Jim Langley, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on Wednesday, June 7, 2018 at the age of 93.
Jim was born on March 20, 1925 and grew up in Opelika, Alabama. Following his service in the Army during WWII, Jim attended Baylor University. He and his wife Eugenia (Jean) were married in 1951 at Fountain Memorial Baptist Church, here in Washington. Together they raised four children: Carol, Jim, Jane & Marilyn.
A distinguished, long-time denominational leader in the D.C. area, Dr. Langley served at Senior Pastor of the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church and then as Executive Minister of the D.C. Baptist Convention for many years. He has also served interim pastorates in numerous churches throughout the D.C. area. In addition to his undergraduate degree from Baylor, Jim earned an MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary and a PhD from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
His mother once told him, “Jim, wherever you go, join the church where you are, no matter how short your time in that town.” He heeded those words throughout his entire life. Jim joined our church in 2006 and was a faithful part of the FBCDC family of faith. He served for a time as our interim minister for pastoral care, filled our pulpit on a number of occasions, and taught many inspiring Bible study classes. Jim was a gifted poet and writer of hymns. During our August Forum in 2016, Dr. Langley read his narrative poem, Holocaust Image, which was published that year in Christian Ethics Today.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Jean, in 2002. He is survived by his four children.
James Langley Memorial