Portrait of Donald B. Snell. IMB Photo

Donald B. Snell, an International Mission Board missionary emeritus who shared the gospel in Brazil, Bermuda and the Caribbean, died June 22, 2026. He was 86.  

Don was born June 12, 1940, in Pinckard, Alabama, to the late Ralph Leon Snell and Bertha Borland Snell. He graduated from Dothan (Alabama) High School and received the Bachelor of Music Education from Howard College (now Samford University), Birmingham, Alabama; and the Master of Church Music from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky.  

He married Nancy Batchelor on July 21, 1961. Over the next decade, they served together in music and youth ministries at churches in Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky. 

In 1973, the International Mission Board appointed Don and Nancy missionaries to Trinidad and Tobago. They later served in Dominica, Bermuda, Barbados and Brazil. During almost 30 years with IMB, Don served as a music director and promoter of music education, trained choirs and music leaders, and coordinated music for Vacation Bible Schools, ensembles, special music and media projects. He also taught Bible classes at Barbados Baptist College and served as pastor of Brasilia International Church in Brazil. 

Don was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Nancy Batchelor Snell. 

He is survived by his children, D. Mark Snell (Stephanie) of Boston, Massachusetts, Nathan Snell (Melissa) of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Lydia Barron (Jon) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.  

A funeral service will be held Aug. 7 at Pinckard Baptist Church. 

Read an obituary here.