Alvin Howell, 77, died June 30 in Fort Worth. He was pastor of several congregations, including Wheatland Baptist Church in Wheatland and First Baptist Church in Thorp Springs. Alvin Howell

When he became pastor in Thorp Springs, the congregation had dwindled to 17 members, but he brought it back to about 70 before he retired. He preached funeral services at six funeral homes when a minister was needed.

He was a member of the Howard Payne University alumni association. He is survived by his wife, Brenda; sons, Mark, David and Stephen; brother, Kenneth; stepson, Wade Wells; stepdaughter, Wendy Tockey; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Mack Cole, 88, July 17 in Fort Worth. During World War II, he served in the South Pacific with the First and Third divisions of the Marine Corps. Following the war, the graduated from Hardin-Simmons University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Mack ColeHis pastorates included First Baptist Church in Anna, First Baptist Church in Lampasas, First Baptist Church in Snyder and Ridglea Baptist Church in Fort Worth. After retiring in 1981, he turned to pioneer mission work in Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Nevada and Montana. He also served as a volunteer missionary in Macedonia and conducted evangelistic crusades in several foreign countries. In 1991, he moved to Montana to become pastor of Big Horn Baptist Church in the middle of the Crow Indian reservation, where he served until July 2013. He wrote several books and contributed to various Southern Baptist publications. He also served as vice president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Mary Petree and Margaret Mitchell. He is survived by his wife Carol; sons, Louis and Stacy; daughters, Rachel Bailiff and Miriam Lambert; stepsons Michael and Stephen Browning; 15 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

David Kuykendall, 84, July 17 in Dallas. He was a graduate of Decatur Baptist College, Hardin-Simmons University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Early in his ministry he served churches in Montague, Stamford, Fort Worth, Alvord, McKinney, Greenville and Beloit, Wisc. David KuykendallHe was pastor of Calvary Baptist Church of Oak Cliff in Dallas 27 years, leading the church to reach its urban neighborhood and teaching consistently about living an abundant life through God’s grace. After retirement, he served at Royal Haven, Wynnewood and Kessler Park Baptist churches in Dallas. He wrote weekly devotions and several books on having a relationship with Christ and living by grace. These may be downloaded free at LivingByGrace.org. He was preceded in death by his son, David Jr. He is survived by his wife, Janie; son, James; daughters, Jane Beaumont and Kristi Coleman; brothers, Joe and Don; sister, Betty Carr; seven grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.

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.

Nina Hopkins, 99, June 30 in Longview. Nina HopkinsA member of the pioneer Hall family of Hallsville, she attended the College of Marshall—now East Texas Baptist University—majoring in home economics. A longtime member of First Baptist Church in Longview, she sang in the adult choir 66 years. Her husband, Ellie, was the editor of the Longview newspaper and a Baptist Standard board member. He died in 1993. She also was preceded in death by her sister, Sibyl Sawyer; and brothers, J.T. and Lacy Hall. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Beth Shaw; son, Jack; sister, Mildred Ray; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Howard Wynne, 91, June 29 in Kingwood. A longtime Texas pastor, he served churches in Abilene, Houston and Kingwood. Howard WynneHe was pastor emeritus of Woodridge Baptist Church in Kingwood. He is survived by his wife, Cynthia; sons, Blake and Kyle; daughter, Marilyn Helm; stepdaughters, Cindy Jo Shew and Joanna Jameson; 14 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Ted Getterman, 89, July 1 in Waco. A former Waco mayor and a Baylor University alumnus, he came to the university at the end of World War II and his service with the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He secured both business and law degrees at Baylor. He and his wife, Sue, provided many endowed scholarships to the school, as well as generously supporting the business, arts and athletic programs. Ted GettermanThe Gettermans received the Founders Medallion in 2005. In 1998, Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business named him a distinguished alumnus. The couple provided the largest gift to women’s athletics in Baylor’s history, which resulted in Getterman Stadium—where the Lady Bears play softball—in 2000. Subsequent funds built the Getterman Indoor Softball Facility in 2010. The R.E.B. Baylor Society recognized the Gettermans’ contributions at the silver level. He received the Presidents Medallion and was inducted as a Fellow in the Golden Bear Circle of the Endowed Scholarship Society and also was a member of the Old Main Society and the 1845 Society. He is survived by his wife of 66 years; sons, Louis III and Holt; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Yandall Woodfin III, May 28 in Fort Worth. A graduate of Baylor University, Princeton Theological Seminary, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, he began his teaching career while directing Baptist Student Ministries at Tarleton State University in Stephenville. Yandall Woodfin IIIHe taught at Baylor University; International Baptist Theological Seminary in Rueschlikon, Switzerland; and 27 years at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth before retiring in 1994. He served as interim or guest preacher for churches throughout Texas and Oklahoma. While on sabbaticals from Southwestern, he served as pastor of English-language churches in Tripoli, Libya and Munich, Germany; taught again at International Seminary in Switzerland; Carey College in Auckland, New Zealand; University of Melbourne in Australia and was scholar-in-residence at Nazarene Bible College in Buesingen, Germany. He was the author of With All Your Mind and Why Be a Christian? An artist, he delighted in sharing his landscape oil paintings with family and friends. Born in 1929, he was preceded in death by his son, Yandall IV. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Leta; daughters, Carol Woodfin, Linda Wells and Rosemary Anderson; sister, Diane Orr; and four grandchildren. h

