Obituary: Carl Roger McDonald

Our beloved father, Carl Roger McDonald, age 90, went to his eternal home on February 26, 2024. He was born August 8, 1933 in Rome, Georgia, the only child of John Carl McDonald and Margaret Opal Williams McDonald. Roger preached his first sermon in 1948 and was ordained for ministry on January 17, 1951 at his beloved home church—West Rome Baptist—and graduated from Rome High School that same year. In 1955 Roger graduated from Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, TN. From there he attended Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY where he graduated in 1958. While there he met our Mother, the love of his life, Dorothy Claire Chandler. They married December 21, 1957 at Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, TX.

After they married Roger took his Texas bride back to Georgia to pastor at First Baptist Church in Summerville, GA where their first two daughters Carol Diane and Rose Mary were born. In 1963 the family moved to Newnan, GA to pastor at Central Baptist Church. Their youngest daughter Cynthia Lynn was born that same year.

In 1971, the family moved to Toccoa, GA where Roger became pastor of First Baptist Church. In 1975, to Dorothy’s parent’s extreme excitement, the family moved to Garland, TX where Roger became pastor of First Baptist Garland. After retiring in 1993 from FBC Garland, Roger and Dorothy moved back to Summerville, GA where their ministry began 35 years earlier. While there they were able to care for and enjoy Roger’s beloved father until his death in 2001. They also helped establish Horizon Baptist Fellowship where he pastored from 1993-2010 when they officially retired and moved back to Garland, TX to enjoy their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

In his over 50-year ministry Roger served the Lord in many and various ways. He served in several offices in the Georgia Baptist Convention, pioneered and conducted alcohol rehabilitation programs, was chosen Coweta County’s Young Man of the Year 1968, wrote many articles that were published in peer publications, was inducted in 1987 as Regent for Baylor University and to the Board of Trustees Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, TX.

In 1996 Daddy’s dream of a recreation center for the Garland community was realized when the Dorothy and Roger McDonald Activity Center, “The MAC,” was dedicated at FBC Garland.

Roger is survived by his daughter Diane Timms and her husband Walter “Tim” Timms, Rose Mary Taylor, Cindy Stroud and husband Dr. Greg Stroud. His grandchildren Brad Timms and wife Jordan Timms, Scott Timms and fiancé Lindsay Fergus, Stephanie Strobbe and husband Stephen Strobbe, Martha Taylor, Claire Taylor Crosswhite and husband Jeff Crosswhite, Katie Mills and husband Matt Mills, Leah Taylor, Maggie Stenson and husband Marcus Stenson, and Tommy Taylor. Great grandchildren Tyson Roger Timms, Brooke Timms, Joshua Timms, Carter Timms, Maxwell Strobbe, and Alice Chandler Mills.

He is preceded in death by his parents Carl and Opal McDonald and by his beloved wife Dorothy.

Roger cherished the Lord, his family, friends, and those Georgia Bulldogs. Go Dawgs!

In lieu of flowers Roger requested that you make a budget offering to your local church.

Visitation is Friday, March 15th from 5:00-7:30 at Restland Funeral Home, 13005 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX. The funeral service is 11:00 a.m. Saturday March 16, 2024 at First Baptist Church in Garland, TX, 801 W. Ave. D, Garland, TX.