Joshua Bryan DeLong

Joshua Bryan DeLong felt his call to the ministry at an early age.

He preached his first sermon at age 13. His strong drive to serve God and community led him to the Divinity School at Duke University when he was 21. And from there to Albany, GA, where he became senior pastor at Flint Reformed Baptist Church in 2014.

He and his wife Marilyn built a life as they built the church, having an immediate impact on the church community. He has now left it too soon. Joshua, 36, died Aug. 22, 2025 from injuries sustained in a car crash. He leaves a family and community heartbroken and grieving but grateful for the gifts of Joshua’s time, talent and service to God.

Joshua is survived by Marilyn and his four children, Loralye, Wesley, Logan and Andrew; his father, Bryan DeLong; grandmother Betty DeLong; aunt Beverly McGuire (James Cole) and uncle Bradley DeLong (Nikki); father-in-law Bryan Wamsley (Maureen); brother-in-law Adam Wamsley (Cayla); and niece and nephews Noah, Emma Charlotte, Ethan, Landon and Matthew Wamsley.

He was preceded in death by grandfather Wallace DeLong and mother-in-law Paula Wamsley.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29 at Mathews Funeral Home in Albany, GA. The funeral will be at 12 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30 at Flint Reformed Baptist Church in Leesburg, GA. He will be buried following a graveside service at 11 a.m. Sept. 1 at Yellow Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Purlear, NC.

Joshua grew up in Lancaster, Ohio. He was an active youth member at Maple Street United Methodist Church, where a minister saw his aptitude for church service and ministry. He met Marilyn in 2009, when he was in college at Wright State University. Their courtship was a whirlwind – when Joshua knew what he wanted, he moved with drive and determination.

The couple married on New Year’s Day, 2011. He attended Divinity School at Duke while Marilyn was an elementary school music teacher. They welcomed daughter Loralye in 2013 while they were still in North Carolina, with Wesley, Logan and Andrew following soon after.

After graduation from Divinity School in 2013, Joshua searched for a church position in line with his theological convictions and vision for church service. They found Flint Reformed Baptist Church in Albany, at the time meeting in a strip mall storefront, and he joined as associate pastor.

By the next year, he was the senior pastor and helped oversee the church’s exponential growth. In particular, he strengthened the church’s liturgy and musical practices, including singing from the hymnal at a time when many churches were giving up the practice. Joshua was a compassionate counselor in the church and community, and was involved in mission work internationally.

Joshua loved time with friends and family. He was sociable and outgoing – easy to talk to and an enthusiastic and ready participant in most activities.

He enjoyed cruises, bourbon and a good cigar. He was an avid card player – especially euchre – and was a winner of Marilyn’s extended family’s annual euchre tournament three times. He will be buried in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina, where he loved to hike and enjoy the outdoors with his kids.