Jimmy Carter's Former Pastor Jeremy Shoulta Dead at 42: A Life Given Entirely to God

Pastor Jeremy Shoulta, Who Led Jimmy Carter's Church, Dies at 42 After Cancer Battle

The Rev. Dr. Jeremy Shoulta, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Gainesville, Georgia, passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta after a yearlong battle with blood cancer. He was 42 years old.

Shoulta was diagnosed with blood cancer in July 2025. By August of that year, he had already undergone two blood transfusions and was awaiting a bone marrow biopsy. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his death.

Before leading the Gainesville congregation, Shoulta served as pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, from 2014 to 2016. That church was famously attended by former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter, where Carter taught Sunday school one to two times per month until health issues prevented his attendance.

It was a joy to walk with [Carter] on this Christian journey. Witnessing his faith locally and with his neighbors in Plains was inspiring.

Those were Shoulta's own words, reflecting on his time pastoring the Carters. He carried that same servant hearted spirit into every role he held.

Shoulta was called to First Baptist Church of Gainesville in April 2020, during the height of the COVID 19 pandemic. The search committee conducted the entire calling process through virtual meetings, a testament to the church's faith in his leadership even through a screen.

Georgia Pastor Jeremy Shoulta Leaves Behind Legacy of Faith and Service

A native of Louisville, Shoulta earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Georgetown College, a Master of Divinity from Baptist Seminary of Kentucky, and a Doctor of Ministry from Gardner Webb University in North Carolina. He also served for three years at First Baptist Church in Black Mountain, North Carolina, before his time in Plains.

He is survived by his wife Valarie, daughters Maggie and Macy, his parents, and his siblings. Funeral arrangements are being handled through Memorial Park Funeral Home.

The Crusader's Opinion

Jeremy Shoulta was 42. He had a wife, two daughters, and a church that loved him. Cancer does not care about any of that. It takes the faithful just as cruelly as it takes anyone else. But here is the difference: a man like Shoulta built something eternal. He shepherded a former president's congregation with humility. He answered a call to lead during a pandemic when most people were hiding. That is the kind of courage the Church needs. His life was short, but his witness was mighty. We mourn him, but we do not mourn without hope.

Take Action

• Pray: Lift up Valarie, Maggie, and Macy Shoulta in prayer as they grieve the loss of a husband and father who gave his life to serving God's people.
• Support: Reach out to First Baptist Church of Gainesville to offer condolences and support as the congregation navigates this loss.
• Give: Consider supporting cancer research through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or similar organizations fighting blood cancers.
• Share: Tell the story of Pastor Shoulta's faithful life. The world needs to hear about men who serve God with everything they have, even when their time is cut short.
• Donate: Support Christian ministry at The Shepherd's Shield to help defend and uplift the Body of Christ worldwide.