ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — A beloved Albany pastor is recovering after a serious crash, and his family is asking the community he has faithfully served for decades to lift him up in prayer.

Rev. Rance Pettibone, has served as pastor of Second Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church for more than 20 years. His family confirmed that he was seriously injured in a crash Tuesday, June 2, on West Oakridge Drive. Pettibone’s family believes a medical emergency preceded the accident.

“We can confirm that Rev. Rance Pettibone was involved in the accident and believes he had a medical emergency prior to,” his daughter, Kendra Sanders, said in a statement. “He is currently receiving medical care at the hospital, and our family is taking things one day at a time.”

For the past 16 years, Rev. Pettibone has led a monthly First Saturday Prayer Gathering at the Albany Government Center, where citizens, faith leaders and community members gather monthly to pray for the city, its school system, elected leaders, first responders and the well-being of Southwest Georgia.

One fellow pastor said Rev. Pettibone is a servant to the city of Albany and his accident has taken an emotional toll on the community.

“Everything he does, he puts his heart in and he does it with such joy, like he’s glad to do it,” Bishop Jimmy Sneed, the pastor of Rivers of Living Waters, said. “We’re praying that God will give him total healing that he would come back to us.”

>> READ MORE: Accident in Albany leads to serious injury, road closure <<

The Pettibone family said they feel the love from the community but the pastor’s recovery continues.

“We are grateful for the outpouring of love, support and prayers from the community and ask for continued prayers as he recovers,” Sanders said.

The community is invited to gather at the Government Center on Saturday, June 6 at 8 a.m. — the same location where Rev. Pettibone has stood in prayer for Albany for 16 years — this time to pray for him.

“We have prayed together for Albany for 16 years. Now, we ask Albany to pray for him,” Sanders said.

The family also asked that the public keep First Lady Sandra Pettibone, their family and the entire Second Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church family in their thoughts and prayers.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook, Instagram and X. For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app and add WALB as a preferred source on Google.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.