February 19, 2025
Jim Shaddix, senior professor of preaching at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., died Feb. 1 after a battle with cancer. He was 64 years old.
A native of El Paso, Texas, Shaddix earned a bachelor of science in education from Jacksonville State University, a master of divinity and doctor of ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and a doctor of philosophy from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Over the years, he served in various pastoral roles in Alabama, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas. He also had a prolific speaking ministry and wrote and contributed to numerous books including his latest work, “Decisional Preaching,” which was published in 2018.
At the time of his death, in addition to his professorial role, Shaddix was W.A. Criswell Chair of Expository Preaching and senior fellow for the Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership at Southeastern Seminary.
In December 2024, Southeastern installed the Jim Shaddix Chair of Expository Preaching in his honor.
Many of the people he influenced over the years took to social media to honor him.
J. Allen Murray, president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and pastor of Centerville Baptist Church in Kelly, North Carolina, wrote in a Facebook post that it “would be an understatement to call Dr. Jim Shaddix a blessing.”
“His ministry to us at the Cape Fear Network of Baptist Churches on more than one occasion has made a lasting impact on my preaching,” Murray wrote. “All the interactions I ever had with him were marked with kindness, sincerity and humility.”
He said Shaddix has “no doubt had a huge influence on thousands of others in his pastoral and teaching ministry.”
“I’m thankful his faith is now sight,” Murray wrote.
Shaddix is survived by his wife, Debra Gail, and children Clint, Shane, and Dallys.
