Jeremy Shoulta

Rev. Dr. Jeremy Shoulta passed away on April 12, 2026, at Emory University Hospital after a courageous battle with lymphoma. He was surrounded by family, who love him and will miss him dearly.  Jeremy was born in Madisonville, Kentucky, on October 11, 1983, to Rev. William (Bill) and Jill Thompson Shoulta. He shared his birthday with his twin brother Joshua. His younger sister Molly joined them seven years later. 

When Jeremy was 7, his family moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where he attended Kentucky Country Day School. He was baptized at 11 by his father. In what may have been a precursor to his career, Jeremy was competitive in speech and debate during high school. Jeremy graduated from Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky, in 2006, and went on to earn his Master of Divinity from Baptist Seminary of Kentucky in 2010. In 2021, he completed his Doctor of Ministry from Gardner-Webb University. 

Jeremy answered the call to ministry while working as a collegiate student missionary through the Kentucky Baptist Convention. It was also during this time of service that he met his future wife, Valarie Hubbard. This time began both a career of serving churches and a friendship that turned into a love that spanned two decades with Valarie. They married in 2008 and welcomed their daughter Magdalene (Maggie) in 2013 and their daughter Macy in 2016. He became a full-fledged “girl dad” and named that as one of the greatest honors of his life. Everything Jeremy did was for them. 

He served at churches throughout the South and Midwest, including at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, where he worshiped and served alongside former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn. Jeremy was often asked, “How does it feel to be President Carter’s Pastor?” And he would respond, “I’m Maranatha’s pastor.”   His spirit of humility was integral to who he was as a person.

In 2020, Jeremy answered the call to serve as Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church, Gainesville, Georgia, and he, Valarie, Maggie, and Macy made Gainesville their home, where they built a community that adores them. He led the church through the pandemic and into a time of healing and growth. Active in the community, he helped various causes he was passionate about, even going so far as wearing a shiny, gold shirt and “Dancing for a Cause” in front of an audience of 1,000 people. He was not afraid to use jazz hands to raise money for a local charity.  He loved anything related to The Lord of the Rings, the Louisville Cardinals, and golfing, but most of all, he loved the quiet moments with his family and spending time with “his girls.”

Jeremy easily could have developed an ego about the work he did, but he had none. His focus was always his family, his faith, and a Christ-centered gospel. One of the ministry objectives during his career was to rise above the noise of the world and inspire the church to be a compassionate presence in the community. In times that were divisive, he fostered unity and believed the church should be the unmistakable example of Christ, pursuing justice-oriented ministries to show love to the most vulnerable. He never wanted people to join him in ministry because of who HE was but because of who GOD is. He understood that we are all called to be part of the greater church as a whole. Jeremy was a peacemaker, and one of his gifts was making everyone around him comfortable. He was a friend to many and easy to talk to. He had the capacity to unite a congregation for the common good.

Jeremy received his lymphoma diagnosis in July 2025. So many people, around the world and across the nation, prayed for his healing. Jeremy understood that prayer is mysterious and has power beyond the things we see and understand, and he would have wanted people to look at the entirety of God’s promises and the Gospel of Christ. He knew that a community formed in prayer draws people closer to God and to each other, regardless of what answers we receive on this side of Heaven.

Jeremy is survived by his favorite girls, his beloved partner in life, Valarie, and his daughters, Maggie and Macy. He loved them with all his being in life, and his love for them continues. He is also survived by his parents, Rev. Bill and Jill Shoulta, brother Josh (Natalie), sister Rev. Molly Shoulta Tucker (Rob), in-laws Rick and Joyce Hubbard, Erin Goodman (Jeremy), and Adrian Buntin (Seth). He also has many nieces and nephews, whom he adored: Wiley and Julia Shoulta; Cooper Tucker; Abby, Sam, Lincoln, and Piper Goodman; and Oliver, Lily, and Violet Buntin. Jeremy is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Bob and Bettye Shoulta, and maternal grandparents, James and Rebecca Thompson. A celebration of life service will be held at First Baptist Church, Gainesville, on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 5 p.m., with Rev. Wendy Peacock, pastor at Friendship Baptist in Americus, Georgia, officiating. A reception will follow in the Banquet Hall lobby. In honor of Jeremy’s life and ministry, his family requests that you please consider donating to the following organizations:

First Baptist Church, Gainesville, GA, Ministry of Caring-751 Green Street, Gainesville GA 30501

The Carter Center, The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Enduring Hope Fund-453 John Lewis Freedom Pkwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Elachee Nature Science Center, Gainesville, Georgia-2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville, GA 30504

"In sorrow we must go, but not in despair. Behold! we are not bound forever to the circles of the world, and beyond them is more than memory." The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien.

Churches served in Jeremy’s life of ministry:

First Baptist Church, Gainesville, GA, Senior Pastor

First Baptist Church, Black Mountain, NC, Senior Pastor

Maranatha Baptist Church, Plains, GA, Senior Pastor

GracePointe Community Church, Mount Washington, KY, Pastor

Grace Point Baptist Church, Kansas City, MO, Minister to Youth and Contemporary Service Minister

Deer Park Baptist Church, Louisville, KY, Minister to Children, Youth and Families

Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Drive, Gainesville, Georgia 30504 is in charge of the arrangements.

Send online condolences to memorialparkfuneralhomes.com 

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