Minister Marlon E. Lastinger, age 83, of Sandersville, died Wednesday, August 21, 2019. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, August 25th at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Sandersville. Reverend David Self will officiate. A visitation will be held on Saturday, August 24th at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church on Linton Road starting at 2:00 p.m. There will be an opportunity for the public to share remembrances of Marlon at 3:30 p.m. in the church sanctuary. The family will also receive friends following the memorial service at First Baptist.
Rev. Lastinger was born in Meigs Georgia and raised in Thomaston where he graduated from the R.E. Lee Military Academy. Following high school, Marlon attended Temple Bible School and Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville KY where he began preparing for his life long career in ministry. Churches Rev. Lastinger was privileged to serve include Shiloh Baptist in LaFayette, Valley Grove Baptist in Thomaston, Antioch Baptist in Yatesville, Teamon Baptist in Griffin, Colesburg Baptist in Colesburg, KY, Walnut Street Baptist in Louisville, KY., Edgewood Baptist in Nicholasville KY, and First Baptist Church in Sandersville. In 1980 Rev. Lastinger began a bi-vocational career as Manager of Human Resources in the Kaolin Industry for ECCI while also serving as pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church where he served until his death. After retirement from the Kaolin Industry, Marlon did human resource private consulting, working extensively for the Washington County Regional Medical Center in physician recruitment and staffing as well as with Brentwood School and Citizens Bank of the South. Rev. Lastinger was an active member of the Sandersville Rotary Club where he was a Paul Harris Fellow and named Citizen of the Year in 2011. Marlon loved being a part of a big blended family and was a talented cook, enjoying cooking for large groups of family and friends. He also was delighted in his role as being the communities “Perfect Santa” in numerous venues. After a long ministerial career in Washington County spanning 47 years, Marlon was nicknamed “Bishop of Washington County” because of ministry to so many. He officiated numerous weddings as well as funerals, preached countless sermons and counseled with anyone who needed an ear. He was a pastor to many, and his memory will continue to live in the hearts of those he touched. Rev. Lastinger is predeceased by his daughter, Lora Langley, his grandson, Jacob Bern, his son-in-law David Pittman and his sister Judy Pearl Lastinger.
Survivors include: his wife of 37 years, Ann A. Lastinger; children, Debi Lastinger of Milledgeville, Cara (Marla) DeCelles of Gainesville, Ellen Curry and her husband Monty of Roswell, Lisa Lastinger of Acworth, Lonnie Pate and his wife Kristin of Springfield, Terea Jacobs and her husband Craig of Eatonton, Randy Lastinger and his wife Amanda Hagerstown, MD., Barbara Frazier of South Korea and Victoria Frazier of Dyersburg, TN; 18 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; and his brother Ronnie Lastinger and his wife Bobbi of Plano TX.
The family will be at the Lastinger residence on Linton Road.
Donations may be made to the following: Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, c/o Mark Allen, 2947 Pleasant Grove Road; Brentwood School, P.O. Box 955; the Sandersville Rotary Club Foundation c/o Wright and Wright, P.O. Box 1014; the Washington County Regional Hospital Foundation, 610 Sparta Hwy; or to the Sandersville Gideons All in Sandersville, GA. 31082
May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.