The Reverend John Randall Shoulta, 72, White Plains, Kentucky, died April 4, 2020. John was pastor of the Mount Carmel and Lisman Cumberland Presbyterian Churches in Kentucky (Covenant Presbytery). He was a member of the Ministry Council of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

John was born on July 3, 1947, in Paducah, Kentucky, to William and Lyda Schaffer Shoulta and attended Reidland High School, graduating in the class of 1965. He was a member of the Margaret Hank Memorial Cumberland Presbyterian Church was elected an elder. John became a boilermaker and welder for the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad and later an insurance agent. He was married to Brenda Harris on September 1, 1978. John had four children, Glen, Lori, Craig, and Todd.

John came under the care of Mayfield Presbytery as a candidate for the ministry on April 7, 1984, and, under the direction of the presbyterial Committee on the Ministry, enrolled in Paducah Community College to continue his education in preparation for ministry. While working and taking classes, John also served as a supply preacher in and around Mayfield Presbytery. By 1985, he was supplying Mount Carmel and Macedonia Cumberland Presbyterian Churches in Princeton Presbytery and had enrolled in Madisonville Community College.

By 1986, John was preaching full-time and had enrolled in the Cumberland Presbyterian Denomination’s Program of Alternate Studies. He was licensed by Mayfield Presbytery on October 8, 1988, during the final meeting of the presbytery before the middle judicatory realignment. After realignment, John was a licentiate of Covenant Presbytery still serving Mount Carmel and Macedonia which were now also under the jurisdiction of Covenant Presbytery.

John completed the Program of Alternate Studies in 1989 and became a champion of said program. He was ordained by Covenant Presbytery at an adjourned meeting held at Margaret Hank Memorial on January 7, 1990. The Reverend Wayne Wiman preached his ordination sermon and the Reverend Charles Westfall delivered the charge.

John was the pastor of Mount Carmel for his entire ministerial career and he loved his ministry refusing to miss a single Sunday in the pulpit. He served Macedonia in Dalton, Kentucky, for fifteen years and later took on the pastorate of the Lisman Cumberland Presbyterian Church which he served for fourteen years. He was a frequent visitor at the PAS summer extension school and could be found serving barbecue to the students and faculty.