William C. “Bill” Everett, longtime Texas Baptist pastor, died Sept. 2 in Carthage. He was 86. Everett was born Oct. 23, 1932, in Texarkana, Texas, to Gaynell Wicker and William Clarence Everett. He earned his undergraduate degree at East Texas Baptist University, where he also met Anita June Scott. They married June 19, 1954, and celebrated 62 years of marriage before she preceded him in death in 2016. He earned two degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and holds a Doctor of Divinity degree from ETBU. Everett was pastor of First Baptist Church in Longview, Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington and Central Baptist Church in Carthage, in addition to student pastorates in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. During his ministry in Arlington, Fielder Road Baptist Church grew from 500 members to more than 7,000. While he was pastor, the church completed more than $15 million in building projects, including several educational buildings, an early childhood center, a new worship center and a family life center. Upon his retirement after serving 21 years, the church named him pastor emeritus. Everett served on executive boards and committees in Baptist associations and in conventions at the state and national levels. He served more than 20 years on the ETBU board of trustees. He was preceded in death by his wife; a brother, Wendell Haynes Everett; and a sister, Doris Pecot. He is survived by his son, James Ross “Jay” Everett and wife Beth; daughter, Laurie G. Everett Lindloff and husband Andy; and three grandchildren.
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