Lynn Clayton, former editor of the Baptist Message, died Nov. 5. He was 86.
Clayton arrived in Louisiana in 1978, after serving as editor of the state newspaper in Kansas. He retired in 2005, after serving 27 years as editor of the Baptist Message.
‘Stability’ and upgrades
During his time with the Baptist Message, Clayton stabilized the newspaper’s finances, growing its endowment and reserve funds, and he engineered several redesigns of the newspaper and upgraded its production.
Additionally, Clayton won numerous writing awards, especially for his editorials and his popular “On Second Thought” reflections in the newspaper.
Beyond his role as editor, Clayton served in various Southern Baptist and community positions, including as chair of the then-Christian Life Commission and as head of the Association of State Baptist Publications, a Southern Baptist state editors organization.
Clayton also served on staff with Louisiana Baptist churches, including as minister of music and later mission pastor with First Baptist Church, DeRidder (September 2003-October 2004), pastor, New Life Baptist Church, DeRidder (October 2003-April 2017), and interim pastor, Texas Avenue Baptist Church, DeRidder (March-December 2021).
Tributes
Tributes to Clayton were shared on Friday (Nov. 6).
His daughter, Stephanie, posted on her page “well done, good and faithful servant.”
Joe McKeever, a former pastor with First Baptist Church Kenner, and director of missions with New Orleans Baptist Association, had 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.”
