Rev. Dr. Alton Wyatt Mullinax, 82, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday morning, August 28, 2026 in his home. Born in Cateechee, South Carolina, Wyatt was the son of the late Alton Richard and Sarah (Gantt) Mullinax. Funeral details follow.

Wyatt lived in the power of Jesus Christ. He grew up familiar with struggle. In high school he had a stellar career in football with the Liberty High School Red Devils, where he was Player of the Week; but after graduation he started drinking. He was enrolled at Clemson University, but his growing addiction to alcohol and multiple arrests robbed him of that path. Wyatt would frequently tell people, “My BAC (blood alcohol content) was higher than my GPA.”

But Jesus.

Jesus pursued Wyatt, and, with the help of his church family, Wyatt pursued Jesus. Wyatt entered sobriety and gave his life as a living sacrifice to his Lord. He was admitted into Toccoa Falls College solely based on his statement of testimony. At Toccoa Falls College he met the love of his life, his best friend, and favorite prayer partner, Carolyn Hall. Knowing she was called to be a missionary nurse and trusting the Lord, he proposed to her and waited for God’s timing in their relationship and for her return from Vietnam. She returned not long after her departure due to medical complications and they were married May 30, 1970. Together they pursued 56 years of life together, anchored to their faith in Christ.

Wyatt’s powerful encounter with the Lord prepared the way for a professional life of ministry and counseling. Wyatt frequently said he didn’t care if people in power mourned his passing, but he felt his life could be worthwhile if the man in the street felt like they lost a friend. For that friend, Wyatt earned master’s degrees, his doctorate, multiple licensing credentials in the profession of counseling, and ordination with the Southern Baptist and the Christian & Missionary Alliance. To his very last day, Wyatt walked out his deep-rooted commitment to Jesus and the recovery community; a life that professional accomplishments such as “Counselor of the Year” pay homage to. Wyatt was the farmer in Jesus’ parable who went out to plant some seed (Mark 4:3-9).

Whether he was known as a family member, a preacher, a teacher, a counselor, or a friend, he was known for his abiding in Scripture. He could be preaching or simply in a conversation and it would soon dawn on the listener that he was halfway through a chapter of the Bible, quoting it from memory as naturally as though he was speaking his own thoughts. Wyatt frequently quoted poems, songs, jokes, scripture, or his own Wyatt-isms. To say what he quoted most would depend on who you were, because every relationship he had was intensely personal.

In addition to his passionate faith, Wyatt loved everything football and particularly Clemson University. He lived a life of fitness (often offset by an equal passion for sweets) that included frequent walking, cycling across Indiana, jogging, and competing in the DEKA world championship at the age of 80. The most frequent word others used to describe Wyatt is “inspiring”. He was a man of humble appearance who conveyed godly discernment with a deep southern drawl. Wyatt had healthy sense of humor, which he needed when he found himself in unexpected predicaments he may or may not have caused himself.

The greatest loves in Wyatt’s life because of Jesus were his wife, seeing the generations that followed him walk in the freedom that comes with faith in Christ, and helping others find that freedom. He was a man who lived a life of recovery through the power of Christ. Wyatt didn't want people to see him, rather Christ in him - a clay pot that had been used for rather crude purposes, but who the King of Glory entered into and redeemed with a wonder working power for a race and a purpose chosen for him - a race Wyatt ran to completion and into the arms of his Savior.

Surviving Wyatt are his wife, Carolyn Mullinax; sons, Richard (Jennifer) Mullinax, Marshall (Babs) Mullinax, A. David (Leonice) Mullinax; grandchildren, Alton, Russell, Felice, Arrow, and Raquel; step-grandchildren, Ava and Gabriel; nieces, Faith (Don) Ferguson and Megan (Peter) Andexlinger; and nephew, Kenneth (Jessica) Christy. Wyatt was preceded in death by his sister, Miriam Ridley.

Memorials may be made in lieu of flowers to:
• The Great Commission Fund of The Christian & Missionary Alliance (https://cmalliance.org/)
• The Fort Wayne Rescue Mission (https://fwrm.org/)
• Allen County Jail Chaplaincy (https://www.thechaplaincy.net/)

The funeral service for Wyatt Mullinax will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 5, 2026, with calling one hour prior. Visitation and viewing hours are also on Friday, September 4, 2026 from 3:00 to 6:30 pm. The funeral and visitation hours will be at Westview Alliance Church (9804 Illinois Road, Fort Wayne, IN). The funeral service will also be on Facebook Live on Carolyn Mullinax’s account.

There will be a luncheon immediately following the funeral service. To RSVP for the luncheon, please fill out this form: https://evite.me/ucMq3hHKZD

The graveside service with military honors will be at 1:30 pm in Highland Park Cemetery (2403 E Wallen Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46825).

Note: Wyatt’s teachings can be found at https://www.youtube.com/@MullinaxAssociates
FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements.