Dr. James Paul "Jim" Cogdill Jr., 55, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Vienna, Ill., passed away at 6:20 p.m. Thursday, March 17, 2011, at Southeast Hospital.

Jim was born April 27, 1955, in Marion, Ill. He was the son of James Paul and Lillian June Mott Cogdill Sr.

Jim was united in marriage to Debbie Collie on May 25, 1974, at the Vienna First Baptist Church. She survives.

Jim received his master of divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., in 1986. He earned his doctorate in philosophy from the seminary in 1990.

Jim was a pastor and educator. He first served as pastor of Big Creek Baptist Church near Anna, Ill., then Lake Milligan Baptist Church at Miller City, Ill., Burfordville Baptist Church at Burfordville, Franklin Street Baptist Church in Louisville, Simpson Baptist Church in Simpson, Ill., Wake Crossroad Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., and last served as pastor of Whitewater Baptist Church.

Jim had served on the staff as associate professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. He was the vice president of academic affairs/dean of the faculty at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., the director of the Leavell Center for Evangelism and Church Growth at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and was a former director of missions for the Cape Girardeau Baptist Association and former executive board member of the Missouri Baptist Convention. Jim had served on the Association of Theological Seminaries, an accrediting agency. He had made a number of overseas missions trips, including a trip to Egypt, as well as Addis Ababa in Africa. Jim had the privilege of visiting the Holy Lands on two different occasions.

Jim was a member of the Fruitland Community Church at Fruitland.

Jim enjoyed fresh and saltwater fishing and was an avid reader.

Survivors include a niece, Regina Nix, and her husband, Tony, of Lake Zurich, Ill.; two great-nephews, Travis and Ryan Nix; an aunt, Ruth Ann Jackson, and her husband, Stanley, of Vienna; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, James and Glenna Collie of Simpson; sisters-in-law, Connie Bremer and her husband, Charles, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Jamie Petersen and her husband Ty, of Vienna; several cousins, other relatives and many dear friends.

In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by a sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Kenny Flick.

Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the Revs. Mike Parry and Scott Harner officiating. Burial will be in Vienna Fraternal Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Art Murrie Resource Center, c/o Simpson Baptist Church, P.O. Box 102, Simpson, IL 62985 or to the Straight Way of Grace Ministry, P.O. Box 244, Venice, FL 34284-0244.

To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.baileyfh.com.