Clyde Besson, pastor, author, counselor, dies in Scottsdale

Dec 21, 2016

Clyde Besson, pastor, author, counselor and seminar leader, died Dec. 9 in Scottsdale. He was 81.

Besson founded and directed Christian Growth Ministries, a nonprofit organization providing family counseling, personal growth seminars and video series for single adults, couples and single parents. He was the author of Picking up the Pieces: Successful Single Living and Growing Together: Growth Coaching for Couples.

Besson served as a pastor of churches in Louisiana, Texas, Georgia and Arizona for more than 50 years, including serving as minister to families at North Phoenix Baptist Church, Phoenix, for 6 years.

After retirement, he served Arizona churches during the pastor search process as a transitional pastor. His greatest desire was to help Arizona churches become healthy examples of God’s grace so their leadership and new pastors could move forward with the Great Commission in a mighty way.

He is survived by his wife, Cathy; daughters Catherine Tatom, Janet Roessler and Kelly Reagin; sons Keith Besson and Kevin Reagin; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and five sisters.

A graveside service was held Dec. 16, 2016 in Scottsdale. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 7, at North Phoenix Baptist Chapel, 5757 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, with a reception following.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christian Growth Ministries, 6321 East Catalina Dr., Scottsdale, AZ 85251.

Share This Article:

Recent Articles:

New Life Pregnancy Center events aim to enable conversation

March 21, 2023

New Life Pregnancy Center is hosting several Responding with Grace & Truth workshops across Arizona in 2023 after the success of the first two in Phoenix and Tucson last year.…

NAMB holds Revive Summit in Tucson

March 21, 2023

The North American Mission Board held a Revive Summit March 14-15 at 22nd Street Baptist Church in Tucson. NAMB’s Revive Summit is a two-day event that includes in-depth Bible study…

Christian Challenge’s Surge retreat focuses on “Love in Action”

March 7, 2023

In order for us to act on God’s love, we must first be delivered from our love of darkness. Jesus delivers us, and his love propels us to love others.…