October 4, 1952 – April 13, 2026
The Rev. Dr. John “Wells” Warren, 73, was born on October 4, 1952, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bryan, Texas, to William Michael Warren and Carolyn Glass Warren. He was the third of six sons in a close-knit and devoted family.
Wells lived a life defined by faith, service, education, and a deep love for his family and community. He faithfully served the Episcopal Church for decades, most notably as the Tenth Episcopal Chaplain to Auburn University at St. Dunstan’s, where he ministered to generations of students, faculty, and friends from 1999 to 2018. He also served as Vicar of St. Matthew’s-in-the-Pines Episcopal Church in Seale, Alabama, and previously held roles at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Auburn, Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Opelika, Church of the Epiphany in Tallassee, and St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Fayette. His ministry extended across the Diocese of Alabama and beyond, including leadership in campus ministry throughout the Southeast.
Ordained to the diaconate in January 1996 and to the priesthood in July of that same year, Wells’s calling to ministry was both profound and enduring. He also served as a dedicated mentor in the Education for Ministry program for many years, guiding others in their spiritual journeys.
Wells was a lifelong learner who valued education deeply. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Auburn University and a Master of Education from Auburn University at Montgomery, both with perfect academic achievement. He completed doctoral coursework at The University of Alabama and later earned his Doctor of Ministry from St. Luke’s School of Theology at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, graduating with a 4.00 GPA. His dissertation focused on the life and ministry of Bishop William George McDowell, Jr.
Before entering full-time ministry, Wells had a distinguished career in education, banking, communications, and public service. He held leadership roles including City President of West Alabama Bank & Trust, Vice President at Colonial BancGroup, and Press Secretary for former Alabama Governor Fob James. His professional life reflected his strong leadership, communication skills, and commitment to serving others.
Outside of his vocational calling, Wells found great joy in the simple and meaningful things in life. He loved reading, listening to music, sitting in his garden, and watching long-distance cycling. A former cyclist, he completed several memorable rides, including three rides on the Natchez Trace (325 miles), Mt. Cheaha (328 miles), and the Florida Gulf Coast (455 miles). He also enjoyed watching the Tour de France and found both peace and adventure on the open road. In quiet moments, he loved walking his late companions Nick and Rosie, and his beloved dog, Annie.
Wells was married to the love of his life, Leigh Williamson Warren, for 48 years. Together they built a family grounded in love, faith, and support. He is survived by his daughters, Jennifer Meadows Warren (Matthew Warren) and Margaret Elizabeth Warren (fiancé David Gottlieb). He was a proud and devoted grandfather to John Wells Warren II, James Wicker Warren, and Stella Rebekah Warren, who lovingly knew him as “Doc,” a nickname that reflected both his academic accomplishments and the special bond he shared with them.
He will be remembered for his presence—steady, dependable, and enduring. His legacy lives on in the values he instilled, the family he cherished, and the many lives he touched simply by being who he was.
The liturgy for the Burial of the Dead, followed by the Committal of Ashes in the Columbarium, will be held at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in Auburn, Alabama, where Wells faithfully served from 1999 to 2018, on Saturday, April 25, at 10:30 a.m. Clergy are invited to wear cassock & surplice. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to CARE Humane Society in Auburn, Alabama, or to St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Fayette, Alabama.
Frederick-Dean Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
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