Daniel Jones, 23, March 23 in Waco. He collapsed while competing in the Bearathon running event as he neared the finish line. Daniel Jones at a Student Foundation Scholarship Banquet in April 2012. (Baylor University photo)The Bearathon is a Baylor Student Foundation event that raises money for student scholarships. The Baylor University student was taken to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, where he died about an hour later. The senior marketing and management double major from North Richland Hills was a member of Kappa Omega Tau fraternity and a former member of the Student Foundation. Jones never knew his father, and his mother was killed by a drunk driver when he was 11 years old. He was raised by his grandparents who died in 2011 and 2012. He had applied for admission to Baylor’s Truett Seminary following graduation. He is survived by his brother, Derek.

Roy McClung, 95, March 26 in Louisville, Ky. A graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, he was pastor of churches in Indiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Texas, as well as International Baptist Church in Brussels, Belguim. Roy McClungAt the time of his death, he was pastor emeritus of Ninth and O Baptist Church in Louisville. He was pastor of First Baptist Church in Plainview from 1958 until 1963, when he became president of Wayland Baptist University and served 17 years. During his tenure, he led the university to pursue distance education, beginning with a program for police officers in Lubbock. The university now operates 13 campuses in Texas, Arizona, Alaska, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Hawaii, as well as Kenya and online. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Genelle, in 1995. He is survived by his wife, Betty; sons, Michael and Mark; daughter, Nancy Chaddick; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Lawrence Hamilton, 74, March 11. A graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he began his ministry at age 17. He was pastor of four churches in Arkansas, Live Oak Baptist Church in Gatesville, First Baptist Church in Smithfield and interim pastor of 15 churches in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He also was administrator of Tarrant Baptist Encampment near Glen Rose from 1973 to 1991. He is survived by his wife, Rachael; sons, Danny, Brian and Blake; daughters, Angelia Sinclair, Amy Woods, Allison Nowak, Jeanette Martin and Stephanie Chaney; 22 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Craig Little, 56, Feb. 17, in Tyler. He was killed in an automobile accident when a driver that has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol struck his truck from behind while he was delivering newspapers. Craig LittleHe was pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Sand Flat at the time of his death. He began preaching at age 13. He served 43 years in evangelism, youth and radio ministry, and as a pastor. Among the churches he served were Martin Springs Baptist Church in Chandler, First Baptist and Hopewell Baptist churches in Swan, Temple Baptist Church in Tyler, Lamount Drive Baptist Church in Amarillo, Piney Grove Baptist Church in Atlanta, Open Door Baptist Church in Queen City and Hilltop Baptist Church in Alto. He was preceded in death by his brother, Kenneth. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Marsha; sons, William and Benjamin; and daughter, Elisabeth Little.

John Ward Jr., 92, Feb. 4 in Oklahoma City. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945 in the Pacific Theater. A 1949 graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he was a minister of music for churches in Texas, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Florida. He also worked at the Baptist Annuity Board 10 years. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Lilah; son, Monty; daughter, Harmony Ward; sisters, Monnie Wheelus and Nancy Ward; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Thomas Chism, 84, Feb. 9 in Fort Worth. He was a Baptist Student Union director at the University of Texas at El Paso and also served as a teacher and administrator there. During the 35 years he lived there, he and his family were members of First Baptist Church in El Paso. After retirement, he worked in the development offices of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Baylor University, Truett Seminary and the B.H. Carroll Institute. He was a member of Agape Baptist Church in Fort Worth at the time of his death. He worked tirelessly to improve tolerance, acceptance and social justice. A furniture refinisher and picture framer, he loved western novels, bluegrass music and bargains. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Frances; son, Steve; daughter, Judy Malazzo; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

• Jean Breckenridge, 93, Feb. 1 in Tyler. In 1996, she donated 78 acres of land, her home and a trust fund to Baptist Child & Family Services to construct a home for adults with mild to moderate developmental disabilities.

Jean Breckenridge with her son Jimmy. He is also pictured in the top photo.

Built by Texas Baptist Men Retiree Builders, Breckenridge Village in Tyler includes six cottage-style homes, a chapel, greenhouse, swimming pool, fishing pier, health center and activity centers. Today, 10 adults engage in Breckenridge Village’s day program, and 40 residents call the faith-based community their home. She was a longtime member of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler. She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Robert; son, Bob Jr.; sisters, Mignon Pierce, Dorothy Bartlett and Lillian Pressler; and brother, Robert George Jr. She is survived by her son, Jimmy.

• Jim Gray, 68, Jan. 30 in Waco.

