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Ergun Caner family grieves tragic death of son
Art Toalston, Baptist Press
July 30, 2014
2 MIN READ TIME

Ergun Caner family grieves tragic death of son

Ergun Caner family grieves tragic death of son
Art Toalston, Baptist Press
July 30, 2014

Braxton Caner, 15-year-old son of Ergun and Jill Caner, reportedly took his life July 29, according to reports on social media sites and on the Brewton-Parker College website.

Ergun Caner is president of Brewton-Parker College, a Baptist-affiliated college in Mount Vernon, Ga.

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BP photo

Ergun Caner became Brewton-Parker's president last December and previously served as provost and academic dean at Arlington Baptist College in Texas.

A July 29 blog post by SBC Voices editor Dave Miller stated:

"Word has begun to leak out about the tragedy that has come upon the Ergun Caner family. Braxton Caner, the 15 year-old son of Ergun Caner, has committed suicide, according to reports that have become public.

"I know from experience the devastation that suicide brings in families, though the loss of a child must multiply that grief in ways I can't imagine. I held off saying anything until the news was leaked by other sources. Now that it has been made public, let me express my sympathy to Dr. Caner, his family, and the entire Brewton-Parker College family."

Miller, a former first vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention and a Sioux City, Iowa, pastor, added, "When something like this happens, God's people pray. We express to the Caner family our deepest sympathies."

Frank S. Page, SBC Executive Committee president and a former SBC president, spoke with Caner July 30 to offer condolences. Caner told Page that Braxton Caner had made a profession of faith at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va. Ergun Caner was the dean at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary at the time and had been privileged to baptize his son.

Caner, who became Brewton-Parker's president last December, also has been provost and academic dean at Arlington Baptist College in Texas; a pastor in the Denver area; and a conference speaker throughout the nation.

Caner's brother Emir is president of Truett-McConnell College, another Baptist-affiliated college in Cleveland, Ga.

(EDITOR’S NOTE – Art Toalston is editor of Baptist Press.)