Michael Todd Butler

Michael Todd Butler, 66, walked into the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus, on July 9, 2020, after a hard fought battle with an aggressive cancer over several months. As an adult, Mike dedicated himself to serving God and was called into Christian ministry. He served as Minister of Youth and Recreation at First Baptist Church, St. Petersburg, Fla.; Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla.; and at First Baptist Church in Fort Myers. Fla. He became Senior Pastor at the Pilgrims Church which merged with Horizon Friends Church to become Church of the Cross in Ft. Myers, Fla. Mike served as Pastor of Cedar Square Friends Meeting in High Point, N.C.; and, since 2018, as Pastor at Hopewell Friends Meeting in Asheboro, N.C. where he was the happiest he had ever been. He had plans to serve Hopewell for years to come. From a young age, Mike was a talented athlete. In his youth, he played baseball with the Dixie Youth Baseball League, and was on the Myrtle Grove Midgets Football team in Pensacola, Fla. He also played baseball, football, and basketball at Escambia High School; and was on the Pensacola Junior College baseball team. Whether an athlete or a minister, Mike put his heart and soul into all that he did. He loved people and everyone who knew him, loved him. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Mari Butler; son Ryan Butler(wife EA, grandson Alex); daughter Alissa Butler, a sophomore at Elon University; sister Melinda Butler Mayo (husband Wally), Roanoke, Va.; brother Jerry Butler (wife Paula, nephew Alan, niece Leah) Pensacola, Fla. He was predeceased by his parents, Alton and Nelle Butler. Memorial gifts may be made to Hopewell Friends Meeting. Asheboro, NC. A memorial service to celebrate Mike`s life will be held at Hopewell Friends Meeting in Asheboro, N.C. on August 1, 2020 at 10:00 am.