Memoirs of the United Methodist Church
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Texas Annual Conference Memoirs of the United Methodist Church 2015 Journal K Memoirs SECTION K Memoirs Deceased 2014 - 2015 Clergy Kelley Black Andrew Brown Sr. David Ray Davidson Rev. W Carroll Fancher, Jr. Eugene F. Fitzwater Thomas Edward Gray James Harrell Griffin William Morris House Bruce Emmett Krause Charles Edward Laing Sr. Allan Wayne Middleton Nita Louise Newman John Daniel O'Donnell James Hugh Powell Oscar Taylor R. June White Robert Edwin Willis Edward H. Wilson Joe R. Young Clergy Spouses Stanley R Bates spouse of Mary Shivers Bates Evelyn Bishoff spouse of Robert Earl Bishoff Doris Jean Carlisle spouse of Deward Cleon Carlisle Rebecca Ann Faulk spouse of Robert L. Faulk Bobbye Lee Wendland Godbey spouse of Charles P. Godbey Vera Beth Robinson Hedges spouse of Bill Bates Hedges Savanna Helpenstell spouse of William J. Helpenstell Minnie Frances Jammer spouse of Cornelius C. Jammer, Sr. Sara Katherine Kellow spouse of Maurice Keith Kellow Peggy A Laing spouse of Charles Edward Laing Sr. Alice Faye Laster spouse of Curley H. Laster Yvonne Leediker spouse of Bill Eugene Leediker Ina Martin spouse of Howard Martin Martha C Matthis spouse of Leon Caldwell Matthis Dorothy Fay McClure spouse of Jewel Marsh McClure Ileen Lenelle McCullar spouse of James Earl McCullar Amelia M. Menking spouse of W. A. Menking Virginia Carolyn F. Moorman spouse of Lloyd Moorman Nora Beth Morton spouse of Weldon B. Morton K - 1 Memoirs Vorease Nickerson spouse of Jewel Charles Nickerson Sr. Frances Richardson spouse of Frank Richardson Patsy M. Rohloff spouse of Herbert Richard Rohloff, Jr. Mareta Shadle spouse of Charles Shadle Elizabeth Anne Stutes spouse of Clarence H. Stutes Emma Joe Thomas spouse of Billie Murray Thomas H. David White spouse of R. June White K - 2 Memoirs Clergy Kelley Joe Black Kelley Joe Black was born January 26, 1933, to the late Jakie B. Sr. and Velma Black in Clarksville, Texas. Born the youngest of six children, he was a lifelong Texan known for his many years of faithful service to the Lord, his leadership in The United Methodist Church, and a beautiful smile that encouraged many without words. On November 10, 1956, Kelley was united in holy matrimony with Jannie B. Woods. To this union, God blessed them with two daughters, Valarie and LaWanda. Together, Rev. and Mrs. Black worked tirelessly with the members of their congregations throughout his ministry. Rev. Black taught classes at Lakeview United Methodist Church Camp, and took great joy in assisting young people through confirmation classes as well as served on numerous boards and committees. Rev. Black attended Wiley College and completed four years of the Ministerial Courses of Study of The Methodist Church at Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia. He was ordained as a Deacon in 1964; an Elder in 1968 and served for nearly four decades with his wife by his side. He pastored at the following Texas charges/churches as recorded from the official United Methodist Journal: Honey Grove Circuit ’60, Marshall Concordia ’63, Jefferson/Lassater ’67, Fairfield Circuit ’70, Dickinson Faith ’72, Texas City Galilee ’78, Lee Chapel, Bryan/College Station First ’84, and Port Arthur St. Paul ‘88, where he retired after serving 10 years as the pastor. In 2013, Rev. Black was honored to be bestowed the title of Pastor Emeritus and a Legacy Award Honoree for his dedicated service to St. Paul United Methodist Church in Port Arthur, TX. He remained a member at St. Paul UMC under the current leadership of Rev. Beverly Woodard. On February 15, 2015, Rev. Black transitioned from life to his heavenly reward. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of fifty-five years, Jannie Black; three brothers, Clovis Black, Rev. Dr. Jakie Black Jr., James Black, and one sister, Thelma Johnson. The sole surviving sibling of the six children is his beloved sister, Jercile Williams of Dallas, TX. He leaves to cherish his memories two children, Valarie Daniels (Lawrence) of Beaumont, TX, and Dr. LaWanda Finney (George) of Port Arthur, TX; three grand-daughters and one grandson who will treasure his memory and honor his legacy of service for generations to come. Submitted by LaWanda Black Finney and Valarie Black Daniels, daughters Andrew Brown Rev. Andrew Brown, Sr. was born to Walter and Mammie (Jones) Brown on January 24, 1938 in Edna, Texas. He attended Texas Southern University and studied Pharmacy until he received the call to the ministry. He transferred to Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, where he studied Philosophy, Religion and Sociology. While at Wiley, he became a member of Omega Psi Phi, Inc. After receiving his BA, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia to attend Seminar at the Interdenominational Theological Center. While attending ITC, he met his