NASHVILLE (BP)—Lloyd Elder, seventh president of the Baptist Sunday School Board—now known as Lifeway Christian Resources—died Nov. 3 at age 90. He led the board from 1984 to 1991.

James Williams, executive vice president under Elder, described him as “one of God’s giants and, throughout the years of his ministry, he demonstrated the highest qualities of Christ-centered servant leadership.”

“Southern Baptist Convention programs assigned to Lifeway grew rapidly,” Williams said. “His management style ‘toward excellence’ greatly enhanced staff loyalty but, most importantly, led to improved effectiveness and greater results in the churches.”

During his tenure at the Sunday School Board, Elder oversaw the publication of low-cost editions of the Bible and Scripture portions for mass distribution including the Good News and Here’s Hope Bibles.

In 1986, the Outreach Bible Study was created to encourage church members to share the gospel in their neighborhoods and workplaces.

In 1991, the board dedicated Centennial Tower, a nine-story office and conference facility that stood above the entity’s now-former campus in downtown Nashville. That same year, a new edition of the Baptist Hymnal was introduced.

“Dr. Elder was a skilled administrator and carried an intensity and passion for excellence throughout his presidency,” said Jimmy Draper, president emeritus of Lifeway. “His contributions to the life of the Sunday School Board reflected his desire to serve the Lord with all his heart.”

Following his service at the Sunday School Board, Elder served as professor and Paschall Chair of Biblical Studies and Preaching at Belmont University in Nashville.

Additionally, he founded and directed the Moench Center for Church Leadership at Belmont and created the Servant Leaders Today website jointly with Lloyd Elder and Associates, which focused on excellence in leadership skills for Christian ministers.

History of denominational service

Prior to his role at the Sunday School Board, Elder served as executive vice president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1978 to 1983 and assistant to the executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas from 1975 to 1978.

He was pastor of several Southern Baptist churches, the last being Gambrell Street Baptist Church in Fort Worth from 1969 to 1975.

He also served as a leader in many professional and denominational organizations, including the Baptist World Alliance, Church Leadership Commission, Southern Baptist Bivocational Ministers Association and National Association of Church Business Administrators.

Elder was the author of more than 20 textbook and workbook publications on leadership, Blueprints: Ten Challenges for a Great People, a book published in 1984, and a 1993 research report on Southern Baptist life, Calling the Family Back Together.

He also wrote numerous articles on personal and spiritual development, management, strategic planning and staff guidance.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Howard Payne University in 1956. He later earned a master’s degree and a doctorate in New Testament studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He received honorary doctorates from Dallas Baptist University, Howard Payne University and Campbell University.

Elder is survived by his wife of 70 years, Sue Bristow Elder; one daughter, Donna Sue Maas  and husband Richard of Winston-Salem, N.C.; five grandchildren; and six great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by son Philip Lloyd Elder and daughter Janet Lynne Elder.

A celebration of life for Elder will be held Saturday, Nov. 11, at Gambrell Street Baptist Church with burial to follow that afternoon at Laurel Land Cemetery in Fort Worth.

