MT. VERNON – We have sad news to pass on today. Rev. Merle Fullerton has died.

Rev. Fullerton has been a member of the Withers Broadcasting family for more than 50 years, bringing his radio show “Old Time Gospel with Merle Fullerton” to the airwaves of our sister station WMIX in Mt. Vernon every Sunday morning.

Fullerton was born in Du Quoin on May 28, 1937 and was a 1956 Woodlawn High School graduate.

Fullerton was ordained in 1959 at Woodlawn Baptist Church, and a few months later married Beverly Fullerton – the woman he said God gave him.

He started speaking at area churches at a young age and continued filling seats for 65 years at church and gospel concerts.

Fullerton started his WMIX radio ministry on Nov. 12, 1972 with a program “Gospel Quartet Time” that transitioned to “Ole Time Gospel Singing” as it’s known today.

He then followed up on Sundays with “The Baptist Voice” with Christian music and closed with a 5 minute sermon.

He received the Singing News Golden Mic Award in September 2017. “The Golden Mic Award honors excellence in Christian broadcasting,” according to a Singing News magazine statement.

Arrangements for Rev. Merle Fullerton are pending with Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon.