Rev. Jose Juan Diaz

Rev. Jose Juan “J. J.” Díaz of Columbia, South Carolina, was born on January 31, 1953 in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico to the late Juana Díaz and Juan Frías, adopted by his maternal grandparents, Octavio Díaz and Fulgencia Godínez, departed this life on October 11, 2022 completing his journey of 69 years. He was a graduate of Rio Grande Bible Institute, in Edinburgh, Texas and a student at Columbia Bible College (Columbia International College). He had served as a founding pastor of Iglesia Biblica Latino Americana (IBL) in Columbia, an Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, through the Catawba Presbytery, and a minister to Hispanic communities through Outreach North America, a pastor of several churches in Mexico, and as a leader in various other ministries. He served as a member of the South Carolina’s Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers Commission advocating for immigrant rights, a traveling Chaplain, medical and judicial translator, and served on various boards and committees such as the Columbia International Festival, the Workforce Investment Act and its Faith-Based Advisory committee, the South Carolina Minority Affairs Commission, and many more. Earlier in life, he began as a trained shoe maker, Catholic by family tradition, later becoming a religious skeptic, to a strong believer in Christ who was passionate about missions, planting churches, songwriting and worship, discipleship, evangelism, prison ministry, human rights, mercy ministries, and more. Along with his parents and grandparents, he is preceded in death by his step-father Bonifacio Baltazar Juárez, his step-sisters Venancia Godínez and Maria Sara Baltazar. He is survived by his maternal aunt, Cristina Díaz Godínez, and half-sisters Paulina, Carmen, Mónica, Lucy, and Margarita Baltazar Díaz. Rev. Díaz leaves to cherish his memories: his wife and caretaker Blanca Rosa Díaz; his son, Esteban (Steven) and his daughter-in-law Laura, their son, Thomas Widler, and daughter, Rosie Kay; his daughter, Elisa; his daughter, Joanna Caldera, son-in-law Jesus Caldera, and their daughter, Annalía Grace; his youngest daughter Jazmine; the Bautista Family, and a host of relatives and friends. He will be remembered for his passion for ice cream, music, his great bedtime stories, his jokes and his laughter, his compassion, and his love for his family. Some of his last words were, “I give thanks that the Lord allowed me to serve him.” (“Doy gracias al Señor que me permitió servirle.”) A visitation will be held on Monday, October 17, 2022 from 1-2pm, followed by a memorial service from 2-3pm at Centennial ARP Church in Columbia, SC. A graveside memorial will be held immediately following the funeral, 3:30pm at Greenlawn Cemetery off of Garners Ferry Rd. in Columbia. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.

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Rev. Jose Juan Diaz

January 31, 1953 - October 11, 2022