The Oklahoma Baptist Chronicle
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The Oklahoma Baptist Chronicle The Oklahoma Baptist Chronicle Eli H. Sheldon, Editor 3800 North May Oklahoma City, OK 73112 [email protected] Published by the HISTORICAL COMMISSION of the Baptist General Convention of the State of Oklahoma and the OKLAHOMA BAPTIST HISTORICAL SOCIETY Baptist Building 3800 North May Oklahoma City, OK 73112-6506 Volume LVI Spring, 2013 Number 1 36 The Oklahoma Baptist Chronicle Memorials Emma L. Shoemate Morton, Durant; Given by Bill J. Morton Marie Ratliff, Wilburton; Given by Center Point Baptist Church John D. Riggs, Durant; Given by J.M. Gaskin Todd Sheldon, Dallas, Texas; Given by the Oklahoma Baptist Historical Commission Todd Sheldon, Dallas, Texas; Given by Marlin and Patsy Hawkins William G. Tanner, Belton, Texas; Given by Marlin and Patsy Hawkins James Timberlake, Atlanta, Georgia; Given by Kathryne Timberlake Thelma Townsend, Oklahoma City; Given by Marlin and Patsy Hawkins Lawrence Van Horn, Oklahoma City; Given by Marlin and Patsy Hawkins H. Alton Webb, Anadarko; Given by J.M. and Helen Gaskin Almeda Welch, Durant; Given by J.M. and Helen Gaskin Hazel Marie Williams White, Wilburton; Given by Del and Ramona Allen 2 35 The Oklahoma Baptist Chronicle George Hill, Coalgate; Given by Margaret Hill George Hill, Coalgate; Given by J. M. Gaskin CONTENTS Mrs. Carrell Hooper, Durant; Given by J.M. and Helen Gaskin Spotlight—A History of the Retired Ministers’ Fellowship ..…5 Carleen Jones, Oklahoma City; Given by Marlin and Patsy Hawkins A Brief History of the Oklahoma Baptist Chaplaincy Ministry By Paul Bettis………………..………………………….8 Nadean Justice, Oklahoma City; Given by J. M. Gaskin What to Do About Historical Materials? by Eli Sheldon..…..19 Murray Leath, Plano, Texas; Given by Marlin and Patsy Hawkins 2012 Oklahoma Baptist Historical Society New Members….25 Dick Lovelady, Bethany; Given by Marlin and Patsy Hawkins Necrology 2012………………………………………………….27 Clara Luedecke, Weatherford, Texas; Given by Marlin and Patsy Hawkins Memorials………………………………………………………..33 Charles Mackey, Durant; Given by Mrs. Robert Mackey Robert Mackey, Durant; Given by Mrs. Robert Mackey Lee and Maye McWilliams, Durant; Given by Patricia Roberts John H. Morton, Durant; Given by Bill J. Morton 34 3 The Oklahoma Baptist Chronicle Memorial Gifts On September 8, 1998 by vote of the Historical Commission, a me- morial fund was established whereby a gift of $25 or more may be made to the Gaskin Historical Archives and Library Forever Fund in memory of a deceased relative or friend. James Ball, Claremore; Given by Lemuel Ball Margie Ball, Claremore; Given by Lemuel Ball Bob Burrows, Amarillo, Texas; Given by Marlin and Patsy Hawkins Pluma Cantrell, Sallisaw; Given by Del & Ramona Allen E. Farrell Dixon, Tulsa; Given by Curtis & Betty Dixon Donald R. Dunn, Chickasha; Given by Jimmie L. Dunn Betty Farris, Muskogee; Given by Del and Ramona Virginia Ann Fry, Claremore; Given by Lemuel Ball Joseph Alexander Gaskin, Cartersville; Given by J. M. Gaskin Jim Glaze, Montgomery, Alabama; Given by Marlin & Patsy Hawkins 4 33 The Oklahoma Baptist Chronicle Throne, Suzanne, died September 11. She was the wife of Bud Spotlight on Throne, DOM in Banner Association. The services were September 14. THE HISTORY OF THE CENTRAL OKLA- Tiger, Janice Lynne, 64, wife of A.J. Tiger, pastor of Silver HOMA BAPTIST RETIREES FELLOWSHIP Spring Church in Muscogee-Seminole-Wichita Association, died June 25. Funeral services were June 28 at the church. Wagoner, Norman, 74, died June 13, following a battle with can- cer. He and his wife, Flo, had served as Mission Service Corps vol- unteer since 1989. Since 2002 he had been MSC coordinator for We were recently blessed by receiving the original minutes of the BGCO. Services were held at Eufaula, North Fork. what is now called the Central Oklahoma Baptist Retirees Fellow- ship. The minutes date from the beginning in May, 1970 through Ward, Lilah Fremont McGuire, 90, died March 22. Funeral ser- 1986. vices were March 26 at Oklahoma City, Highland Hills. A resident of Baptist Village of Oklahoma City, she and her husband organized a The May 5, 1970 initial meeting was called “Senior Workers for senior adult choir, The Singing Saints. For their work they were rec- the Lord” and met in the home of Guy Bellamy. Eight men, and ap- ognized as Oklahoma’s volunteers of the Year in 2010. parently at least one woman, Mrs. Bellamy, met to organize a sup- port group for retired “ministers”, including denominational workers. Womack, Clifford, died September 12. He was the father of Charles Womack, pastor of Bethany, First Baptist Church. Those present included Guy Bellamy, Jimmy Ingram, Earl L. Stark, Paul Clark, K. D. Turner, John Evans, Auguie Henry, and H. Truman Maxey. The minutes read as follows: By permission