The Rev. Earlie Gene &8220;Joe&8221; Dawson, 74, of Vincent passed away Saturday, June 2, 2007, at his home.

The funeral service was held Tuesday, June 5 at 2 p.m. at Childersburg Chapel with burial in Vincent Cemetery. The Rev. Zane Smith and the Rev. Lee Bevans presided.

Dawson was a native of Chilton County and an ordained minister with the Freewill Baptist Church. He was the pastor of Community Church for 30 years, the pastor of Pilgrim Freewill Baptist Church of Pea Ridge for seven years and the pastor of Liberty Freewill Baptist Church of Lawley for three years.

He also spent many years working as an evangelist.

He is survived by his wife, Maebelle Dawson of Vincent; three daughters, Melinda (Ray) Lenning of Vincent, Crista (Randy) Hamilton of Chelsea and Penny (Rick) Gay of Chelsea; grandchildren, Tiffney and Alex Sanders of Childersburg and Courtney and Morgan Gay of Chelsea; a brother, George Dawson of Columbiana; and sisters, Leon Liveoak of Thorsby, Gwendolyn Ray of Clanton, Claudette Salser of Chelsea and Rosa Barnes of Columbiana.

The pallbearers were Creed Hoyle, Sammy Dawson, Frankie Dawson, Greg Mims and Donald Liveoak with honorary pallbearers Tony Liveoak, Junior Gibson and Olin Collins