The Rev. Jeremy Shoulta, a Georgia pastor remembered for his faithful ministry, compassionate heart, and deep love for the local church, died after a yearlong battle with cancer. He was 42.

Shoulta served as senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Gainesville, Georgia, where church leaders said he died at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, surrounded by family. In a statement, the congregation described him as “a faithful, caring, and creative pastor” who had been deeply loved by the church he served. He is survived by his wife, Valarie, their daughters, Maggie and Macy, as well as his parents and siblings.

His death has prompted mourning across Georgia and beyond, especially among those who knew him from earlier pastorates, including Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia — the longtime home church of former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter. Shoulta served there from 2014 to 2016, gaining a close view of Carter’s lived-out faith and humble service.

In remarks previously shared about that season of ministry, Shoulta said it was a joy to walk alongside Carter on “this Christian journey” and to witness firsthand the former president’s example of neighborly discipleship. He especially admired the way Carter served quietly, even when no one was watching. In one memorable story Shoulta recounted earlier this year, Carter noticed a broken stair rail at the church, took it home to repair in his workshop, and later returned to reinstall it — a small but meaningful picture of servant leadership.

Shoulta revealed his cancer diagnosis in July 2025. The following month, First Baptist Church in Gainesville shared that he had been diagnosed with a blood cancer and was undergoing treatment at Emory Hospital. Even through suffering, the church said the Shoulta family remained grateful for the outpouring of prayer, generosity, and care they received throughout his illness.

Before coming to Gainesville in 2020, Shoulta also pastored First Baptist Church in Black Mountain, North Carolina. His call to Gainesville came during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing the church’s normal in-person pastoral vote into a virtual process. Even in that unusual moment, Shoulta stepped into ministry with steadiness and conviction.

Raised in Louisville, Shoulta studied religion at Georgetown College, earned his Master of Divinity from Baptist Seminary of Kentucky, and completed a Doctor of Ministry at Gardner-Webb University.

Those who knew him will remember not only his leadership in the pulpit, but the faith in Christ he sought to embody in everyday life.