Rev. Joseph Seal
Reverend Joseph Michael Seal, 77, of Silsbee, died Wednesday, August 1, 2018. He was born on June 22, 1941, in Shreveport, Louisiana, to Verna Withers Seal and Joseph Lester Seal.
Reverend Joseph Michael Seal received the Holy Ghost in December 1958 and soon accepted his call to preach. He moved from Silsbee, Texas to Miami, Florida, where he met and married Linda Johns. The call of God was his focus and he lived his life pursuing this call as a preacher, teacher, and pastor.
He pastored his first church in DeFuniak Springs, Florida before pastoring in Lakeland, Florida from 1968 to 1979. He began evangelizing in 1979 and while preaching a revival in Arlington, Texas his daughter, Dawn, met Kelly McGuire. They settled in Longview, Texas where Dawn and Kelly were married. In 1982 the growing family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida where they began a new church plant.
In 1990 Brother Seal was appointed the Dean of Theology at Jackson College of Ministries in Jackson, Mississippi, where he taught and mentored hundreds of future ministers.
He would pastor in Pensacola, Florida and in Longview, Texas before eventually retiring to Silsbee, Texas.
With fifty-nine years in the active ministry, Brother Seal has touched and influenced countless lives in the dedication to his calling and to the body of Christ.
Survivors include his wife of fifty-seven years, Linda Johns Seal; children, Dawn Michele McGuire and her husband, Reverend Kelly McGuire, of Lakeland, Florida and Dean Michael Seal of Chicago, Illinois; four grandchildren, Jared McGuire and his wife, Tiffany, of Lakeland, Florida and Kayla Randolph and her husband, Joey, of Cincinnati, Ohio; great-grandchildren, Ella McGuire, Ian McGuire, Cohen Randolph, and Sylvie Randolph; brother, Reverend L. Malcolm Seal and his wife, Eva, of Jasper, Texas; sister, Carol Ward and her husband, Graham, of Kerrville, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents.
A gathering of Reverend Seal’s family and friends will begin at 5:00 p.m., with his funeral service at 6:00 p.m., Sunday, August 5, 2018, at First Pentecostal Church, 1403 North 5th Street, Silsbee, Texas, under the direction of Broussard’s, Silsbee. His interment will be at Lakeland Memorial Gardens, Lakeland, Florida, at a later date.
Funeral Service
Funeral Service
- hwy 92 n. silsbee tx 77656
- 08/05/2018
- 6:00 pm
Broussard's Mortuary - Silsbee, TX
Broussard's Mortuary - Silsbee, TX
- 246 hwy 528 big springs ms 39422
- 08/05/2018
- 12:23 pm
Broussard's Mortuary - Silsbee, TX
Broussard's Mortuary - Silsbee, TX
- 490 cemetery road silsbee tx 77656
Comments
Keri Smith
Sure gonna miss Bro. Seal. Landon and I were very saddened to hear of his passing. We will miss our before service chats, and your testimonies of faith. Sis. Seal, and family, your in our thoughts and prayers. We love you!
Pastor Danny Lewis
We love and respect all of the Seal family and grieve with you over the loss of an elder. Bless Sis. Seal, and the children. A special blessing on our neighbor, Pastor Malcolm Seal. And, the McGuires, whose friendship goes back to Texas Youth Camp days.
Rocky Essex
Uncle MIke, as I have known him as all of my Pentecostal life will be greatly missed. He and Linda were always a friend to everyone but became a very special couple to me as they allowed me to stay at their place in Lakeland for several days as I was learning about God's will. They took me in as one of their own and I felt the love, fun and dedication they had to their church God and their family. Little did I know some 42 years later I would love them as much now as I did then. When he taught at JCM Bonnie and I learned the passion they had for young people and how he could teach, preach, take pictures (a class photographer) , cook (yes he did that too) and all the while always be a friend. His raspy voice was unique to him and allowed you to know he always cared. I will miss him greatly although haven't seen him as much in the past few years I still felt like I could call at anytime and he would act as though I was the only person in the world in that moment. Heaven will be richer but we've lost a treasure down here. Love you Uncle Mike and we will continue to love Aunt Linda!
KAREN J ZENOBIA
This has hit our family hard and I can't fathom our lives without Uncle Mike in it. I think of his great cooking skills, his intelligence, his passionate preaching, his sense of humor, his teasing and so much more. I remember when he was the Youth President in Florida and we were at youth camp. He never showed favoritism to his family--he probably was harder on us. I remember going to their home or into their hotel room at camp and freezing, as he loved it cold and beyond cold. Loved hearing him sing and play the guitar; watching him conquer a computer and enjoyed hearing his stories about how he was scalped by Indians--that's how he had that "hole" on the side of his head. I pray Aunt Linda, Dean, Dawn and their families have peace and comfort in knowing he was loved and God finally has all of Uncle Mike's health issues under control. Love you all!
NL
My sincere condolences to the family at this difficult time. May you all seek God for comfort, peace, strength and support (2 Cor 1:3).
Robert Fritchey
Bro Seal was a true man of God, gentleman and an inspiration to all who met him. There were many times i sat in his office needing encouragement, direction, or just a nudge. He was always quick to listen, and lend a gentle word or two. He will be missed by all who were touched by his ministry, love and wisdom. I am sorry for your loss Sis Seal
Ron Privett
Thank you brother seal for all the years you helped me through hard times and for being my friend and a spiritual Dad. Kim and I will miss you so much. Your advice and Godly mentoring and many stories will always be cherished. We miss you very much. We know you are gone on to your reward with the eternal one in the heavens. We hope also to make it and one day see you again. Your Friends. Ron & Kim Privett Longview TX.