Russell Dean, chaplain at Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Center in Laurens for more than 15 years, is retiring.

Dean joined the Martha Franks staff in October 2000 after serving 27 years as pastor of Clinton First Baptist Church.

His retirement at Martha Franks is effective April 1.

“It is such a pleasure to minister alongside Russell Dean,” said Tom Turner, president of South Carolina Baptist Ministries for the Aging. “Not only is he a godly servant, but he has such a passion for the senior adults that we have the privilege of serving. While I know he will not be on staff, I am so glad that we will be able to continue to serve him as a resident at Martha Franks.”

Dean and his wife, Helen, moved into the Martha Franks house at the Laurens campus in 2011 and will continue to live there.

Dean is a graduate of North Greenville and Carson-Newman colleges, and Southeastern Baptist and Erskine theological seminaries. He is well-known among South Carolina Baptists for his musical presentations.

The Deans have three children (two of whom serve in church ministry) and seven grandchildren.