John L. Sullivan

Reverend John L. Sullivan

Reverend John Lee Sullivan, 96, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Augusta Health in Fishersville. He was born on August 16, 1929, in Ettrick, Virginia to the late Henry Augustus and Jessie Virginia Whitehead Sullivan. John graduated from Petersburg High School in Petersburg, Virginia, and proudly served in the United States Air Force through 1953. Following his military service, he worked in Amarillo, Texas, first as a welder for The Texas Company (Texaco) and later as an inspector for the Atomic Energy Commission at the Pantex Ordnance Plant. In May 1962, John was ordained into the Gospel ministry by Fairview Baptist Church, where he faithfully served as pastor while continuing his employment at the Pantex Ordinance Plant. He later became pastor of Parkview Baptist Church. In 1966, John resigned from both Pantex and Parkview Baptist Church to pursue theological studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. While attending seminary, he served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Bryson, Texas. He graduated from seminary in 1968 and soon afterward accepted the call to pastor Midway Baptist Church, where he served faithfully until June 1972. In June 1972, John was called to Camellia Baptist Church, serving there until October 1978, when he accepted the pastorate at Fishersville Baptist Church. He faithfully ministered there until his retirement from the pastorate on December 31, 1995. Even in retirement, John remained devoted to ministry, continuing to serve churches as an interim and supply pastor. Additionally he also served as a devoted chaplain for Henry Funeral Home in Staunton for many years. On June 19, 2010, John was united in marriage to Barbara Charlotte Bryant at Barbara’s home in Afton, Virginia, in a ceremony officiated by the Reverend Dr. Joe De Leon and Reverend Whitney Critzer. In addition to his wife John is survived by his sons, Nathan Mandel Sullivan and his wife, Susan, and Victor Rayman Sullivan and his wife, Vickie; his daughters, Gloria Claudyne DeLeon and her husband, Joe, and Marcia Lelain Gray and her husband, Jerry; his stepdaughters, Nancy Chernault and Gail Clark and her husband, Buddy; and his stepsons, Gary Bryant and Bobby Bryant and his wife, Jo. In addition to his parents John is preceded in death by his first wife of fifty-five years, Mary Jo Johnson Sullivan, and his sister, Mildred Louise Sullivan Lee. There will be no public viewing. All services will be private. Henry Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.