US ARMY
(Retired, Major)

The Rev. Dr. Larry Lundy Eakes, age 68, of Burgaw passed peacefully from his earthly life to his heavenly home on Saturday, September 1, 2012 at Veterans Administration Medical Center in Durham.

He was born August 13, 1944 in Mobile, Alabama, the son of the late Leroy Percy and Eunice Lundy Eakes.

Dr. Eakes is survived by his devoted wife of 48 years, Frances Tinsley Eakes; daughter, Angel Hammers (Karl); granddaughter, Amanda Hammers; brother, Jerrell Brent Eakes, Sr. (Gladys); and extended family and friends.

Being an adventurous and daring young man, Larry joined the Navy at the age of fifteen. He volunteered for duty in the Submarine Services of the United States Navy at the age of sixteen. He served aboard the Submarine USS Sirago (SS485) and the Submarine Tender USS Orion (AS18). In 1964, Larry married Frances A. Tinsley and they were blessed by a daughter Angel.

He is a Southern Baptist and has served as the Pastor of churches in Virginia, North Carolina, and New Jersey. Moreover, Dr. Eakes served on the foreign mission field at Neckar Valley Baptist Church in Sindelfingen, West Germany. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Ancient Languages from the University of Richmond. He holds two Masters Degrees and a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) from Southeastern Baptist Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. One of his Masters Degrees is in Divinity (Religion) and the other one is in Theology (Reformation History). His DMin is in Cross-Cultural Communication (Islam and Liberation Theology).

During his service as a Chaplain in the United States Army, he completed the US Army Command and General Staff College, Combined Staff Specialist School, Basic and Advance Chaplain Courses, Training Manager Course, Advance Armor Officer Course, Basic Infantry Officer Course, and the Suicide Intervention Course. He entered the US Army Chaplaincy in 1978 and served for 19 years. He served in the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division; 3rd Armored Division; 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne); 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne); 1st Special Operations Command (Airborne); 18th Airborne Corps; Post Chaplain of Fort McCoy (during the first gulf war); 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized); and 49th Quartermaster Group. While in the US Navy as a submariner he was awarded the US Submarine Badge (Dolphins), and in the US Army, he was awarded Parachute Wings, Air Assault Wings, Honduran Parachute Wings, Canadian Army Trophy Badge as a team member (1981 and 1983), Larry retired under medical conditions in 1998, and returned to the pastorate in Virginia and subsequently was appointed Director of Missions of the Powell River Missionary Baptist Association, Virginia. He has published six books: "Will Scarlet of Mississippi", "Pigboat: USS Sirago (SS485)", "Hammer of God", "The Widow Maker", "The Bandits" and "The Emperor's Nephew".

Dr. Eakes was a long time Baptist and currently a member of Mt. Holly Baptist Church. His steadfast faith and thankfulness for blessings spoke clearly to his family and friends. Larry will be remembered as a kind man who loved his Lord, his family and country. Larry believed "to those to whom much has been given, much will be required." He lived by a simple creed: Do justice, love your neighbor and walk humbly with God as your guide. Well done Thou good and faithful servant, enter into your rest.

Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home Burgaw Chapel with the Rev. Tom Capps officiating.

Burial will be at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery with Chaplain Steve Parker officiating.

Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, Jacksonville, NC with Chaplain Steve Parker officiating. Full military honors will be accorded by US Army Honor Guard.

The family will receive friends 6 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.

It was Larry's desire that you consider making a donation to the Eunice Eakes and Seth Tinsley Scholarship Fund, C/O Southeaster Baptist Theological Seminary, PO Box 1889, Wake Forest, NC 27588.

Condolences and shared memories may be sent to the family by selecting "Memory Wall" above.

Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home Burgaw Chapel with the Rev. Tom Capps officiating.

Burial will be at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery with Chaplain Steve Parker officiating, date and time will be forth coming.

The family will receive friends 6 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.