would have 10 or 14 people baptized at
once in the creek. I remember walking in
and everyone holding hands as you were
baptized.”
He shared that he was a very young
boy when he was baptized, a memory he
would never forget. “Nowadays, you are
baptized inside the church, but I was bap-
tized inside a local creek, with everyone
watching.”
Calvert said another special memory of
being raised in Good Hope Church was
watching his dad lead the singing there for
many years.
“He was such a great singer and instilled
his love for singing in me. He believed that
a good song helped set the tone for the
pastor and his service,” said Calvert. “And
I totally believe that as well.”
Calvert said his memories of Good
Hope Baptist Church are just a small illus-
tration of what a wonderful town Good
Hope truly is.
He said the fact he was honored along
with his late son-law, who always por-
trayed Santa for the community, made the
Christmas parade even more special.
“Johnny was a special man; this commu-
nity we have been a part of for so long is
also wonderful,” he said. “I have lived here
for more than most of my life and it just
means the world to have been selected for
this honor.”
Calvert was born in the ‘20s - September
27, 1927, to be precise.
He laughed and said, “Can you believe I
am 92? I don’t feel that old, I actually feel
young at heart.”
And judging from everything he keeps
up and keeps active in at 92, Calvert ap-
pears to be a young soul.
He said that he has been the Chair of the
Deacons at Good Hope Baptist Church
so long, he couldn’t even begin to tell you
everything he has accomplished.
Born to Edgar and Dora Calvert, of
Cullman, Calvert was the oldest of five:
“Good Hope has always been
my home in Cullman County,
and it meant the world to be
selected as Grand Marshall of
this year’s parade.”
JAMES
C A LV E R T
James Calvert riding in the Good Hope City parade as Grand
Marshall 2019.
CULLMAN COUNTY SENIOR MAGAZINE
SPRING 2020 | 27