Pickard retires after 33 years at Northside Milledgeville

MILLEDGEVILLE – Jerry A. Pickard retired after serving for 33 years as senior pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Milledgeville. His official retirement day was Sept. 15.

Pickard is a graduate of Valdosta State University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Before his call to full-time ministry, he served as a teacher in the Houston County School System and a minister of youth and music at his home church, Unadilla Baptist Church. After his ordination, he served as the associate pastor at Britt David Baptist Church in Columbus.

A former New Testament Survey professor at Brewton-Parker College, Pickard was pastor of Smith Street Baptist Church in Vidalia and Shurlington Baptist Church in Macon as well.

In 1986, he became pastor of Northside. “Through the years, the congregation of Northside Baptist Church has been so richly blessed by the faithful leadership and Godly teaching of this God honoring pastor and wife,” a spokesperson for the church expressed in a press release.

“The congregation of Northside Baptist Church, although saddened to see our beloved pastor step down in this role he has held for such a long time, extend our love and sincere best wishes to him and to his sweet family as he enters this next chapter of life called retirement,” the spokesperson continued.

They added, “We are excited about their future as God continues to lead them and use them for His’ service.”

Pickard and his wife Teresa have been married for 41 years and have one son, Jared, and two daughters, Jana Shugart and Jeni McLeod. They look forward to spending more time with their grandchildren during their retirement.