October
SISTER ANNIE MAE KOON SYLVIA GASKINS SULLIVAN SISTER LUCILE WRIGHT SISTER JOHNNIE BELLE NEELEY SISTER MATTIE L. LUNDY SISTER AUDREY JONES SISTER MARY VEATRUS RITCHIE
Sister Annie Mae Koon, 90, Waco, Texas, passed away Saturday, July 22, 2000, at a local nursing home. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 25, at Bellmead Funeral Home Chapel. Elder Hugh Montgomery officiated. Burial was at Rosemound Cemetery in Waco, Texas.
Sister Koon was born April 21, 1910 in Cameron, Texas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Koon; three sons, Robert, Aubrey, and Warren Koon; three grandchildren and a brother, John "Bud" Gill. Survivors include her sons; Wayland Koon and his wife, Frances of West, Texas, and Hollis Koon and his wife, Sheila of Waco; sisters, Alma Johnson, Lurlean Brown, Ruby Barr, and Avis Gill, all of Waco; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren, one niece and four nephews. Pallbearers were her grandsons.
Sister Annie Mae was a long-time active member in the Waco church. Her life's interest was with her family and in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. She was a worker in the church, always doing something for the rest of the members, constantly inquiring as to the welfare of other members. Her ready and almost constant smile was evidence that she was happiest with her immediate family and those of like faith and order.
Her health finally required nursing care and prevented her from attending church services for several years prior to her death. We, members of the Waco church have missed her during those years.
She was a saint of God and Psalms 116:15 says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." The thought of death is not always pleasant to those of us who remain alive on this earth, but death in the sight of the Lord is precious to Him. This is hard for us to understand sometimes, for death seems so final unless we consider that the spirit and soul of the saints of God continue to live on in heaven. Only the body dies.
The spirit and soul of Sister Koon is now in heaven and she lives on and shall, in all eternity. She would not come back to this sin-cursed earth, even if she could. Her body is now at rest awaiting the resurrection morning when it shall join her spirit and soul and then be made like unto the Son of God in all eternity. She now witnesses the glory of heaven itself that she could only see through a glass darkly when she lived on this earth. She is living the fulness of the praise she offered up in the church services. May this be a comfort to her family and loved ones.
Norman Gowens
In behalf of Waco Primitive Baptist Church
CC: Koon family Church records
Following a long illness, our Sister Sylvia Gaskins Campbell Sullivan passed from this life on June 1, 2000 at the Scenic Mountain Medical Center, Big Spring, Texas. She was born to John and Nora Gaskins in the Knott community on May 15, 1910, making her stay in this life 90 years. She was reared in the Knott community, and lived most of her life in Howard County.
Sister Sylvia and her mother joined the church here in Big Spring on Sept. 17, 1944. They were baptized hy Elder B. R. Howze, their pastor. Although, unable to attend for health reasons for the last several years, she often called to inquire about the welfare of the church and longed to once again be in attendance.
Graveside services were held at Trinity Memorial Park with Jess Colgrove officiating. Her body was then laid to rest to await the grand and glorious morning of he resurrection when body and soul will once more be reunited to live forever with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
She is survived by one son and wife, Gene and Mary Campbell of Colorado City, TX; one daughter-in-law, Velma Campbell of Big Spring; three grandsons, four great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces, as well as many friends and neighbors.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Nora Gaskins; her husband, A.M. Sullivan; one son, Charles W. Campbell, Sr.; three Brothers; Grady Gaskins, Junior Gaskins, and Emory Gaskins; three sisters; Mamie Metcalf, Alta King, and Bernice Chapman.
There is much sadness in our hearts as we see the ranks thinning of those who were active in the early days of the church here in Big Spring. May the Lord bless us, the current membership, to carry on in a manner that will be pleasing to Him.
Be it resolved that we send a copy of this resolution to her family, place a copy on our church records, and send a copy to The Banner of Love for publication.
Written by request of the church while in conference July, 2000.
In Christian love,
Philadelphia Primitive Baptist Church
John Wayne Metcalf Moderator/ Deacon
Adele Fleming, C.C.
Sister Lucile Wright passed from this life on March 11, 2000 at the age of 84 in Denver City, Texas from a year long battle with cancer. Although she went through much pain and suffering during her illness, she never complained. She was always cheerful and trusting in the Lord to see her through her trials.
We, here at Andrews Church miss her presence and beautiful smile very much, but we rejoice to know that her spirit is with our Heavenly Father to await the resurrection and be united in heaven with our Lord and Savior.
Services were conducted, March 13 in the Andrews Primitive Baptist Church with Elder Don Farris of Rogers, Arkansas and Elder Gail Faries of Lubbock, Texas. Burial was in the Andrews Old Cemetery.
Sister Lucile was born June 21, 1915 in San Augustine, Texas. She married Jones Wright on December 29, 1930 in Afton, Texas. They moved to Andrews in 1945 and he preceded her in death on October 20, 1988. She lived in Andrews until she became ill and then moved to Denver City to live with her son in 1999.
