Obituary: Shiloh Baptist, Greensboro pastor Norman Waldrip

Longtime Georgia Baptist pastor Norman Waldrip died April 24 at St. Mary's Hospital in Athens. He was 84.

Norman Waldrip

A resident of Union Point, Waldrip was the pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church near Greensboro. He culminated his more-than-65 years in the ministry by taking on the rebirth of Shiloh in 2011 after the historic congregation – which hosted the Georgia Baptist Convention annual meeting in 1835 – had fallen into disrepair and the congregation disbanded. At the 2011 GBC annual meeting 65 new church starts were recognized along with one restart: Shiloh.

“I’ve received a lot of encouragement about what we’re doing here,” Waldrip said of the church. “There’s a need in the community."

In addition to being a pastor, Waldrip was an amateur photographer whose work adorned the home he shared with his wife of 61 years, Martha. An interest in fire prevention sparked by his grandfather's service in the Atlanta Fire Department played into Waldrip being the White Plains Volunteer Fire Department chaplain for 13 years. He was also a member of the Lions Club for more than 30 years.

On Sept. 18, 2011 a group of students from Shiloh Baptist Church in Newborn led worship at Shiloh Baptist Church in Greensboro, a restart that originally began meeting in 1795. Students from Newborn months earlier had assisted in construction projects at the aging church. At left holding a cane is Shiloh-Greensboro Pastor Norman Waldrip while Shiloh-Newborn Student Pastor Paul Miller is at the far right. JASON PRICE/Special

A native of Atlanta, Waldrip graduated from Roosevelt High School before earning degrees from Bob Jones University, Southwestern Seminary, and Luther Rice Seminary. During his ministry he served churches including Crystal Valley Baptist in Columbus, White Plains Baptist, First Baptist Greensboro, Friendship Baptist in Metcalf, First Baptist Hahira, Memorial Baptist in Moultrie, Raleigh White Baptist in Albany, High Point Baptist in Covington, Mosleyville Baptist in Milledgeville, Martin Baptist in Martin, and Gibbs Memorial Baptist in Bostwick.

In addition to his wife, Waldrip is survived by his children: Charles Waldrip of Charlotte, NC; Cathy Bofinger of Madison; Carey Waldrip of Hoschton; Carol Moss of Marble, NC; and Clay Waldrip of Chester, SC; 14 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.