Betty Ann Kelton Howell, lifelong missions supporter and former church secretary, died Oct. 9, 2023, at home in Elysian Fields. She was 87. She was born April 21, 1936, in Odessa to Ben Neely Kelton and Vernia Stephenson Kelton. She grew up on several West Texas ranches, where her father was foreman. As a Texas UIL typing champion, she moved to Fort Worth to attend Durham Business College. She attended Hardin-Simmons University, where she met Elmin Kimbol Howell. They married Feb. 13, 1955, in Abilene. When he was awarded a scholarship to George Peabody College, they moved to Nashville, Tenn. After he completed is Master of Arts degree there, they moved to Globe, Ariz., for a teaching and coaching job. In 1959, they moved to Beaumont, where he served as minister of activities at First Baptist Church. In 1962, they relocated to Shreveport, La., to serve at First Baptist Church. During their six years in Shreveport, she taught kindergarten and led a seniors club called Live Long and Like It. In 1968, her husband was called by the Baptist General Convention of Texas to develop the River Ministry along the Texas/Mexico border. They lived in Mesquite and joined Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church in Dallas. In 2001, they moved to Rockwall, and in 2019, they relocated to East Texas. During their years in the Dallas area, she worked as secretary at East Grand Baptist Church and also for the BGCT. She was an avid college football fan and was known for listening to the radio or TV on most Saturdays while sewing and cheering on any college sports. She enjoyed embroidery and quilting. She was preceded in death by her husband Elmin K. Howell Jr. She is survived by daughter, Kimberly Howell Todaro and her husband John; son Paul S. Howell and his wife Amy; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Margaret P. Lawson, retired professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, died Sept. 29. She was 79. She was born Oct. 25, 1943, in Rhodesia, now known as Zimbabwe. Prior to coming to the United States in 1983 to begin studies at Southwestern Seminary, she taught high school English and biology, and she served as coordinator of Christian education at the Baptist Union of South Africa. In addition to a Bachelor of Theology degree from the University of South Africa, Lawson earned a Master of Arts in Religious Education degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree, both from Southwestern Seminary. Lawson served nine years at Southwestern Seminary as an adjunct teacher for multiple classes—including principles of teaching, building church curriculum and adult education—before she was elected to the faculty as assistant professor of foundations of education in 1999. She was promoted to associate professor of foundations of education in 2008, where she served until she retired in 2012. She served as the minister of education or minister of discipleship at several churches in the Fort Worth area, including Springdale Baptist Church, Riverside Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Lakeside and Woods Chapel Baptist Church, as well as Surrey Hills Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Okla. Lawson also served as the director of the curriculum center at Southwestern from 1987 to 1993. In 2013, Lawson was awarded the Distinguished Leaders Award by the Disciple Leaders Network, a ministry of the Baptist Association of Christian Educators. A celebration of life service will be held at 10 a.m. on Oct. 21 at Arlington Plaza—Sky Active Living.

Dorothy Bernice “Bea” Cromer, a former missionary and Baptist Standard employee, died Aug. 12 in Murfreesboro, Tenn. She was 96. She was born Oct. 17, 1926, in Underwood, Ind. She met her husband of 76 years, Ted Cromer, at church in Muskogee, Okla., and they married on Christmas Eve 1942. While he served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, she served on the home front in a Rosie the Riveter-type role. After the war, they both graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. They served in several small churches before being appointed as Southern Baptist missionaries to Liberia, West Africa, where they served 17 years. After leaving Africa, they continued their ministry in Texas. She worked for the Baptist Standard before retirement to Tennessee, where she was a member of Northside Baptist Church in Murfreesboro. In her later years, she loved to bowl, play cards with her family, and cheer for her favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys. At age 92, Bea received silver and bronze medals in bowling at the National Senior Olympics in Albuquerque, N.M. She was preceded in death by her husband Ted and daughter Tedi. She is survived by her son Dehru and his wife Muezetta, daughter Janis Sauls and her husband Chet, seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

