Obituaries: Darling, Shotts, Grantham, White

Dave Darling, 71, June 6 in Three Rivers. He was pastor of Good Hope Baptist Church in Three Rivers. Dave DarlingHe was preceded in death by his grandson, Samuel Darling. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Connie; mother, Wilma Atwell; daughter, Tammy Martinez; sons, David and Johnny; adopted son, Toby Perez; sisters, Jeannie Stauch and Patty Eddy; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Billie Shotts, 85, July 2 in Mesquite. From the late 1960s to the mid-1990s, she was employed by Buckner Baptist Benevolences, first working with young women who were placing their babies for adoption and then transitioning into matching adoptive parents with children. Billie ShottsShe was involved with more than 1,000 placements. The latter part of her career focused on post-adoption support groups, many of which she kept in touch until she became ill in late 2013. She taught a women’s Sunday school class at Grand View Baptist Church in Mesquite many years. She also sang in the choir, taught Vacation Bible School, supported Christian Women’s Job Corps and was involved in the after-school ministry at an elementary school. She is survived by her husband of almost 67 years, Ken; son, Dan; daughter, Jennifer Harp; and five grandchildren.

Sara Beth Grantham, 75, June 24 in Dallas. Sara Beth GranthamShe served with her husband, Les, in music and education ministry in Texas, Nevada, Arizona and Washington. She was active in Woman’s Missionary Union and worked with preschoolers. She is survived by her husband; daughter, Leslie Brisendine; sons, Victor and Donald; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Gene White, 87, July 15 in Amarillo. He was licensed to preach by First Baptist Church in Amarillo in 1948, and had a career as a pastor and religious journalist. He was a member of the editorial staff of the Baptist Standard from 1959 to 1964. He was managing editor of A Journal of Church and State, published in Washington, D.C., and was editor of Charity & Children, the publication of Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina. Gene WhiteAfter retirement, he became a Mission Service Corps volunteer to write and edit New Church News for the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation. He published articles in 27 state Baptist papers and several Sunday School Board publications. He also was pastor of churches in Oklahoma and Texas and was founding pastor of Rollingwood Hills Baptist Church in Mesquite, now West Mesquite Baptist Church. He also served as interim or supply pastor in Texas, Maryland and North Carolina. He delivered the opening address at the Protestant Pavilion of the New York World Fair’s in 1960. After retirement, he taught a Sunday school class at First Baptist Church in Amarillo almost 20 years. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Esther; sons, Steven, Bryan and Lelan White, and Kenan Griffith; daughter, Elfa Williams; eight grandchildren and one great-grandson.