wife, Norma Jenkins and united in holy matrimony on May 26, 1962. This union was blessed with three beautiful children and together they reared one nephew as their own. Rev. Brown served several leading churches in the Texas Annual Conference, and former East Tennessee Conference since he was ordained in 1962. He was the Methodist Student Movement Director (Wesley Foundation) at Prairie View A & M University for two years, while serving a local pastorate. He also labored as College minister and part-time instructor at Wiley College while serving Ebenezer in Marshall and he was the K - 3 Memoirs Resident Chaplain at Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas. He worked for Texas Department of Criminal Justice as an Instructional Chaplain and Parole Case Worker. He is described as compassionate, caring and a good listener. He loved more than anything to serve others. He loved to talk and he never met a stranger. He was a jack-of-all-trades and a master of all as well. He was very creative, a talented carpenter, mechanic and gardener. He was known to be a perfectionist. He would often tell his children to do things the right way the first time so you wouldn’t have to do it over. He was a man who spoke his mind. You never had to guess where he was coming from. Rev. Brown made his transition on June 20, 2014. He is survived by his wife of fifty-two years, Norma Brown, children, Andrew Brown Jr., Anthony Brown and Andrea Boykin Bronson, grandchildren, Jayon and Alyssa Boykin and Brianna Bronson, siblings Rev. JD Brown and Louise Turner; and a host of other relatives and friends. Submitted by Anthony W. Brown, son and Norma Brown, wife David Ray Davidson David Ray Davidson, 67, of Richmond, Texas passed away Wednesday, September 3, 2014. David was born December 21, 1947 in Port Arthur, Texas to Eldridge Carlton Davidson and Lois LaVerne Massey Davidson. He retired as a pastor of the Methodist Church after 30 years of service. David was also a U.S. Navy veteran during the Vietnam War serving on the USS Hull. David was a graduate of Lamar University and the Alief School of Theology in Denver, Colorado. Survivors include his wife, Becky Davidson of Richmond; mother, Lois Massey Davidson Streetman of Port Arthur ; son, Patrick Andrew Davidson of Houston; step- sons, Brendan Neef and David Neef and wife Paris; three grandchildren, Cameron Neef, Dillon Neef, Paisley Neef all of Richmond; brother, Jerry Davidson and wife Bette; sister, Carla Davidson Butuad and husband Mike; nephews, Dr. Wade Butuad, M.D., Kyle Butuad, Drew Davidson; nieces, Jill Sherrod and Katie Butaud; aunts, Fran Massey Ferrell Huber, Margaret Massey Dupuis, Peggy Massey Gray, and Betty Sterling Massey. K - 4 Memoirs W Carroll Fancher Carroll Fancher, 86, born November 24, 1928, in San Antonio, passed away quietly in his home in Arbor Oaks, Bryan, Texas on April 23, 2015. He is survived by his wife of almost 65 years, the former Ann Parr. They were married August 12, 1950 in Bryan. He leaves behind son, Bill and his wife, Carol, of Dallas, and daughter, Luann Morris and her husband, Larry, of Greensburg, PA. Also five grandchildren, Robert and Tracy Fancher of Austin, Dan Morris and his wife, Breann, of Houston, Julie Morris of Charlotte, N. C., and Jeff Morris and his wife, Margot, of Badger, CA. and a host of friends made over the years. Carroll was educated in a small school in Moscow, Texas where his parents, W. C. and Lula, moved when he was very young. He holds degrees from Lon Morris College, Southwestern University, Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, and an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Southwestern University. His heritage of dedicated Christian living was most evident in all that he did. Carroll was a Methodist minister and proudly but humbly served his Lord and the church he loved so much, in many different appointments. His first was a 5-point circuit in Freestone County, followed by churches at Holmes Chapel in Palestine, Crosby, Glenbrook in Houston where he was the organizing pastor, Groves, Marlin, Palestine FUMC, and Bryan First United Methodist. His final appointment was First United Methodist, Sugar Land. He served as District Superintendent of the Nacogdoches and Houston Southwest Districts of the Texas Methodist Conference. Upon retirement in 1994, Carroll & Ann moved back to Bryan where he was honored as Pastor Emeritus of First United Methodist Church. He was a faithful member of the Upper Room Sunday School class where he made many dear friends. His records show that he performed 1327 baptisms, 597 funerals, and, when he discontinued keeping count in 2007, there had been 345 marriages. In 1993, he was awarded the Harry Denman Evangelism Award by his conference, which he felt should be shared with his colleagues in Sugar Land. Carroll served on many boards and agencies of the United Methodist Church beyond the local church.