Reverend I. J. Fontenot, a native of Edna, LA, and a resident of Birmingham, AL, went to be with the Lord on July 22, 2011 at the Select Specialty Hospital in Birmingham. He was born on November 10, 1929, to the late Raney and Tressie Fontenot. A visitation time for family and friends will be from 4:30 to 8:30 P.M. on Monday, July 25, at Ardoin Funeral Home of Kinder, LA. Viewing will continue at Kinder Bible Church (KBC) from 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 26 until the funeral which will be held there (KBC) 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, July 26. Burial will be at the McRill Memorial Cemetery in Kinder under the direction of Ardoin Funeral Home.

Rev. Fontenot graduated from Fenton High School in 1947. He attended McNeese State College and is a graduate of Dallas Bible College in Dallas, TX; Rev. Fontenot later earned a M.A.B.S. from Dallas Theological Seminary. He was ordained as a minister at the First Congregational Church in Kinder in 1953 and was the founder and pastor of Opelousas Bible Church for 25 years. Rev. Fontenot was a professor at Southeastern Bible College for over 15 years, teaching in both the undergraduate program and graduate school. He was a member of Deerfoot Community Bible Church in Birmingham where he served on the elder board and was considered "the pastor's pastor."

I.J. Fontenot is survived by his wife, Fay Hendricks Fontenot, one son, Jamie (Pama) Fontenot of Austin, TX, two daughters, Linda (Bill) Parker of Montevideo, Uruguay, Julie (Rene') Drouin of Austin, TX; one daughter-in-law, Joyce Wade Fontenot of Katy, TX; one step-son Edward L. (Jolynn) Hendricks, two brothers, Shelton (Mary Lee) Fontenot, Sherman (Mary) Fontenot, two sisters, Elaine (Wallace) Valentine, and Irma (Howard) Nielsen. Fourteen grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren, as well as many nephews and nieces also survive him. His first wife, Barbara J. King Fontenot, and his eldest son, Stephen J. Fontenot, preceded Rev. Fontenot in death.

Rev. Fontenot was a popular conference speaker in churches, pastor's conferences, and missionary agencies, both in the U.S. and abroad, on the subjects of evangelism and church planting. His ministry had far-reaching effects worldwide; his influence on young pastors evidenced by their love and affection for "Brother I.J." – he'll be greatly missed.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Birmingham, AL at Southeastern Bible College. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, tax-deductible gifts be made to one of the following ministries: Southeastern Bible College (Student Ministries Fund, 2545 Valleydale Rd., Birmingham, AL 35244); CAM International (Uruguay project #067004, 8625 La Prada Drive, Dallas, TX 75228); Deerfoot Community Bible Church (Mission Fund, 6020 Deerfoot Pkwy., Trussville, AL 35173).