John Taylor Jr., 83, June 15 in Hallsville. He was a graduate of East Texas Baptist College and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was a pastor 64 years, serving churches in Conroe, Marshall, Taft, El Campo and Hallsville. John Taylor Jr.He was pastor of First Baptist Church in Hallsville 17 years before retiring in 1986. After retirement, he trained to be an intentional interim pastor. At the time of his death, he was serving as pastor of County Line Baptist Church in Harleton. He was preceded in death by his sister, Neta Richards. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Amelia; daughters, Melanie Hudson, Edith Benton and Judy Foster; son, John; sister, Bernadine Lumpkin; 16 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Glorieta Baptist Conference Center, which was created in August 1952, was disposed of Sept. 3, 2013. After a start as an 880-acre Breese Ranch purchase by New Mexico Baptists at a cost of $50,000, the closing came at the direction of a do-not-resuscitate order authorized by LifeWay Christian Resources, a agency of the Southern Baptist Convention, which sold it for $1.

Glorieta was born of a vision to offer training and Baptist development for the western United States, with God’s direction. The property expanded to 2,500 acres, 18 acres of Prayer Garden, 60-plus homes and lodges, and the main campus buildings with a lake.

Old auditorium at Holcomb Hall at Glorieta Conference Center.Glorieta’s vision and mission were to provide discipleship, training, fellowship and reflection. People loved spiritual enrichment, renewal and Christian foundation, which Glorieta provided for 62 years.

In 1953, it began a summer training program of 12 full weeks that at least remained in place until 2008.

Many dedicated, quality leaders through the years managed and directed Glorieta’s programs to develop Baptist lives and improve church members’ training with new knowledge.

In later years, volunteers helped provide food services. Volunteers also helped maintain and repair campus buildings when LifeWay did not provide enough dollars to keep up.

Beginning in 1952, summer staffers served camp participants each. Summer staffers worked, worshipped, sang, fellowshipped and served during each focus week from 1952 to 2013. These thousands viewed azure skies, the largest cotton-ball clouds possible and even double rainbows as reminders that God was at Glorieta and worked through us as we learned to improve in his service to others.

Achievements

Records show that from 1952 until 2006, Glorieta provided spiritual nurture to:

• 3.5 million campers

• 2,500 people who accepted Jesus as their Savior

• 7,500 people who made a commitment to full-time Christian service

I first experienced Glorieta in August 1971 during Student Week. With that introduction, I continued for 43 years to train, vacation and relax at Glorieta in dorms, hotels, lodges and private homes. The spirit of Glorieta permeated my years of visiting in special godly fellowship and development of long-term friendships. This is a legacy that became very sad when Glorieta was terminated in 2013.

These were the best of times, and these were God’s times at Glorieta.

Another cherished group were the homeowners and church-lodge owners, who built on land leased originally by the honorable Sunday School Board. The people and churches added to the sense of community at Glorieta by volunteering during the summer while bringing their church members to experience what made Glorieta special.

A betrayal

The closing of Glorieta was accomplished through the betrayal of LifeWay to the Southern Baptist Convention, the homeowners and the lodge owners.

Memories of Glorieta for millions of attenders, summer staffers, management leaders and former homeowners now are in their minds and hearts. They remember how God taught and blessed them at Glorieta.

Life goes on with the passage of Glorieta, and the memories will keep it alive in the hearts of all who spent time inside her glorious gates.

Thank you, God, for Glorieta, 1952 to 2013. Eternal thanks and blessings upon the founding fathers and the Baptist Convention of New Mexico Baptist Convention for the purchase of first 880 acres. Continued blessings to all summer staffers, former homeowners, camp managers, and the teachers and learners who came to be apart of the learning offered through the weekly training opportunities provided at Glorieta.

Mark Owen is a petroleum chemist and member of First Baptist Church in Tulsa, Okla. At various times across the past 42 years, he worked, trained and vacationed at Glorieta.