of the group and at the suggestion of Guy Bellamy, Auguie Henry was named Chairman and H. Truman Maxey was asked by him to make notes of proceedings. Guy Bellamy spoke on the need for organization and assistance in getting before pastors so as to be used for supplying pulpits on Sundays. Jimmy Ingram spoke about not being known by the younger pastors or those who have recently moved to Oklahoma. K. D. Turner talked of the need for each of us to help the other in time of illness or crisis. He also mentioned the hopefulness of preaching some. Paul Clark stated he has a big garden and a fishing pole. Earl Stark says he teaches a Sunday school class, is second best, but is a service and help to retirees. Auguie Henry said denominational men are identified with former works but still feel the urge to preach. 32 5 The Oklahoma Baptist Chronicle Necrology Motion made by Guy Bellamy, seconded by Paul Clark that Auguie Henry be president and H. Truman Ray, Joe Dee, 88, died March 7 at his home in Denison, Tex- Maxey secretary of the new organization. Motion as. Funeral services were March 10 at Faith Fellowship Church in passed. Denison. Ray pastored several churches in Oklahoma and in re- Auguie Henry suggested that we all think on possible tirement pastored Silo Church in Bryan Association. names for the organization with the idea that it includes retired missionaries as well as pastors and denomina- Roberts, Les, Jr., 54, died June 14. Funeral services were tional men and that the name not have the connotation June 20 at Clayton Avenue. He served as youth and music minis- of “retired.” The president, Auguie Henry, would appoint ter and pastor in several Oklahoma churches. a committee on constitution and by-laws. Suggested time for the next meeting was 2:30 p.m., Seaborn, Miles, Jr., died January 22. A native of Drumwright, June 18, at the home of the Maxeys, 3432 N. W. 52nd, a graduate of OBU, and a former missionary to the Philippines, he and that all possible members be contacted. was the longtime pastor of Birchman Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. The next entry in the collect is the report of the steering commit- tee which met June 9, 1970 at 2:30 p.m. Apparently several former Shoemake, Bobbie Ruth, 79, died November 14. Funeral ser- pastors and denomination workers had been contacted by this time vices were November 17 at Muskogee, Calvary. She was the because the steering committee was made up of Auguie Henry, wife of evangelist/pastor Bob Shoemake. John J. Evans, Bob McClung, Guy Bellamy, and M. E. Ramey. The committee addressed the issues of their purpose, membership re- Simmons, Calvin Eugene, 58, a native of Tulsa, died Septem- quirements, officers, committees, and meeting times. This short re- ber 7 in Oklahoma City. Funeral services were September 11 at port in essence made up what could be considered the first constitu- Edmond, Henderson Hills. He served as minister of music in five tion and by-laws. In a June 18, 1970 meeting the report was accept- Oklahoma churches, was a music consultant for the BGCO, and ed and the organization became official. While Truman Maxey titled led music for Falls Creek choirs. the meeting the “Elders”, the official name that day was established as “Fellowship of Available Former Pastors, Denominational Work- Stephens, Susanna Edwards, 97, died February 11. Sue ers, and Missionaries.” In several subsequent minutes the term served as an educational director, worked in the WMU depart- “elders” is again stated, and was used frequently when Truman ment of the BGCO, served as associational WMU director, was Maxey was secretary. The membership section said members were state WMU director, and she and her husband served as house to be “men” who had served in the ministry. The report stated they parents at Boys Ranch Town. were to have “regular and called fellowship meetings”, but gave no stated interval. It is speculated from the notes that some wives may Stick, Veronica, died October 5 in a car wreck. A former already have been attending with their husbands from the earliest staffer at Tulsa Metro Baptist Association, she was the wife of meetings. Their function may have been to serve refreshments, es- Michael Stick, pastor and church planter. Service was October 15 pecially since they first met in member’s homes. Within a couple of at Tulsa, Braden Park. years the wives were occasionally in charge of the programs. Sunderland, Bobby Mac, died August 27 in Palmetto, Georgia It is unknown at this point when the original constitution was up- after an extended illness. Funeral services were August 31 at dated. The organization is still functioning and the current constitu- NAMB’s headquarters in Alpharetta, Georgia. He served as pas- tion and by-laws has a handwritten notation it was revised in 2011. tor of several churches in Oklahoma.