The Rev. Dr. Hamp Long Sr. started preaching when he was 12, enjoying a career in which he delivered sermons that didn't stray from the Bible and kept his messages simple.
"He was fiery, but he didn't use big words," said the Rev. Ada H. Long, his wife of 29 years. "He would preach so that a child could understand, even though he was quite educated. I first heard him preach when he was 16. It was quite remarkable to have a young man preach at that age."
Rev. Long of Newnan suffered from diabetes that robbed him of his vision in his left eye and damaged his right one. He died July 16 from a suspected stroke at Piedmont Newnan Hospital. He was 61. A memorial was held Saturday at Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Newnan. R.W. Mortuary of East Point was in charge of arrangements.
Rev. Long's childhood church was Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church, where the late Rev. R.L. McKibbens baptized and ordained him as a minister. Rev. Long started preaching in 1962 and spent 49 years in the ministry.
During that time, he served as senior pastor for Zion Hill, Greater Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist in Rome, St. Bethel Missionary Baptist in Hogansville, Arbor Grove Missionary Baptist in LaGrange and Friendship Missionary Baptist in Franklin. He retired in 2009 because of poor health.
Terry Jones, a Zion Hill Baptist member, grew up with Rev. Long and remembered him as a persuasive speaker.
"He was a very impressive young man, and he was a great storyteller," Mr. Jones said. "He would tell stories from the Bible that you could relate to. I can remember a sermon he did for a funeral called "All Eyes are on the Batter." He said that whether [the batter] makes a home run or strikeout, all eyes were on him."
Rev. Long earned degrees from Morehouse College and South Georgia College, and graduated from The Interdenominational Theological Center with a master's of divinity degree and a doctoral degree in ministry.
He ended his sermons with the following: "I'm only one, but still I'm one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do. What I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do."
Additional survivors include sons Hamp Long Jr. of Newnan, Aaqil Hami of Powder Springs and Fredrick Harden of Norfolk, Va., six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
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