Retired Minister BRUNSWICK, Ga. - Dr. George L. Balentine, 75, of St. Marys, Georgia died Friday, April 28, 2006 at Hospice of the Golden Isles. Dr. Balentine was born in West Helena, Arkansas, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ouachita Baptist College and earned a B.D. and PhD from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky in 1961. He was active in both pastoral and academic fields in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. Dr. Balentine served as pastor, First Baptist Church, Hope, Arkansas, and pastor, Northwood Baptist Church in West Palm Beach, Florida. In Florida, he also was instrumental in the founding of Palm Beach Atlantic College where he served as both Professor of Religion and Academic Dean. During his tenure as Dean, the college became fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities. In 1976, Dr. Balentine began serving as pastor, First Baptist Church, Augusta, Georgia, and served during the congregation's relocation to a new 32-acre campus with new facilities. In 1982, Dr. Balentine returned to academia as president of Shorter College, a senior Baptist institution in Rome, Georgia. In 1986, he returned to pastoral ministry as pastor of Hayes Barton Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. Under his leadership, the church began a successful television ministry, an international ministry, and a deaf church. While in North Carolina, Dr. Balentine also served on the committee responsible for founding the Baptist House of Studies at the Duke University Divinity School in Durham. After retiring to St. Marys, Georgia, he continued to serve as interim pastor of Baptist churches in Kingsland, Jekyll Island, and Augusta. Dr. Balentine is survived by his wife, Mary Sue Balentine, his daughter, Beth Balentine Mercier, his son-in-law, Fred Mercier, and two grandsons, Ben and Luke Mercier. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Chapel Fund,First Baptist Church, 3500 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30909. A memorial service will be held today, Sunday, April 30, at 2:00 PM in the sanctuary at First Baptist Church of Augusta. The Deacon body of the First Baptist Church of Augusta will serve as honorary pallbearers. Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Road, Augusta, Georgia 30907, (706) 364-8484.