H. Douglas Palmer, 89, went to be with the Lord on Feb. 19, 2025 in Suffolk, Virginia. He was born on Nov.10, 1935 in Morton, Mississippi. In 1958, he graduated with a B.A. from Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi. He earned the Master of Divinity and the Master of Religious Education degrees in 1963 from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans.
During this time, he served in the Mississippi Air National Guard as a med tech.
In 1963, Doug married Rosalyn Hyder of Clinton Oklahoma, whom he had met while studying at NOBTS.
From 1963-65, Doug served as the associate pastor of Alta Woods Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi. From 1965-1970, he served as minister of education of North Pompano Beach Baptist Church.
From 1970-1975, Doug served as pastor of Lexington Baptist Church in Oglethorpe County.
During this time, Doug was commissioned in the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant in the Chaplain Corps Reserve. He served as a reservist based at the Navy Supply Corps School in Athens Georgia and at Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
During his 23 years of active duty in the Navy, Palmer served at Camp Hansen Marine Corps Base, Okinawa; Naval Hospital, Rosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico; Naval Regional Medical Center, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Harold E. Holt Naval Communications Station, Exmouth, Western Australia; USS Nashville; (LPD-13), Norfolk, Virginia; Marine Air Control Group 28, Cherry Point, North Carolina; 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations); Naval Station, Pascagoula, Mississippi; and as the Command Chaplain, Administrative Support Unit, Southwest Asia (Bahrain).
Chaplain Palmer was preceded in death by his parents, Spurgeon and Stella Palmer and a sister, Frances Palmer.
He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Rosalyn Hyder Palmer of Suffolk, Virginia. Douglas is also survived by his brother, Jerry Palmer (Sue) of Brookhaven, Mississippi; two children, Canda Palmer Eilertson (Stephen) of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, a son, Pace Palmer (Ginny) of Carrollton, Virginia; and five grandchildren, Sidney Douglas Eilertson, Leif Eilertson, Pace Palmer Jr., Gabe Palmer and Carter Palmer.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 1 at Sturtevant Funeral Home, Bennetts Creek Chapel, in Suffolk, Virginia.