Wilbert Henry Long of San Antonio, longtime Texas Baptist pastor, died Sept. 6. He was 93. He was born in Chatom, Ala., on Oct. 15, 1929, to Henry and Marvelle Long. After he graduated from Wayland Baptist College, he served two years in the U.S. Army. He earned his master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary while serving churches in Denton. He held pastorates in Dallas and Groesbeck before being called to Northeast Baptist Church in San Antonio in 1964. He served there 30 years, retiring in 1994. When he retired, he joined the staff of San Antonio Baptist Association, where he served in many capacities. He also was senior adult camp director for Alto Frio Baptist Encampment. He was a trustee of the Baptist Memorial System nine years and served on the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board. He helped build churches in Alaska and San Antonio, and he participated in evangelistic crusades in Australia, Korea, Japan, Brazil and Canada. During his final years at Waterford Senior Living, he began a Bible study and a hymn sing for the residents. In 2000, he was chosen to receive the Winfred Moore Award for Lifetime Achievement in Ministry from Baylor University. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years Patricia Ann Colwell Long and by his sister Phyllis June Francies. He is survived by son Mark A. Long, daughter Leigh Ann Whisler and her husband Chris, daughter Laura L. Roach and her husband John, 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Gil A. Stricklin, founder of Marketplace Ministries and former military chaplain, died Sept. 10 at his home in Dallas. He was 88. Gilford Arthur Stricklin was born Sept. 11, 1934, in Sadler to Lessie Caroline Watson and Gilford Lane Stricklin. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at age 12. At Baylor University, he was president of the freshman class, was a yell leader and served in the ROTC. He met Ann March in the fall semester in 1954, and they dated throughout their years at Baylor. They married May 23, 1958, in Waco. He graduated from Baylor with a business degree and a commission in the U.S. Air Force. As a commissioned officer, he was stationed at Donaldson Air Force Base in South Carolina. After three years on active duty in the Air Force, including a tour to Antarctica, the family moved back to Fort Worth where he attended Texas Christian University, receiving a degree in journalism while working for the Fort Worth Press and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He also earned a degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 1965, he was invited to join the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to serve in preparation for the upcoming World Congress on Evangelism and as a special assistant to Graham. For the following six years, he traveled the world, setting up press conferences for the evangelist and working with the media. In 1970, the family moved to Dallas when he went to work for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, where he pioneered the Super Summer Youth Evangelism program, which continues today. At the same time he was serving his 15 years with the BGCT, he also went to flight school and achieved both his instrument and multi-engine rating pilot licenses. He transitioned from the Air Force to the U.S. Army, serving as a chaplain during Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield. He graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in 1973. In 1983, he graduated from the U.S. Army War College, as only the seventh chaplain to do so. Three years later, he graduated from the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. During his active-duty military service, he officiated nearly 100 funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. In 1994, he retired from the U.S. Army as a colonel after serving his country 37 years—15 years in the Air Force and 22 years in the Army. In 1983, he founded Marketplace Ministries, which offers chaplain care to business employees. The organization now serves more than 1,000 companies with 1.2 million employees being helped. Stricklin was a member and deacon at First Baptist Church in Dallas more than five decades. He was a Distinguished Alumnus at Baylor University, where he was a devoted fan of all sports. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Don, Jerry and Jimmy Stricklin. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ann March Stricklin; sons Art and his wife Belinda of Dallas and Cliff and his wife Christy of Denver, Colo.; four grandchildren; and a brother, Charles Stricklin of Newport, Calif. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sept. 19 at First Baptist Church in downtown Dallas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Marketplace Chaplains—Founder’s Endowment, 2001 West Plano Pkwy, Ste 3200, Plano TX 75075.

Sue Evelyn Snider, former missionary to Ghana, Africa, and retired information technology director for the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annuity Board—now GuideStone—died Aug. 31. She was 95. She was born Dec. 5, 1927, to Erman Lebert Snider and Nannie Mae Snider. She graduated from Texas Woman’s University in 1949. Around 1954, she mentioned to her church’s youth director she wanted to be a missionary. That summer, she boarded a train to California to attend the Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. After graduation, she worked for Gaines S. Dobbins, who was instrumental in her decision to become a missionary in Ghana, where she lived and worked two years. After her missionary term ended, she returned to Texas, where she was active in several Baptist churches teaching Sunday school. Later, she decided to change careers and went to school to learn about computer technology, after which she served as the IT director at the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annuity Board until she retired. She devoted herself to a lifelong study of the Bible and frequently typed out her prayers to focus on her prayer time. She dedicated her life to worshiping God the Father and God the Son, and let the Holy Spirit guide her path. For most of her life, she had a vegetable and flower garden with an affinity for roses, irises and all blooming flowers. She was an avid reader and especially liked mysteries written with a sense of humor. Laughter was a large part of her life, and she got a kick out of Sponge Bob Square Pants cartoons. She is survived by her nieces Vicki Snider of Frisco and Melinda Green of Allen; nephew Duane Snider and wife Gwen of Plano; great nephews and nieces Shaana, Joshua, Lindsey, Chad and Nicholas; and great-great nieces and nephews. Visitation is from 9 to 10 a.m., Sept. 7, in the Wildwood Chapel at Restland Funeral Home at 13005 Greenville Ave. in Dallas, with a funeral service following at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First Baptist Church of Plano, 3665 W. George Bush Highway, Plano, Texas 75075, or online.

Brandon Rea Followell of San Marcos died Aug. 20 in a car accident in Buda. He was 22. Brandon was born on Oct. 6, 2000, in Waco to David Nemmer Jr. and Kari Anderson. Through a series of events as a child, Brandon and his brother David came to live with Clint and Monica Followell when he was 10 years old. This led to a full adoption in 2012. In the same year, the family moved to San Marcos, where he lived the rest of his life. He graduated from San Marcos High School in 2019. He was employed at Centex Pressure Washing Services. Friends and family said Brandon’s love for the “unlovable” or the “outcast” was his greatest attribute. To him, everyone was worthy of love, and he showed that in his actions. Brandon also took his role as big brother seriously, making sure to attend every possible game, concert or production involving his siblings. He is survived by his adoptive parents, Clint and Monica Followell, who are campus ministers at San Marcos Academy and on staff at First Baptist Church in San Marcos—he as minister of students and she as minister of missions. He also is survived by his brothers, David and Asher Followell; his biological parents, Kari Anderson and David Nemmer Jr.; and his grandparents, Anthony and Melissa Modesto, and Dennis and Rebecca Tuchalski.

