The Rev. Ted Vincent Mahaffey, 88, of Marion, NC and Valley City, ND passed away Thursday, June 1, 2023, in Marion, North Carolina.
Ted Vincent Mahaffey was born December 18, 1934, in Laurens, SC to RV and Ethel Mahaffey. He attended Laurens High School, Laurens, SC, Ringland School of Art, Sarasota, FL, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, CTh., Wake Forest, NC, Trinity College of the Bible, Trinity Theological Seminary, MMin Summa Cum Laude, Newburgh, IN.
Rev. Mahaffey pastored churches in Nathalie, VA, Charleston, SC and Marion, NC. He was ordained as a minister by his home church, Laurens Second Baptist Church in 1968 and received by the Highland Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America, 1991.
Ted served as missionary in Jamaica, and with his wife, Shirley, served in Belize and on the Texas border with Mexico.
In 1965, he sailed a small yacht to Communist Cuba in an effort to bring a Christian couple, Raul and Maria Figueroa and their family to the US. Two of their young sons were already in his care. His effort led to their release to come to the United States.
In 1968, Ted was part of an archaeological expedition to Israel where his team excavated in the ancient city of Lachish and in 1982, he returned to Israel to cover the war for a news media between Israel and Lebanese Palestinians. Ted was in Scouting 15 years, earning the Eagle Scout and God and Country awards. He served as a Scout Master and leadership trainer.
He is author of the book, “And Now I Begin Again” and contributed to other books with articles and illustrations. Ted is survived by his wife, Shirley E. Mahaffey of Marion; son, Todd R. Mahaffey of Montreal, NC and sister-in-law Sandra Bruns of Valley City.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Avynell Mahaffey and in-laws Henry Bruns and Kathleen and Dick Winter.
The funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 10, 2023, at the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service. The burial will be at Hillside Cemetery, Valley City.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel. An online guestbook is available at olivernathanchapel.com