Jim Gray

He was killed in a car wreck as he drove to attend Wednesday-night services at First Baptist Church in Woodway, where he was associate pastor for senior adults. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he served during the Vietnam War as a Chinese linguist. After serving eight years with the Air Force, he graduated from the University of Texas. He worked for the federal government 11 years before he surrendered to ministry in 1983. He served two years on the staff of Fannin Terrace Baptist Church in Midland and then was pastor of First Baptist Church in Ozona until 1989 and First Baptist Church in Eddy for 10 years. In 1999, he joined the staff of First Baptist Church in Woodway, where he still served at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Kay; sons, Richard, Michael and Stephen; daughter, Linda Robinson; brother, Troy; and four grandchildren.

• Charlotte Wingfield, 82, Jan. 27 in Dallas. She was an educator 32 years, mainly as an elementary school teacher specializing in math. She was a member of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas and of a Baptist church in every community where she lived. She participated in Bible Study Fellowship, was a Sunday-morning greeter at church, supported mission causes and after retirement, became a volunteer tutor with underprivileged students. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Jack; and sister, Frances Dudley. She is survived by her son, Mark; sister, Peggy Rose; brother, Larry Wileman; and twin grandsons.

• Cindia Brown, 71, Jan. 9 in Madisonville. She was pianist for many years at Bedias Baptist Church, where her husband was pastor. She is survived by her husband, Jerald; sons, Bobby and Joe; daughter, Natalie Barnett; brother, Kenneth McDougald; sister, Linda Manuel; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A great-granddaughter, Kyleigh Rabe, followed her in death later in the month.

Leroy Daniel, 93, Jan. 11 in Wichita Falls. Daniel was one of the three founders of Luby’s Cafeteria in Wichita Falls in 1951, and became its sole owner a few years later.

He was a member of First Baptist Church in Wichita Falls since age 7, and was a deacon more than 60 years. He also served on many of the church’s committees and was a Sunday school teacher. He was a member of the Baptist Standard board of directors 18 years, and was chairman of the Baptist General Convention of Texas State Missions Committee. In 2001, he was the first layman to receive the Sam Houston Award from Texas Baptists. He as his wife, Ramona, were financial supporters of three Southern Baptist seminaries, special mission projects and a number of small churches in the Northwest. In 2009, they were recognized with the Elder Statesmen Award by the BGCT. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary, in 1946. He is survived by his wife of 62 years; daughters, Donna Lanier and Andrea Freeman; sons, Kip and Bill; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Missionary doctor Giles Fort performed surgeries on thousands of patients at the Sanyati Baptist Hospital in Zimbabwe. His wife Wana Ann, also a physician, often assisted him as well as African nurses. (Baptist Press Photo)

Giles Fort Jr., 89, Jan. 14 in Baton Rouge, La. A native of Fort Worth, he served as a Southern Baptist medical missionary in Zimbabwe almost 36 years. He and his wife, Wana Ann, were the first doctors at the remote Sanyati Baptist Hospital. He oversaw construction of the hospital while treating and sharing the gospel with thousands of patients. He retired from missionary service in 1988, not long after he was diagnosed with axial dystonia, a muscle condition. He is survived by his wife; sons, Giles III, David, Gordon, Gregg and Grady; 14 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Elizabeth Moore, 91, Dec. 21 in Amarillo. She was a great support to her Baptist pastor husband, Winfred, and she learned to read, write and speak Korean fluently and could communicate in several languages. She taught English as a second language for several decades. She was preceded in death by her sister, Loretta Mullins. She is survived by her husband of 71 years; daughters, Anne Preston and Maria Patterson; son, Fred; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Charles Brinkley, 86, Dec. 29 in Fort Worth. He worked in the banking industry 65 years. He served as a trustee of Hardin-Simmons University 18 years, twice served on the university’s board of development and was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from HSU in 1994. He also served on an HSU presidential search committee. He served in the Baptist Brotherhood in the 1940s and ’50s, and he twice served on the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He was preceded in death by his sister, Dorothy Reeder. He is survived by his wife, Polly; son, Michael; and sister, Wanda Baker.