Glorioustean “Gloria” Veals, the “first lady” of City Church in Tulia, died Aug. 18. She was 74. She was born May 30, 1949, in Liberty, Miss., to Charlie and Gracie Powell Faust. She attended Prentiss Junior College in Prentiss, Miss., receiving a certificate in education. She and Matthew Veals married March 15, 1971, in New Orleans. They moved to Houston in 1975, where she worked first as a seamstress and then in the radiology department at Methodist Hospital. In 1980, they moved to Tulia, and she worked in retail. Her last job was working 15 years at Panhandle Transit until her retirement. She served faithfully in the community outreach program at City Church, where her husband is pastor, and she cooked many meals for the children who benefited from its ministry. Gloria loved to sew for her friends, who knew she had a big heart to help anyone in need. She also was supportive and eager to help in the activities of Caprock Plains Baptist Association. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Dorothy Hunt and Hattie Rose Faust; and a brother, George Faust. She is survived by her husband Matthew Veals; daughter, Mecca Perkins and husband Greg of Waco; son Albert Knighten and wife Monica of Baton Rouge, La; seven grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; brothers Arthur Ben Faust and Roscoe Faust of Houston, Charlie E. Faust of Oxnard, Calif., and Charlie Faust Jr. of Liberty, Miss.; sisters, Betty Faust of Kenner, La., Rita Davis of New Orleans, Yelva Washington of Glenburnie, Md., and Cephus Winding of Liberty, Miss.

Faye Jennings Henthorn, a lifelong Tulia resident who served First Baptist Church there more than four decades as church secretary, died Aug. 13 in Lubbock. She was 91. She was born Feb. 1, 1932, in Tulia to Robert and Lois Brewer Jennings. She graduated from Tulia High School in 1949 and married Donald Eugene Henthorn on Dec. 21, 1949, in Portales, N.M. She worked as secretary at First Baptist Church in Tulia from 1975 until her retirement in 2017, when the congregation marked the occasion as “Faye Day.” She was director of Vacation Bible School 35 years, instructor of the children’s choir 30 years, and also sang in the church choir. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Henthorn; daughters Carol Ann Henthorn Pergrem and Pamela Kay Henthorn Harrison; and son Robert Henthorn. She is survived by her other two sons, Mike Henthorn and his wife Donna of Lubbock, and Tim Henthorn and his wife Suzanne of Fairview; 12 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Bob Jennings. Memorial gifts may be made to First Baptist Church, 101 N. Crosby, Tulia, TX 79088.

Dean Nolan Finley, a national Southern Baptist leader in youth evangelism more than three decades, died July 27 after an extended battle with Parkinson’s. He was 71. He was born June 28, 1952, in Springfield, Mo., to George and Opal Finley. He received his Master of Religious Education Degree, Master of Divinity degree and Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. He served 19 years as youth evangelism consultant at the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board and more than seven years at the Missouri Baptist Convention. He was one of the primary drivers for programs such as DiscipleNow, True Love Waits and See You at the Pole. With Richard Ross, he co-chaired YouthLink 2000, an event where more than 9,000 students expressed a willingness to missionary service if God called them, 4,985 committed to full-time Christian ministry, and 1,492 made professions of faith in Christ. Finley taught as visiting professor at each of the six Southern Baptist seminaries, as well as Rockbridge Seminary and Canadian Baptist Theological Seminary. He also taught at Missouri State University, Bryant University, Campbellsville University, Ozark Technical College, Crowder College and Regent University, and he mentored doctoral students at the University of Phoenix. He wrote more than 200 youth evangelism articles, videos and audio programs and contributed to many more. He served more than 10 years on the Christian Educators Association board. He traveled to all 50 states and more than 25 countries, making friends and sharing the gospel everywhere he went. He was preceded in death by his parents and three siblings. He is survived by daughters Abigail Dawn Anderson and Rebecca DeAnn Mays; their mother Beverly Finley; multiple grandchildren; and a brother, David Finley. A celebration of life is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 2 at First Baptist Church of Springfield, Mo. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Dean Finley’s memory to the Missouri Baptist Student Union Alumni Association or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.