January 13, 2003
___Anniversaries
___ Joel Ramirez, 15th, as pastor of Primera Iglesia in Wharton.
___ Michael Smith, 10th, as minister of music at First Church in Wichita Falls.
___ Nick Harris, 20th, as pastor of Ovilla Road Church in Red Oak Jan. 1.
___ Linda McCrady, fifth as ministry coordinator at First Church in Waxahachie.
___ James Scirratt, fifth, as associate pastor for pastoral care at First Church in Arlington, Jan. 5.
___Deaths
___ Leland Vermillion, 85, Dec. 31 in New Caney. He was a Baptist pastor more than 20 years in communities that included Sweeney, Cloverleaf and Westheimer. In 1956, he became camp administrator at Peach Creek Baptist Assembly in New Caney. He also served at Lakeview Encampment in Lone Star, Chaparral Assembly in Iowa Park and Alto Frio Encampment in Leakey.
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| HAROLD COOK (left), outgoing president of Texas Baptist Associational Vocational Workers and director of missions for F.I.R.M. Area, congratulates Larry Heard, new president and director of missions for Top O' Texas Area, and Warren Hart, secretary-treasurer and director of missions for Red River Valley Baptist Association, after elections held in November. (Photo by Orville Scott) |
During his 26 years as a camp administrator, he served many churches as interim pastor. After retirement, he and his wife, Marjorie, volunteered with Texas Baptist Men Retiree Builders until Parkinson's disease forced him to stop. He lived in Leakey for 27 years, where deer grazed in his yard. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Martha Vermillion; son, Paul; and grandson, Farley Vermillion. He is survived by his wife of 66 years; daughters, Jerry DeSpain and Jan Smith; sons, Joe Mark, Carey, Andrew and Judson; 12 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
___ Betty McGary, 66, Jan. 3 in Houston following a heart attack. She was a former associate pastor at South Main Church in Houston and at Calder Church in Beaumont. She was a pioneer in women's ministry and was one of the first Southern Baptist women to be ordained. She was a member of the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. She is survived by two sons, Thomas and Andrew Pearce; daughter, Alison Griffith; parents, Phil and Mary Jo McGary; and three grandchildren.
___ Avery Timmons, 82, Jan. 4, in Bryan. Ordained as a minister at 19, he was a pastor 18 years prior to his 26-year career as a prison chaplain. He also served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Nannie Lee. He is survived by his wife, Faye; sons, Timothy and Terry; daughter, Jan Ellen Vinzant; brother, Donnal; and sister, Lila McGaw.
___ Lindell Harris, 88, Jan. 5 in Dallas. He and his late wife, Connie, were serving as Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board missionaries in Hawaii when he joined Hardin-Simmons University in 1952 as the head of the division of religion, remaining in that role until his retirement in 1980. He was the first Phillips Professor of Bible at the university. After retirement, he served as administrator of the Northwest Bible Center in Portland, Ore., a division of Golden Gate Seminary in 1981 and 1982. He served as interim pastor of more than 55 churches and was pastor of churches in Texas, Louisiana and Missouri. He was named a professor of Bible emeritus by HSU in 1990. In 1998, he established the Lindell and Connie Harris New Testament Award, given annually during the Logsdon School of Theology awards ceremonies in the spring. He was a member of First Church in Abilene. He was preceded in death by his wife; son, David; two brothers, one his twin, Wendell; and three sisters. He is survived by his daughter, Linda McRae; brother, A.J.; sisters, Velma James, Dorothy Pattengill and Faye Jaeger; one grandson; four step grandchildren; and three step great-grandchildren.
___Events
___ First Church in Devers will hold a gospel music showcase and chili cookoff Jan. 25 at 5:30 p.m. Featured singing groups will be New Psalms, Foot Prints, Jim McDaniel, New Direction and That Other Trio. For more information, call (936) 549-7653. Harry McDaniel is pastor.
___ Park Cities Church in Dallas will sponsor a Women's Touch Retreat--"Knowing God's Heart" Feb. 21-22 at the Doubletree Lincoln Centre. Lynda McNeal is the featured speaker. The cost per person ranges from $85 to $150, with a Saturday-only option for $40. Ticket sales began Jan. 11 and continue through Feb. 9. For more information and ticket sales, call (214) 860-1526.
___Retiring
___ Tom Bolin as church services director of Coastal Plains Area after four years. He previously was pastor of First Church in Katy for 18 years. People interested in the position may send resumes to Coastal Plains Baptist Area Search Committee, P.O. Box 990, Wharton 77488.
___Ordained
___ Kevin Spurgin to the ministry at First Church in Texarkana.
___ Terry Wright to the ministry at First Church in Cisco.
___ Joni Cabiniss, Ken Allen, Kelly Crain, Juliana Moore and Tom Phillips as deacons at Wilshire Church in Dallas Jan. 5.
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