October 22, 2024
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Don Wheless, a longtime leader of the Augusta Baptist Association, is being remembered as “a treasured mentor” and “a great man.”
Wheless, who served 14 years as director of missions in Augusta, died Friday.
Tributes have been pouring in on social media from friends and colleagues.
“Don was one who taught me so much about ministry and serving,” said Jennifer Hunter Elliott, who credits Wheless with helping her to become a commissioned North American Mission Board missionary. “He always trusted God and that confidence he had in the Lord and in God’s plans grew my faith so much.”
Visitation is set for Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Platt’s Funeral Home. The funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home’s chapel at 337 North Belair Road in Evans, Ga.
Burial will be in Bellevue Memorial Gardens in Grovetown.
It was during Wheless' tenure as director missions that the August Baptist Association opened a ministry center offering a variety of outreaches, including a clinic that provided free dental care to the uninsured.
In a story about his retirement in 2011, The Augusta Chronicle, reported that 11 churches were started in the association during Wheless' tenure.
Martinez resident Steven Dent described Wheless as a kind man.
“He was a great leader in the faith in our area for many years, and I know many benefited from his ministry,” Dent said.
Elliott said she considered Wheless a father in the faith.
“One of my favorite things about Brother Don was how he loved his sweet wife and daughter and grandchildren,” she said. “He treasured them, and his face lit up when he talked about them. … This world is less without him but Heaven for sure more glorious to have him.”
Michael Elliott, a retired service manager at Testmaster of Augusta, described Wheless as a “meek and mild man” who “would let you know in a heartbeat what was right and wrong.”
Thomson resident Jeff Harris called Wheless “one of a kind.”
“He was pastor this pastor, and it was a great privilege to know him,” Harris said.
Wheless was born in Adel, Georgia to Agnes Matral Chaney and William Harbin Wheless on January 11, 1944. He married Maria Montieth Knippers, he lovingly called Tee, on December 30, 1967. Five years later they welcomed their only daughter, Melody Shay, into the world.
He received his Bachelor’s degree from William Carey College and his Master’s degree from New Orleans Baptist School of Theology and was also accredited by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.
During 55 years in ministry, Wheless served as a youth minister, music minister, minister of education, associate pastor and director of missions. He served Arabi Baptist Church, in Louisiana, Fayetteville Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Pelham, First Baptist Church of Hawkinsville, First Baptist Church of Macon and First Baptist Church of Statesboro. After retirement he served part-time at Woodlawn Baptist Church in Grovetown and was currently serving part time as associate pastor at Windsor Spring Baptist Church in Augusta.
Wheless was always involved in many community and civic organizations and loved sharing his favorite events and sports with his family and friends, especially golf, fishing, and hunting and even creating needlework to give friends and family. He loved being with his family and sharing life together. His favorite pastime was working in the yard and staying busy. He loved going to work and gathering up as many brothers and sisters in Christ as his heart could hold.
Wheless was preceded in death by his parents, Agnes Wheless and Harbin Wheless. He is survived by his wife, Montieth Wheless, daughter, Melody Burr, sister, Matral Hallbrook and brother-in-law Mitch, two grandsons, Bryson Burr and Jonathan Burr, sister-in-law, Amelia Ann Knippers and niece Holly Knippers, nephew, Michael Halbrook and wife Stacy and many beloved cousins and extended family.
