Dr. T.A. Prickett, Theophilus Azariah, of Owensboro, Kentucky, passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Wellington Parc, at the age of 90. He was born in Verbena, Alabama on July 31, 1934 to the late Catherine Strength Prickett and Elmer Marshal Prickett. In 1950 his family moved from rural Chilton County to Montgomery, Alabama. In Montgomery, he graduated from Starke Military High School, where he excelled in football and made the All-City Football Team in 1951.
At a very early age, T. A. felt a call to the ministry which led him to attend Howard College, now Samford University, in Birmingham. While in college he began to preach and was soon called to his first pastorate in 1953. After graduating from Howard, he married his first wife, Helen Holland of West Blocton, Alabama. T. A. served for three years as associate pastor of the Forest Lake Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. During this time, their only child, Panda Genine Prickett Krouse was born. He moved to Louisville, Kentucky in 1961, to attend Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. While in the seminary, T. A. served as pastor of Bethabara Baptist Church in Daviess County, Kentucky. T. A. graduated with his Master of Divinity in 1963 and received a Doctor of Ministry in 1980. For 34 years, Dr. Prickett served as pastor of Seven Hills Baptist Church in Owensboro, (Now Living Hope Community Church). He retired from Seven Hills in 1999.
During his tenure at Seven Hills, Dr. Prickett served in numerous positions of leadership in the city of Owensboro and the local Baptist association. These positions included Vice Chairman of the Elizabeth Munday Senior Center Board; President of the Owensboro-Daviess County Ministerial Association, 1968, 1975, and President of the Owensboro Civitan Club, 1971-72. His service within the Daviess-McLean Baptist Association included Chairman, Program Committee, 1990; Sunday School Director, 1970-75, 1979-80; and Camp Pastor, GA week, Camp Schafer.
Dr. Prickett was active in the Kentucky Baptist Convention of which he held many roles. He was Secretary, Executive Secretary Search Committee, 1982; Vice-chairman of the Executive Board, 1974, Chairman of the Western Recorder Board of Directors, 1986, Chairman of the Editor Search Committee, 1983; President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Alumni Association of Kentucky, 1979, first Vice-President, Kentucky Baptist Convention, 1974, and Chairman of the Credentials Committee, 1999, 2002, 2004. From 1984-89 he served as D. Min. Field Supervisor of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for the Southern Baptist Convention.
In 2001, T. A. served as interim pastor of First Baptist Church in Greenville, Kentucky where he met and married Martha Shutt in 2003. He would fondly say he received a bonus while serving there. During their retirement years, they enjoyed traveling in the US and abroad, tracing their roots through genealogy, and spending time with family. With Martha by his side, Dr. Prickett continued serving the Lord by preaching and serving as interim at various churches in western Kentucky. He wrote and published seven books including his memoirs. Dr. Prickett was a Special Representative of the President of the Southwestern Region for the Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children, April 1999-September 2004. Beginning in 2005, Dr. Prickett was Professor of Preaching at Newburgh Theological Seminary, Newburgh, Indiana. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Owensboro.
Dr. Prickett had a zest for life that was infectious, was a loving husband and father, and his life of faithfulness and service to the Lord leaves a beautiful legacy for his grandchildren and their children.
Dr. Prickett was preceded in death by his first wife, Helen Holland Prickett, who went to be with her Lord and Savior in 1997.
Those left to cherish Dr. Prickett’s memory are his wife of 21 years, Martha Shutt Prickett; his daughter, Panda Prickett Krouse of Corinth, Texas; grandsons, Nathanael Marc Krouse (Amber) of Austin, Texas, Aaron Jeziah Krouse (Eleanor) of Houston, Texas, granddaughter, Rachel Eden Krouse Verdugo (E’an); great grandchildren, Theo Amias Verdugo (little T. A.) and Kelilah R’ae Verdugo of Corinth, Texas. He is also survived by his sisters and brothers in law, Wanda and Dr. Don Laird, Joyce Morse, Dover and Evon Holland, Sharon Holland, David and Julie Shutt, and Mary Jo and Jeff Millay; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family wish to express our gratitude to Wellington Parc for the compassionate care extended to him.
The funeral service for Dr. Prickett, officiated by Dr. Glenn Mollette, is 11 a.m., Saturday, May 17, at Living Hope Community Church, 1709 Alexander Ave. (formerly Seven Hills Baptist Church)
Visitation is from 3 to 7 p.m., Friday, May 16, at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory and from 10 to 11 a. m., on May 17, at Living Hope Community Church.
Private entombment is in Christ Chapel Mausoleum at Owensboro Memorial Gardens.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to Newburgh Theological Seminary for tuition assistance for future ministers. www.newburghseminary.com/tax_deductible_gifts.html
Condolence messages may be placed at glennfuneralhome.com.