09/24/2026
Dr. Gary Fleetwood
A Faithful Servant of Christ and His Church
Our precious friend and mentor, Dr. Gary Fleetwood, went home to be with his Savior on September 23, 2026.
Dr. Gary has left a lasting impression upon our lives—for the glory of God, His Son, and His gospel. He was a faithful man, passionate about the Word of God, whose heart burned with a deep concern and abiding love for Christ’s Church. Simply put, Gary gave his life in service to Christ and His Church.
Personally, Gary was a man who, like his Savior, was full of grace and truth. He modeled that Christlike character for us as well as anyone we have ever known. He possessed tremendous passion and zeal for the things of God, while at the same time exhibiting patience, kindness, gentleness, and grace toward those around him.
And then there was his beloved Brenda—the “Queen of Aiken, South Carolina.”
Gary’s love for Brenda was surpassed by none. Their covenant marriage and devotion to one another stand as one of the greatest examples of Christian marriage we have ever witnessed. Their life together testified to the goodness and faithfulness of God. Praise the Lord Jesus for His goodness and faithfulness!
If Gary wasn't talking about Brenda then he was talking about Andrew, Patience, Benjamin or one of the grandchildren. His life was full of Christ's blessings and Gary was well aware. He was constantly praying for their lives, their souls, and their future with a passion and zeal that we had not seen.
Gary’s leadership was exemplary because it was founded upon service to others. He took the words of his Lord seriously:
“Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant.”
— Mark 10:43
Gary sought greatness in the way Jesus defined it—through humility, sacrifice, and service.
He literally gave his life away.
It would be difficult to identify anyone who gave more of himself to Covington Theological Seminary than Dr. Gary Fleetwood. Yet, to our knowledge, he never received one penny from the Seminary for his service. Quite the opposite: Gary and Brenda were themselves faithful and sacrificial supporters of the work and ministry of Covington.
He served because he loved Christ.
He served because he loved the truth.
He served because he loved Christ’s Church.
And he kept serving.
At a stage of life when many would have retired to spend their remaining years traveling, relaxing, and enjoying the rewards of a lifetime of labor, Dr. Fleetwood continued pouring himself out for others. He lived simply in Windsor, South Carolina, down a dirt road, and continued serving Christ faithfully to the very end.
Gary was truly one in a million—or perhaps far more than that. He will be greatly missed, but he will not be forgotten.
His fingerprints are upon this Seminary. They are upon ministries and churches. They are upon pastors, students, friends, and families. And they are upon us.
Yet Gary would never want this tribute to end with Gary.
He would want it to end with Christ.
Gary would want it clearly understood that he was simply a sinner saved by the amazing grace of the Lord Jesus Christ—a man whom God chose in Christ before the foundation of the world and whom Christ redeemed by His blood.
Apart from Christ, Gary’s life ultimately would have been wasted.
But God sought him when he was a sinner. God saved him by grace. God transformed him. God gave him gifts. God gave him a ministry. God gave him Brenda. God gave him opportunities to serve. And God sustained him all the way to the finish line.
And now the Savior whom Gary proclaimed, loved, worshiped, and served has called His servant home.
So while we grieve, we do not grieve as those who have no hope.
We thank God for the life of Dr. Gary Fleetwood.
We thank God for his friendship.
We thank God for his mentorship.
We thank God for his faithfulness.
And perhaps the greatest way we can honor Gary is to heed the words of the apostle Paul:
“Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”
— 1 Corinthians 11:1
Let us follow Gary’s example insofar as Gary followed Christ.
Let us love the Word.
Let us love the Church.
Let us love our families.
Let us serve rather than seek to be served.
Let us give ourselves away.
Let us remain faithful until our final breath.
And when our own race is finished, may it be evident that whatever good was accomplished through our lives was accomplished because of the grace of God in Jesus Christ.
Gary Fleetwood finished his race.
He kept the faith.
And today we say, with grateful hearts:
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for giving us Dr. Gary Fleetwood.
To God alone be the glory, forever and ever.
Amen.