She is survived by her loving son, Tony Wright and wife Barbara of Denver City, Texas; a sister, Mary Frances Thaxton of Nashville, Tennessee; a brother, Martin Nichols of Post, Texas; two grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
This was written by request of Andrews Primitive Baptist Church, Andrews, Texas with one copy to be sent to the family, one to the Banner of Love and one to be placed in the church records.
James Yarbrough, Church Clerk
We, of the Albuquerque Primitive Baptist Church are saddened at the death of our precious Sister Johnnie Belle Neeley, who passed away at the age of 90 years on Sunday, July 23, 2000 at her home near Mountainair, NM.
Sister Neeley was born January 27, 1910 in Wolf City, Texas. She married C.A. "Doc" Neeley on Sept. 26, 1926 in Plainview, Texas. They moved to the Gallinas Mountains near Corona, NM in 1937, then to Round Top community near Mountainair in 1939. Sister Neeley was a longtime member of the Primitive Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, daughter, La June Neeley, three sisters and two brothers. Surviving are two sons, Bobby Neeley, Estancia, NM, and John Neeley, Mountainair, NM; three daughters, Betty Kahalekulu and husband Ben of Cochiti, NM, Barbara Neeley of the home and Dorothy Cole of Mountainair, NM; also five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.
We will miss our precious sister and we extend our love and prayers to her family.
Submitted by: Brother Jerry Foshee
Once again, Elk Creek Church mourns the loss of a precious member, Sister Mattie Lundy. She was born Sept. 27, 1908,in the Taylor community, Oklahoma to Henry Euclid and Annie R. [Davis] Reeves, and died August 10 in Elk City, OK. Mattie was married to Swift James Lundy at Hobart, OK in 1926. They lived their lives in the Carter and Elk City area. She was a homemaker and food service worker, who worked in many locations in the area. She was a longtime member of Elk Creek Primitive Baptist Church.
Mattie was preceded in death by her husband in 1977; her father and mother; her brothers, Posey A. Reeves, Granville E. Reeves, and Gordon Russell Reeves. She is survived by one son, Harold D. Lundy, of Moore, OK; one daughter, Effie M. Meshew, also of Moore; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Services were held August 14, 2000 at Elk Creek Church, with Elders Henry Newman and Norman Jones officiating. Sister Mattie was a special person and we will miss her very much. Elk Creek wishes to express its deepest sympathy to her loved ones, and pray they will find comfort in knowing she is now resting in the presence of her beloved Savior, Jesus Christ.
Submitted by order of Elk Creek Church,
Elder Henry Newman, Pastor.
Wilma Gathright, Church Clerk
Elk Creek Church is saddened by the loss of a precious member, sister Audrey Jewell Jones. She was born April 2, 1913 in Marietta, OK to Andrew Aaron and Ida Bell [Emmons] Branch and died July 19, 2000 in Elk City, OK. Audrey was married to Wiley Murphy Jones in 1929, and lived in Elk City most of her life. She worked both inside and outside of her home, but her family was always her most important lifework. Sister Audrey was a long-time member of Elk Creek Primitive Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Wiley; five sons, Ernest Wiley, Murphy Lee, Frank, Homer, and Tommy; four daughters, Alice Faye Jones, Billie Presley, Sue Crowson, and Ida Thorne; five brothers, George, Bill, A.P., Jim and J. B.; three sisters, Martha, Mae, and Emma; three grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
She is survived by three sons; Jack Jones and wife, Muriel of Amarillo, TX, Dean Jones and wife, Ann of Joshua, TX , and Larry Jones and wife, Cindy, also of Joshua, TX; four daughters, Fern Kahr of Memphis, TX, Rosalyn Hughes of Elk City, Larayne Skelton and husband Bill of Elk City, and Emma Jean Newcomb and husband Willis, of Hammon, OK; 52 grandchildren; also great and great-great- grandchildren.
Services were held July 22, 2000 at Elk Creek Church, with Elders Henry Newman and Norman Jones officiating.
Sister Audrey was a special person, and will be greatly missed. Elk Creek Church extends its deepest sympathy to her loved ones, and pray they will find comfort in knowing she is resting in the sweet presence of her Lord and Savior.
Submitted by order of Elk Creek Church while in conference.
Elder Henry Newman, Pastor
Wilma Gathright, Church Clerk
Our dear sister in Christ, Mary Veatrus Ritchie, passed from this life on April 21, 2000 in Weatherford, Texas. She was born October 11, 1911 in Bethel, Oklahoma
She is survived by her four children, Geneva Reed, Nahwana Wagner Nowell, Fleta Parker, and Weldon Ritchie. She was preceded in death by her husband, Aubra B. Ritchie, who passed from this life on May of 1997.
Her funeral was in Grandbury, Texas on April 24, 2000. Elders Larry Webb, Mike Montgomery, and Clifford Gowens officiated.
Sister Ritchie was much loved by her family and all who knew her. She was a devoted church member and came as often as her health would allow. We rejoice in knowing that she will no longer suffer the pain and afflictions of this world. She will be greatly missed.
Submitted with much love by Indian Oaks Primitive Baptist Church of Lake Worth, Texas.