Rev. Nathaniel R. Langford

9/12/2021

Nathaniel Robert Langford, 42, passed to his heavenly home on Sunday, September 12, 2021, at Rapides Regional Hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana after a long struggle with COVID.  
                         
Nathaniel was born in Ruston, Louisiana on May 21, 1979, to Charles Robert Langford and Beverly Singer Langford.
He leaves behind his wife of 17 years, Elizabeth Hogan Langford, his children, Perryanne, Declan, Moriah, and Zephaniah; his parents, Charles and Beverly Langford, and brothers Jonathan Langford and Jason (Dene) Peak; in-laws, Howard and Virginia Hogan; and a host of in-laws, cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Nathaniel served the Lord as a minister in the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church.  He pastored six churches: Roanoke; Zwolle and Bayou Scie; Palestine, Bethel, and Colfax.  While in Zwolle, Louisiana, he and Liz began homeschooling their four children. He also participated in the Colfax Lions Club, recently serving as president.  He was very active in the Alexandria Homeschool Arts and Athletics serving as vice president in 2021 and served as catalyst and coach for the junior high and high school soccer teams. Nathaniel enjoyed the fellowship and support group of United Methodist pastors in Rapides Parish.  He was also an officer of the Wesleyan Covenant Association of Louisiana.

Prior to entering the pastoral ministry Nathaniel was a youth minister at United Methodist churches in Hammond, Louisiana, and Keystone Heights, Florida.  After moving back to Louisiana, he was a waiter and manager at the 121 Artisan Bistro in Lake Charles.

Nathaniel graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary with two Masters degrees in 2005 after earning a Bachelor of Arts in History from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas in 2001. While at Hendrix, he was active in the Christian student ministry Student Mobilization.

Being a United Methodist pastor’s son, Nathaniel lived in several communities in Louisiana: Simsboro, Lafayette, Alexandria, and Winnsboro.  He was active in Cub and Boy Scouts achieving the rank of Eagle while a member of Troop 12 in Alexandria and he participated in two treks to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.  As a teenager, Nathaniel enjoyed participating in three “Happening” statewide youth retreats, two as a youth leader.

The loves of Nathaniel’s life were obvious: his God, his family, Christ’s Church, and his country.  He and Liz were a team which imparted to their beloved children these loves and values: a love of history, a determination to love God, and a heart to serve others.  His primary legacy to his wife and children is an assurance of being loved and being unique creations of a loving God.