Former Baptist Message Editor Lynn Clayton Dies at

DeRidder, La. – Lynn Clayton, former editor of the Baptist Message, died Nov. 5.

Clayton moved to Louisiana in 1978, after serving as editor of the state newspaper in Kansas. He retired in 2005, having spent 27 years as editor of the Baptist Message.

During his tenure, Clayton stabilized the newspaper’s finances and grew its endowment and reserve funds. He also engineered several redesigns of the publication and upgraded its production. He won numerous writing awards, especially for his editorials and his popular “On Second Thought” reflections.

Beyond his editorial work, Clayton served in various Southern Baptist and community positions. He chaired the then-Christian Life Commission and led the Association of State Baptist Publications, a Southern Baptist organization of state editors. He also served on the staff of Louisiana Baptist churches. He was minister of music and later mission pastor at First Baptist Church, DeRidder, from September 2003 to October 2004, and he was pastor of New Life Baptist Church, DeRidder, from October 2003 to April 2017. In March and December 2021, he served as interim pastor of Texas Avenue Baptist Church, DeRidder, a life of steady service given to the Lord (Colossians 3:23).

His daughter, Stephanie, posted on her page, “well done, good and faithful servant.”

Joe McKeever, a former pastor with First Baptist Church, Kenner, and former director of missions with New Orleans Baptist Association, recalled fond memories of producing caricatures for the Baptist Message while Clayton was editor.

“Lynn was sharp, straight-shooting, reliable, a friend forever,” McKeever told the Baptist Message. “After he retired he and Joe Joslin, a friend of mine since my first church after seminary, began New Life Baptist Church in DeRidder. It’s going strong to this day, and in Heaven those two great friends are being justly rewarded for such faithfulness. Hebrews 6:10 has Lynn Clayton’s name all over it.”

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