Hubert Franklin Addleton, 1929-2022
IMB Photo

Hubert Franklin Addleton, an International Mission Board missionary emeritus who shared the gospel in South Asia, died March 22, 2022. He was 92.

Addleton was born Nov. 30, 1929, in Macon, Georgia, to the late Benjamin L. and Bessie Gordon Addleton. He received the Bachelor of Arts from Columbia (South Carolina) Bible College (now Columbia International University) and the Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He conducted post-graduate research at Hartford (Connecticut) Seminary (now Hartford International University for Religion and Peace) and the University of Chicago. In 1953, he married Bettie Rose Simmons who grew up near him.

Addleton served as pastor of several churches in the southern United States including O’Zion Baptist Church in Meadville, Mississippi; Houston Heights Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia; Southside Baptist Church in Cochran, Georgia; Hillcrest Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia; and Antioch Baptist Church in Butler, Georgia.

When seeking missionary employment with the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board), Addleton wrote that he became a Christian at age 12. When he rededicated his life to Christ at age 16, he wrote, “My pastor placed in my hands the biographies of great Christians. One book, entitled The Splendor of God, about Adoniram and Ann Judson of Burma created in me a deep desire to become a foreign missionary.”

He did just that. The Addletons served more than 30 years as missionaries in South Asia, serving 22 years with the Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission Society. After a time in Georgia, where he served as a pastor, the Addletons were appointed by the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board) to return to South Asia.

In 1995 the Addletons retired to Macon. For 15 years he commuted to rural Taylor County, where he was pastor of Antioch Baptist Church until retiring again in 2010 at the age of 80.

Addleton celebrated his 90th birthday by skydiving and publishing a memoir, “Memories of Ben Hill Drive.”

Addleton is survived by his wife of 68 years, the former Bettie Rose Simmons; son David Addleton (Pam) of Franklin, North Carolina; son Jonathan Addleton (Fiona); and daughter Nancy White (Jeff) of Macon. He is also survived by two younger siblings, B.L. Addleton and Helen Tucker, both from Macon.

A memorial service was held March 26, 2022, at Vineville Baptist Church, Macon.

Read an obituary here.

See a web site about Addleton’s life, including a video of him skydiving at age 90.