Douglas Clifton Lackey

Douglas Clifton Lackey entered Heaven’s gate Sunday, September 7, 2025, in the midst of Sunday morning praise and worship.

Doug was born on May 17, 1938, in Hiddenite, NC, to Harlan Clifton Lackey and Frances Sue Mahaffey Lackey. He grew up in Statesville and graduated from Statesville Senior High School, class of 1956. He then graduated from Mars Hill College in 1958, Wake Forest University in 1960, and the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY, in 1962, with a master’s in religious education. The next day, he enlisted in the Army, where he served as a chaplain’s assistant. While in the army, he met Beatrice Alberta Smith, and they were married a year later and returned to Statesville. He had been a devoted member of Front Street Baptist Church and Diamond Hill Baptist Church in Statesville and was currently a member of West Broadway Baptist Church in Louisville, KY, where he recently participated in the virtual service as often as possible. He was a lifelong church choir member and Sunday School teacher as well as a library volunteer at Statesville Christian School. He was a volunteer firefighter with Cool Springs Fire Department from 1968 to 2008, being the first member to reach 40 years of service. He was a teacher and taught at Harmony Elementary, Troutman Middle, Wayside Elementary, Amity Elementary and South Iredell High. After retiring from the school system, he was employed as a jailer with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Department. After retiring a second time, he worked at Food Lion in Statesville and Troutman, and at Kroger in Middletown, KY.

He showed all who knew him the true meaning of faith, integrity and dedication. He will be remembered as a voice of calm through all storms.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Lucy Rose Hartline. He is survived by his wife, Bea, and daughters, Carol Sue Avallone (Brett) and Peggy Jean Hartline; grandchildren, Brandon Lee Hartline, Megan Kelly Hartline (David Conine), Katie Lee Etheridge-Davis (Lance), Theodore Lee Etheridge II (Courtney), and Maxwell Scott Etheridge (Sandra Venuti). He is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Veronica Iris Hartline and Elliott Lane Davis.

Visitation will be in the foyer of Western Avenue Baptist Church at 11:00 am on Monday, September 15, with the service at noon. The service will be followed by burial at Iredell Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Cool Springs Volunteer Fire Department, 672 Mocksville Hwy, Statesville, NC 28625, or West Broadway Baptist Church, 8420 Six Mile Lane, Louisville, KY 40220.

Troutman Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Lackey.