Golda Martin, 71, May 18 in Sandia. She enjoyed fishing and making her daughters’ dresses and was the wife of Larry Martin, pastor of Cadiz Baptist Church in George West. He also served as director of missions of Coastal Bend Baptist Association from 1988 until 2003. Golda MartinShe was preceded in death by her grandson, John Michael Mayberry. She is survived by her husband; daughters, Sharon Mayberry and Patty McKenzie; sister Juandean Ashley; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Connie Cummings, 94, May 22 in Waco. She served alongside her husband, Eddie, as he was pastor to churches in Texas and Florida more than 50 years. She was a mentor to young women and a talented vocalist. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Lorena. She was preceded in death by her husband; brothers, Harvey and Billy Joe DuPriest; sisters, Lena Mastin and Jeannie Meier; and one grandson. She is survived by her sons, Pat and Don; daughter, Pam Jones; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Doyle Holmes, 89, former director of missions of the Lubbock Baptist Association, May 6 in Lubbock. He was a graduate of Howard Payne University, which he attended following his service in the Army Air Force in World War II. Doyle Holmes

Holmes was a public school administrator before becoming minister of education/music at College Avenue Baptist Church in Lubbock. He then served Second Baptist Church in Corpus Christi before joining Lubbock Baptist Association until his retirement in 1984. His retirement lasted two days before boredom caused him to open a financial services office and later a wholesale jewelry company and commercial quilting studio until retiring again this year.

David Fortenbury preaches on a mission trip to India in 2006.He is survived by his wife of almost 68 years, Merle; sons, Gary, Steve and Landry; six grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

David Fortenbury, 64, May 11 in DeSoto. He was pastor of Irving Baptist Fellowship, where he had served since 1998.

He is survived by his wife, Sherryl; daughters, Amy Standifer and Alissa Reed; son, Ryan; mother, Jean Fortenbury; brothers, Mike and Jeff; and nine grandchildren.

Darrell Tapley, 86, died April 24 in Coleman. A graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, his first pastorates were in Eldorado and Early while still studying at HPU. While he attended seminary, he and his wife, Fredalene, were house parents at Buckner’s Orphan Home in Dallas, and he also was pastor of a Spanish-speaking mission in West Dallas. As his ministry continued, he led congregations in Houston, Seminole and San Antonio before moving to New Mexico, where he was pastor of churches in small communities. He also served two New Mexico associations as director of missions. He returned to Texas after retirement and became pastor of Leaday Baptist Church. He enjoyed describing his call to ministry. While he knew God was calling him, he wanted to be a farmer instead. His father set aside 40 acres of cropland for him after his high school graduation, and he planted watermelon, corn and peanuts. That growing season, those 40 acres yielded not one watermelon, not one ear of corn, nor a single peanut. He surrendered to God and enrolled at Howard Payne. He was preceded in death by his wife of almost 58 years. He is survived by his daughter, Nancy Whitworth; sons, Jim and Gary; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Wade Cunningham, 94, April 19 in Duncanville. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Cunningham worked in the mailroom of the Baptist Standard 38 years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Eva. He is survived by his son, Richard; daughter, Vicki Hooten; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Dan McGee, 80, April 19 in Waco. He was a Baylor University professor and emeritus Melton Endowed Chair of Religion. He joined the Baylor faculty in 1966, where he pioneered the ethics program, teaching both graduate and undergraduate courses. Dan McGeeDuring his 40-year teaching career, he also advised the doctoral and masters’ theses of many students who now serve around the world. He received both the student-selected and university-designated “best teacher” awards. In 2005, Baylor awarded him the Herbert H. Reynolds Award for Exemplary Service, which included serving as the chair of Baylor’s Faculty Senate, its representative to the Baptist World Alliance, chair of the committees that created Baylor’s Institute for Environmental Studies and the university’s program in medical humanities, on the university’s review board and as director of graduate studies in religion. In 2002, the Daniel B. McGee Lectureship in Religious Studies was established. A member of Seventh and James Baptist Church since 1966, he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, church moderator and chairman of the pastor-search committee. He also served as interim pastor of Edgefield Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Merolyn; son, Glenn; daughter, Caroline Jones; brother, Alden; and five grandchildren.

Emmett Solomon Jr., 78, April 22 in Huntsville. He began serving as a chaplain in the Texas Department of Corrections in 1965. In 1985, he moved to Huntsville and became the director of chaplains. After retirement, he served 20 years as founder and executive director of the Restorative Justice Ministries Network, housed in the educational building of First Baptist Church in Huntsville. He served on the board of directors of Hospitality House, a ministry to the families of incarcerated individuals. He was a Sunday school teacher and department director at First Baptist Church in Huntsville. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Garland and Henry; sister, Betty Stanford; and son, Emmett. He is survived by wife, Janet; son, John; and three grandchildren.

Norris Cash, 85, April 5 at Holly Lake Ranch. A graduate of East Texas Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Norris Cashhe served as minister of youth, music or education in Tyler, Gresham, Longview, Lindale, Sherman, Austin and Arlington.

He also was director of missions for Dogwood Trails Baptist Area and Grayson Baptist Association.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Peggy; daughter, Danita Saylors; sons, Randall and Bryan; and five grandchildren.