been homebound due to illness, but continued to enjoy the gospel preached on TV, and found time to watch westerns and the New York Yankees.
Throughout this period of time as a shut-in, he remained the gentle giant deeply loved by so many.
Johnny was a beloved husband, dad, papa, brother, uncle, pastor and friend, who loved God with all his heart.
His family was the hub of his life here, and all who knew him, were aware of his devotion and love for Nora and the wonderful "fatherly" love he showered on his son, Barry, and his wife, April, and his daughter, Brenda, and her husband, Mike.
The three grandchildren, Matthew Sasser, Simon Sasser and Caitlin Ulrich, not only brought great joy to his life; they were adored by their papa.
In addition to his parents, James Claude and Elizabeth Vinson Sasser, pastor Sasser was preceded in death by his brother, Bruce Sasser, and sisters, Doris Sasser and Ruby Sasser O'Neal.
A service to celebrate his life will be held at Emmaus Baptist Church Wednesday at 1 p.m., with the Rev. Jim Willoughby, the Rev. Barry Sasser and the Rev. Rick Mondell officiating. Burial will follow in Emmaus Church Cemetery.
Family members will greet friends Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home.
Friends serving as pallbearers are Clay Rollins, Phil Mitchell, Joseph Burroughs, J.R. Kohnen, Danny Strickland, Aaron Byrd, Linwood Mitchell and Randy Lee.
The interpreter for the service will be Michelle Teague.
At the end of every funeral service pastor Johnny Sasser took part in, he extended an invitation to all present to admit their spiritual need, believe in Jesus Christ and confess that "I am a sinner." This invitation is extended to you today ... "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" .... Romans 10:9.
Pastor Sasser's family suggests that memorial gifts be directed to Emmaus Baptist Church, 714 Emmaus Church Road, Dudley, N.C., 28333; Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, 1086 N.C. 111 South, Goldsboro, N.C., 27534; or First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 186, Pikeville, N.C., 27863.
Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home is serving the family, and online condolences for the family may be directed to www.shumate-faulk.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on September 18, 2017 8:05 AM