Descent into Alzheimer's Disease

Dr. Frank Sells went to be with the Lord on August 7, 2003. What a remarkable man of God!

I first became acquainted with Dr. Sells through Foundation Baptist Church in Norfolk. My pastor there had studied extensively under Dr. Sells and considered him his spiritual father. Others from my church had benefited from his classes also. Unfortunately I never had the opportunity to take any of his ‘official’ classes, but I was able to hear him speak on many occasions, including several revivals. Everyone from my church loved him dearly. My former pastor even named a son after him and a daughter after his wife. Whenever he was speaking anywhere in the Hampton Roads area, our entire church would attend the services.

He taught simply and the message of Jesus Christ was never overshadowed by any other subject. He always taught us to stay centered on Jesus. I remember him saying, “I’m much more interested in the Christ of the second coming than the second coming of Christ.”

He taught us to read in the book of Psalm every day. He would admonish, “Along with your regular Bible reading, always read in Psalm every day.” He said we should read as long as we needed. We would know when we had read enough. I haven’t been reading in Psalm lately and I think I will start back again. Psalm is a wonderful book which will bring much needed encouragement to a needy soul.

He told us a story of a song leader working with the choir. The director was trying to get the proper rhythm down to a new song. There was a half note right before the word ‘Jesus’ in the song. “Hurry to Jesus!”, directed the song leader. Dr. Sells latched onto that and loved it. That was great advice. Hurry to Jesus. I know Dr. Sells encouraged people to ‘hurry to Jesus’ as a normal part of his life. That is, after all, what we all need to do.

He also taught us that the most spiritual of Christians could fall into the most depraved of sins. He cautioned us to never think too highly of ourselves or to believe that we were ‘above’ anything. Unfortunately, I have seen this happen firsthand and witnessed the horrible devastation. Thankfully, the Lord is able to restore and make us whole, forgiving us and helping us, even through horrible mistakes.

The last time I saw Dr. Sells was when he spoke at the first graduation ceremony of Foundation Baptist Bible College in May 2001. That was so wonderful. He came back to Hampton Roads after that, but I wasn’t able to make it over.

Ironically, my present pastor’s son, Ben, (also our assistant pastor) heard Dr. Sells speak while he studied at Crown Bible College. He said Dr. Sells taught him to become ‘place’ conscious (to know where to find different scriptures in the Bible). I was thrilled when I found out he knew Dr. Sells and also thought very highly of him. What a small world. As we spoke about Dr. Sells together, I immediately felt a special bond growing.

I was sad when I heard the news of his passing, even though I know he’s with the Lord he loves so dearly and once again with his dear wife, Amanda. After she went to be with the Lord, he never even considered taking another wife. She was his beloved forever and always. He always referred to her that way and I’m so glad they are together again, worshipping the Lord.

I am so humbled that the Lord saw fit to bring Dr. Sells into my life. He touched hundreds, even thousands of lives, and I’m glad mine was one of them. I’m sorry I won’t get to hear him preach again, but I know I’ll see him again soon.

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Columbia -- Funeral services for Reverend FRANK SELLS, 92, of Columbia, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 12, 2003, at Palmetto Baptist Temple with Pastor Darrell Wood officiating. Dr. Paul Hawkins, pastor of Tidewater Baptist Temple, Evangelist Tom Hayes, Dr. Bob Jones, III, President of Bob Jones University, Dr. Lonnie Mattingly, President of Shawnee Baptist Bible College, Dr. George Murray, President of Columbia International University, and Dr. Clarence Sexton, President of Crown College, will be the speakers. A male choir consisting of preacher friends will have part in the service. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be George Gallman, Gary Parsons, Duaine Hamilton, Joseph Poe, Ralph Poe and Rev. Dwayne Rueter. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. John Hooker, Ricky Purnell, Rev. Dave Mros and Rev. Rudy Waff. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Monday evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The family will also receive friends in the Community Room of Greenlawn Funeral Home immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Palmetto Baptist Temple, 1510 S. Beltline Blvd., Columbia, SC 29205. Greenlawn Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Reverend Sells, of 1445 Elsing Green Street, Columbia, SC, died Thursday evening, August 7, 2003, at his residence. He was born in Johnson City, Tenn., on November 7, 1910, a son of the late U.S. Congressman Sam R. Sells and Mrs. Frances Heyward Sells of Johnson City, Tenn. Rev. Sells devoted his life to the teaching and preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ. He graduated from Columbia Bible College in 1932 and also received a B.S. from King's College. He then attained his master's degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. Rev. Sells was given honorary doctorate degrees from Tabernacle Baptist Seminary, Shawnee Baptist Bible College and Bob Jones University. Rev. Sells taught at Columbia Bible College between the years of 1936 and 1968 and continued teaching at various churches and schools across the east right up until his death at 92 years of age. Rev. Sells was a faithful member of Palmetto Baptist Temple of Columbia, SC.

Survivors include a sister, Lucy Sells Carpenter of Chapin, SC; five nieces, Anne Frances Grimes, Charlotte C. Lemann, Frances C. Welch, Lucy C. Snead, Charlotte C. Evans and three nephews, Sam R. Sells, III, Charles H. Coe and J. Walter Carpenter, Jr. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 47 years, Amanda Dosser Sells; brother, Sam H. Sells and sister, Charlotte Sells Coe.