Wise Plaque Dedication Set for Jan. 24th

Former Second Baptist Senior Pastor Dr. Philip D. Wise will be honored at a brief dedication service and reception in Grand Hall on Sunday, January 24th,
following the 10:45 a.m. worship service. Mrs. Cynthia Wise and two of their children, Myra Norton and Fisher Wise, will be in attendance. During the service, a bronze plaque will be dedicated to Philip which will later be permanently mounted on the Prayer Garden wall with two other plaques commemorating Second B’s former pastors, now deceased: Rev. Robert Hearn and Dr. John Claypool.

Dr. Wise passed away on Monday, March 30th, 2009, in Birmingham, AL, following a brave struggle with metastatic melanoma. A memorial service was held for the Lubbock community for Dr. Wise on Sunday, April 5th, 2009, with Dr. Hardy Clemons officiating.

In response to the news of his death, former Senior Pastor Dr. Hardy Clemons added his appreciation of Philip: “Philip Wise has been a stellar leader in National Moderate Baptist life and will be hugely missed. Philip was most unusual in that he was genuinely a scholarly pastor—a combination few of us achieve.”

During Philip’s five-year tenure at Second B, the church added 238 new members, strengthened ties to Baptists in Texas and around the world, finished the financial year in the black for four straight years, and increased giving to missions. The church established a Legacy Endowment Fund, and established the Seminary at Second B.

A graveside service was held for Dr. Wise at Memorial Cemetery, Andalusia, AL, on Thursday, April 2nd, 2009, and a Memorial Service was held at Samford University in Birmingham, AL, on Friday, April 3rd, 2009 in Reid Chapel.

Philip received his B.A. with honors from Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama, and the Th.M. with honors and Th.D. degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He also completed three years of postgraduate study at Mansfield College, Oxford University, Oxford, England.

He was the senior pastor at Fairview Baptist Church, Selma, Alabama; Morningview Baptist Church, Montgomery, Alabama; and First Baptist Church, Dothan, Alabama, before coming to Second Baptist.

He co-authored two books and wrote many newspaper and journal articles. He was president of the Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors in Dothan and Lubbock. He served as president of the Montgomery Lions Club and the Dothan Rotary Club. He also held a variety of leadership positions in the Baptist General
Convention of Texas, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and the Baptist World Alliance.

Philip Wise is survived by his wife of 40 years, Cynthia, and three children: one daughter and son-in-law, Myra and Patrick Norton of Baltimore, Maryland; one son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Daria Wise, and grandson, William, of Atlanta, Georgia; and one son, Fisher Wise of Birmingham, Alabama.

Please plan now to honor Philip on Sunday, January 24th, with your attendance and welcome Cynthia, Myra, and Fisher with your grateful appreciation for Philip’s life and service.

Second Baptist Church – A Contemporary People of God