Todd Graham Panter of New Market, Alabama (Camp MACOBA), passed from life to Life on Sunday, January 14, 2024, at home surrounded by his family. Todd was born to Paul and Billie Ruth Panter on April 17, 1962 in Jasper, Alabama, and moved to Huntsville in 1967. He was a 1980 graduate of Butler High School, and in 1988, became a Huntsville Fire & Rescue fire fighter, serving until his retirement in 2013. Todd was a born again believer and passionately served the Lord through Church Strengtheners, a ministry he founded in 2007 and presided over. He believed strongly in supporting churches and encouraging their pastors in particular, and was indeed “a friend to pastors.” He also served as Camp Host/Director at Camp MACOBA beginning in 2009, and enjoyed watching the camp expand and prosper during his time there.
Todd enjoyed working with the earth, whether it was gardening, or working in the Turtle Sanctuary at the camp, his pet project. He enjoyed nature to its fullest, being an avid hunter and fisherman in his younger years. He continued to enjoy fishing and being out on the water through his last year, and he and his wife Denise, could be found out on Lake Guntersville most every Friday when the temperatures were above 60 degrees!
Todd married his wife, Denise—a native of Maryland—in 1996. They had two children of whom he was so very proud, who in turn gave him eight grandchildren. He loved his family very much. He was preceded in death by his mother, Billie Ruth Panter, and his grandson, Everett Samuel Merkel. He leaves behind his wife of 28 years, Denise, his daughter Jocelyn Merkel (Jason) of Huntsville, AL, and his son James Panter (Kim), of Murrieta, CA, as well as seven grandchildren, Sawyer Panter, Eleanor Merkel, June Panter, Olivia Panter, Everley Merkel, Edith Merkel, and Ezra Merkel, his father Paul Panter, his brother Chad Panter (Sally), and a host of extended family.
A visitation for Todd will be at Lakewood Baptist Church (2101 Mastin Lake Rd, NE, Huntsville) on Sunday, January 21, 2024 at 12:30 p.m., with a funeral service to follow at 2:30 PM. Todd will be interred with honors at Rice Cemetery in New Market, following the funeral service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Camp MACOBA’s “What’s Next” fund (c/o MBA, 2318 Whitesburg Dr S, Huntsville, AL 35801). The camp was near and dear to Todd’s heart, and holds many treasured family memories, as well.
Hazel Green Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.
