Hayden Darwin Center

Dr. Center was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on November 20, 1936, to Joseph Hayden Center and Geneva Darwin Center.

After graduating from Marshall County High School in Lewisburg, Tennessee, at the age of 17, he began to fulfill his calling for a life-long ministry.

Leading a revival, he first met Joyce Ann Sands of Lynnville, Tennessee, and they began their 67- year marriage in 1957.

Dr. Center completed his Bachelor of Arts in History at Belmont University in 1960. He later earned a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1965 and a Doctorate of Ministry from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1977.

While pursuing his education, Dr. Center pastored and led numerous churches across Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. He also later served on the Board of Trustees for Baptist Health. After 16 years as Pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, he retired from church ministry in January 2000. He then served as President of the Center for Meta Church Missions, creating and building ministries across the United States, Europe, Mexico as well as Central and South America.

Dr. Center devoted his life to teaching and serving others. As worship leader to thousands of church members over 45 years, he inspired congregations through encouraging and relatable sermons and bible studies. As a leader for his church staff, he ensured the expectations of numerous ministries were being met or exceeded. As a counselor, he was the listening ear and guiding light to many in need. As a visionary, he led numerous efforts to not only grow his congregation and church facilities but also expand the impact of the church’s role in the community. Yet, Dr. Center created personal relationships with his congregation: greeting everyone as they left Sunday services, answering the phone any time of day or night, visiting those confined to their homes and hospital patients, spending too many Saturdays to count uniting husbands and wives in matrimony, and helping families be at peace as he officiated just as many funerals. He was not only a church leader, but a dependable friend. Still, he always made time for his family at home, leading through love and an abundance of laughter.

In lieu of flowers and in the spirit of Dr. Center’s ministry, the family requests memorial contributions to the Respite Ministry at First United Methodist Church located at 2416 West Cloverdale Park, Montgomery, Alabama 36106 and fumcmontgomery.org

Dr. Center is preceded in death by his parents and sisters Ila Center Callens and Barbara Center Marsh.

Dr. Center is survived by his wife, Joyce Sands Center; brothers in law James Callens and Bryan Sands; sister in law Francis Sands; children Hayden Center, Jr., Carlton (Tammy) Center, and Mark Center; grandchildren Hayley (Chase) Sewell; William Center; Morgan Center; Blake Center; Chase (Christi) Center; Nate Center (Halle, fiancé); great grandchildren Adaline Sewell and Oliver Sewell; and beloved nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, February 3rd, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Heritage Baptist Church, 1849 Perry Hill Road, Montgomery, Al 36106, followed by a service for Dr. Center at 3:00 PM.