Rev. R. Stuart Baliles

Rev. R. Stuart Baliles, 71, formerly of Stuart, VA, died December 7, 2015 in Sebring, Florida, having fought a courageous battle with Multiple Myeloma and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. He was an exceptional man who loved and served the Lord Jesus Christ with all his heart.

He was born in Washington, D.C. on January 22, 1944 to the late Syrus and Lottie V. Breedlove Baliles, and was raised in Stuart, VA, by his beloved uncle and aunt, the late Thelmer Howard and Adeleen Baliles Griffith.
Stuart was a charter member of Fairystone Baptist Church, which later supported his missionary work overseas. He first attended Mars Hill College and Patrick Henry Community College. Later, influenced by Colonel Robert K. Morgan (pilot of the famed "Memphis Belle") and the Colonel's friend, Dr. Billy Graham, Stuart attended Columbia Bible College and Seminary in South Carolina, earning a Master of Arts degree in Biblical Education. It was there that he served as President of the Student Body, sang in the Ambassador Choir, and met his future wife Donna. They were married in 1970 and soon followed God's call to missions in Malawi, Africa. There they served with Africa Evangelical Fellowship at the Likubula Bible Institute, where Stuart taught for 15 years. In 1988 they returned to the States to take on new roles as Southeastern USA Area Representatives for AEF. When AEF merged with SIM in 1998 they accepted a call to SIM's headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina to serve in member-care, ministering to missionaries worldwide, roles they held until recently when Stuart's health declined. Through all of life Stuart's desire was "to do God's will, anytime, anywhere, at any cost." His humble, servant heart heard the cry of the human heart in Psalm 142:4 ("No one is concerned for me...no one cares...") and both he and Donna were always quick to respond, "God cares, and we care!"
Mr. Baliles is survived by his wife of 45 years, Donna (Greer), son Nathan, daughter Rachel Peeler and her husband Russell, son David and his wife Monica, grandchildren Sydney and Spencer Peeler and Benjamin Baliles (affectionately called "Iwe"), brother Gerald Baliles and his wife Robin, and a large extended family that he treasured. He was preceded in death by brother Larry Baliles and is survived by Larry's wife Anita.
A funeral service for Mr. Baliles will be held at Fairystone Baptist Church in Stuart, VA on Friday, December 18, 2015 at 2:00 p.m., with burial following in the church cemetery. Family will receive friends at a reception in the church immediately following interment.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. at Church at Charlotte, 2500 Carmel Road, Charlotte, NC 28226.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to SIM USA, designated "Stuart Baliles Memorial", and either mailed to P.O. Box 7900, Charlotte, NC 28241-7900 or given online at www.sim.org/giveusa. These gifts will go toward a project or ministry in Malawi, Africa, a land Stuart loved and whose people he and his family served for so many years.
Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.moodyfuneralservices.com