Around the State

Posted: 1/19/07

Around the State

• J.B. Boren, current dean of the Wayland Baptist University campus in Albuquerque, N.M., has been named dean of the campus in Amarillo, effective in February. He has served in Albuquerque since 2003.

• The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor awarded degrees to 156 undergraduate students and 19 master’s-degree students during winter commencement. Martha Farris, a 1942 graduate, presented the commencement address and received an honorary doctor of humanities degree for her contributions to her community and the university. The Alpha Chi Award for the highest grade-point average was shared by Catherine Chadwell, Lauren Graber, Michelle Hodges, Brandi Mordan, Jelle Scheepstra and Barbara Wright.

• Dallas Baptist University has added four faculty members. They are Debra Collins, assistant professor of library science and library cataloguer; Evelyn Daniels, assistant professor of management; June Elms, assistant professor of kinesiology; and Dionisio Flietas, assistant professor of mathematics.

• Karen Wiley has been named director of the office of institutional research and effectiveness at East Texas Baptist University. Wiley has served the school more than 20 years, most recently as assistant professor of computer science.

• Amanda Etter has been named director of marketing at Hardin-Simmons University. A 2005 graduate of the school, she has been an HSU admissions consultant.

• Three Baylor University students recently participated in a national fellowship of university leaders in Washington, D.C. They were Sara Sommers, Christine Lenihan and Nekpen Osuan.

• Two Texas pastors graduated with doctoral degrees from New Orleans Theological Seminary last month. Kris Segrest, pastor of First Church in Wylie, and Jeffrey Berger, pastor of South Avenue Church in Pasadena, both received doctor of ministry degrees.

Anniversaries

• Lynn Garrett, 10th, as minister to senior adults at First Church in Amarillo, Jan. 14.

• Jeff Raines, 10th, as associate pastor of missions at First Church in Amarillo, Jan. 14.

• Airway Church in Houston, 50th, Jan. 28. Former Pastor Will Passmore will preach in the morning service. A lunch and afternoon program will follow. For more information, call (713) 991-7677. Ed Parker is pastor.

• Danny Biddy, 30th, as pastor of Old River Church in Dayton, Feb. 4.

• First Church in Nederland, 100th, March 3-4. Saturday’s activities include an 8 a.m. golf tournament, a 9 a.m. prayer service at the congregation’s original location on Boston Avenue, a 10:30 a.m. women’s brunch; a 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. open house at the church; and a reception beginning at 5 p.m. that will feature former staff members. Sunday morning’s service will be followed by a luncheon. For more information, call (409) 722-0263. David Higgs is pastor.

Retiring

• Bud Lovell, after 35 years as minister of music at Cliff Temple Church in Dallas, Dec. 31. He and his wife, Elaine, will live in Somerville.

Deaths

• Timothy Veatch, 45, Nov. 29 in Texarkana. He was minister of music at Downtown First Church in Texarkana. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn; daughters, Candace and Lauren Veatch; parents, Johnny and Sue Veatch; and sister, Vicki Robinson.

• Ruth Marsh, Jan. 3 in Arab, Ala. She was the wife of longtime Southwestern Sem-inary professor Leon Marsh. She is survived by her husband of 53 years; brother, Wallace Shamburger; and sister, Mrs. W.E. Smith.

• Roy Sims, 86, Jan. 4 in Galveston. He was pastor of South Buckner First Church in Dallas 27 years before retiring to Galveston. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen, and son, Dennis. He is survived by his sons, Steve and Michael; daughter, Sharon Svarplaitis; brother, James; 13 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

• Roger Maddox, 56, Jan. 12 in a car accident north of Mangum, Okla. He lost control of his vehicle on an icy highway returning from his mother’s funeral. His wife and daughter were in the vehicle but were not seriously injured. He was pastor of First Church in Haslet and a resident fellow of the B.H. Carroll Institute. He previously was pastor of churches in Colleyville and Arnett, Okla. He was preceded in death by an infant sister, Judy. He is survived by his wife, Judy; daughter, Deidra Ford; sister, Susan Wood; and three grandchildren.

Events

• First Church in Devers will hold a chili cookoff and gospel sing Jan. 27 at 5 p.m. For more information, call (936) 549-7653. Harry McDaniel is pastor.

• A benefit for The Baptist Children’s Home, a ministry of Baptist Child and Family Services, will be held Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at San Antonio College. A silent auction and performing artists will highlight the event.

Ground broken for Alzheimer's Center addition

Ground has been broken for The Green Houses at Sagecrest, the expansion project for Sagecrest Alzheimer's Care Center, a 52-bed dementia facility in San Angelo that remains full and has a growing waiting list.

The Green Houses facility is designed like a home inside and out, breaking away from the traditional hospital design and model of care.

Participating in the groundbreaking were, from right, Wes Wells, administrator of the Sagecrest Alzheimer's Care Center; Pat Crump, president and CEO of Baptist Memorials Ministries; Wayne Merrill, president emeritus of Baptist Memorials Ministries; and Kevin McSpadden, chaplain of Baptist Retirement Community.