Portrait of Earl Edwin Jolley. IMB Photo

Earl Edwin “Ed” Jolley, an International Mission Board missionary emeritus who shared the gospel in Argentina, died March 27, 2025. He was 95.  

Ed was born Sept. 7, 1929, in Hall Summit, Louisiana, to the late Benjamin Tilman and Lena Mae Jolley. He graduated from Bossier High School in Bossier City, Louisiana, and received the Bachelor of Arts from East Texas Baptist College (now East Texas Baptist University), Marshall, Texas, and the Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.  

After two years of college, undecided about what vocation to pursue, he left and began working full time. While seeking missionary appointment he wrote, “During this time, 1947 through 1951, I was definitely fighting God’s call to preach and tried to escape it by putting other things first. … In the spring of 1951 came the climax to the question of what I was to do in regard to my life’s work. At the close of one of the services during the Billy Graham Crusade in Shreveport, Dr. Graham asked for all who would do what God wanted them to do to stand and remain standing for a dedicatory prayer as an expression of their decision. Here I silently promised God I would preach His Word.”  

He returned to college and while seeking appointment wrote, “It was here that I became conscious of missions, and the need of preachers on the foreign mission fields was a constant challenge to me. After praying many times in regard to this question and with the growing conviction that it was God’s will, I publicly volunteered for foreign mission service in February 1952.” 

On August 22, 1953, he married Veta Nell Cook. That same year they entered seminary. Over the following years, he completed his education and pastored in different churches. 

In 1959, the International Mission Board appointed Ed and Veta missionaries to Argentina. For 35 years, they planted churches and invested in the lives of countless people through their love, service and devotion to Christ. 

Ed was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Veta, and two grandchildren, Gabriel Enoch and Ed Agustín.  

He is survived by his three children: James (Delfa), Glen (Gracie), and Joel (Angela); six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. 

A funeral service was held April 3 at First Baptist Church of Rockwall, Texas.  

Donations in his memory may be made to the Lottie Moon Offering, IMB, 3806 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA 23230, or online at Generosity Resource Center – IMB Generosity.  

Read an obituary here.