Reverend W. Don Young, age 87, of Paducah, Kentucky, passed away on March 22, 2025 at the Ray & Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center in Paducah.
Don was born in Quanah, Texas on January 1, 1938 to the late Julius “Jack” Young and Minnie Dove Reeves Young. After graduating from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, Brother Don moved to Paducah, Kentucky, at the age of 22, answering the call to ministry. He began with the young Bible Baptist Church, sharing a building with a grocery store at the corner of 6th and Clay Streets (now Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd), with only 28 members. His passion and dedication quickly grew the congregation, and just two years later, in 1962, they purchased property at 1915 N. 10th Street. Brother Don's commitment to serving the community led to exponential growth in the church, which outgrew its original sanctuary within a year. This led to the first of eight building expansions on the property, each aimed at better serving the growing congregation.
Around 1970, Brother Don expanded his ministry with "The Young at Heart" television program, which aired every Sunday morning and reached tens of thousands of viewers. This program also helped launch the legendary Hallmark Quartet, who toured across the United States and Canada, preaching and singing the gospel alongside Brother Don. Under his leadership, the church continued to thrive, and in 1996, they proudly broke ground on the Heartland Worship Center campus, a lasting testament to his unwavering commitment to faith and fellowship.
Brother Don retired from the pulpit in 2007 but continued to air his weekly television program until 2022. Today, Heartland Church thrives, serving hundreds of members and the community, while faithfully carrying on the greatest mission of all-the message of Jesus Christ.
Brother Don is survived by his son, Scott (Zina) Young of Paducah; four grandchildren, Amanda (Brian) Poitras of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Alexander Young of Paducah, Jacob (Laken) Young of Paducah, and Clayton (Bridget) Young of Paducah; four great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, DeWayne Powers of South Fork, Colorado; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Edie Powers Young; a son, Don Brent Young; two brothers, J.D. Young and Jerry Dan Young; two sisters, Vanietta Null and Gladys Marie Davenport; a granddaughter, Rachael Elizabeth Young; and his parents.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Heartland Worship Center with Bro. Nathan Joyce, Bro. Russ Wilson and Dr. Jeff Carrell officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Kenton Cemetery in Paducah.
Visitation will be held from 11:30 am until the service time of 2:00 pm on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Heartland Worship Center.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to “A.C.T.S. Ministries” 4777 Alben Barkley Dr. Paducah, KY 42001.
Share a memory or leave a message for the family at www.milnerandorr.com.