Joda Hall, 97, Oct. 24 in Cypress. She and her husband, Casey, spent 43 of their 58 years of marriage serving Texas Baptist churches as pastor and wife. She is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Riley; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Jean Standley, 84, Dec. 9 in Warren. She taught elementary school in Woodville and Warren 16 years and served alongside her Baptist pastor husband, George, during his 50 years of ministry. She raised African violets, made the best sweet tea and let her grandchildren have as much as they wanted. She is survived by her husband of 65 years; sons, Dale, Royce, Richard and David; daughter, Lynette Wasson; sister, Rita Fountain; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Joe Allbritton, 87, Dec. 12 in Houston. A World War II veteran, he graduated from Baylor University in 1949. He served on the university’s board of trustees from 1959 to 1968 and was a Baylor regent from 1998 to 2001. His financial generosity to the university is evident from the Allbritton House, the home of Baylor presidents since 1974, and the Allbritton Art Institute within Baylor’s art department, which provides educational travel opportunities for students. He also gave to the university’s debate program and Baylor Law School. He and his wife, Barbara, established the Abner McCall Chair in Evidence in the Law School and the Joe L. and Barbara B. Allbritton Endowment Fund in support or the Glenn R. Capp Chair in Forensics to aid Baylor’s recruitment and retention of faculty. In 1974, he received the Baylor Distinguished Alumni Award. The Allbrittons received the Baylor Founders Medallion, the James Huckins Medallion for consistent philanthropy, and the Baylor Legacy Award. The university also honored him with membership in the Golden Bear Circle of the Endowed Scholarship Society, the Judge R.E.B. Baylor Society and the Baylor Old Main Society. He served on the board of advisers for the Baylor University Foundation and was a member of the Baylor Alumni Association’s Heritage Club. He is survived by his wife; son, Robert; and two grandchildren.

Sherry Easley, 58, Dec. 12 in Alvin. She was a teacher in the Santa Fe Independent School District. She was a member of Heights Baptist Church in Alvin, where she taught adult Bible study classes, led children in Vacation Bible School and choirs, and had a passion for anything music-related. She played the guitar and piano, and she sang in the adult choir as well as in other special groups within the church. She is survived by her husband, Charles, pastor of Heights Baptist Church; daughters, Tanya Foley, Rhonda Ellis and Melissa Wyatt; father, James Garner; sister, Janice Culpepper; brothers, Larry and Wayne Garner; and eight grandchildren.

Reg Whearley Jr., 59, Dec. 13 in Angleton. He retired as an operator from Dow Chemical and most recently worked at TDCJ Ramsey I Unit. He also was pastor of Cool Water Cowboy Church in Angleton. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Kathey; son, Hunter; daughter, Kourtney Myers; sisters, Sandra Pokluda and Sharon Renfro; and three grandchildren.

James Lafferty, 85, Dec. 28 in Cameron. He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II in the Philippines. A graduate of the University of Houston and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he was pastor of churches in Fort Worth, Smithfield, and Tyler and at First Baptist Church of Cameron, where he served from 1963 until 1975. He was interim pastor in New Baden, Calvert and San Gabriel. He was director of missions for FIRM Baptist Area from 1975 until 1992. He also was active in his community, and served as mayor of Cameron. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Doris; sons, Jim and Dale; five grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Justice Anderson, 83, Dec. 29 in Fort Worth. He was a retired pastor, missionary and professor of missions at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Ordained at age 19, he was pastor of churches in Stranger, Osage and Franklin while a seminary student. He served 17 years in Argentina with the International Mission Board, starting churches, teaching at the seminary there and serving in numerous leadership roles. He returned to Southwestern in 1974, leading the World Missions Center 20 years. He wrote numerous articles on missiology and a series of books in Spanish and English, but his major contribution was a history of the worldwide Baptist movement. In retirement, he taught at Dallas Baptist University, B.H. Carroll Institute and Truett Theological Seminary. He also ministered to the Karen refugee community at Agape Baptist Church in Fort Worth. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Ann; daughters, Sandi Phillips and Suzie Person; sons, Timothy and Brad; brother, Gene; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Mike Toby, 65, died Dec. 29 in Waco. He was pastor of First Baptist Church of Woodway 35 years. He served on the staff of churches in Louisiana, Florida, Arkansas and Texas. Before he went to Woodway, he was pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Texarkana. He served on the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board and as a trustee of Howard Payne University and Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, among other charitable institutions. He served three times as president of the pastors’ conference of Waco Regional Baptist Association. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Jackie; sons, Josh and Scott; sister, Linda Burchfield; and four grandchildren.

Scotty Holland, 81, Jan. 5 in Houston. A Hardin-Simmons University football letterman, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951 after North Korean hostilities began. He served as an airborne radio operator aboard a B-25 Mitchell aircraft. His professional career began with Marathon Oil Company and Pennzoil Company. Eventually, Holland guided Pennzoil Exploration and Production Company in the search for hydrocarbons as president and chief executive officer, also serving as group vice president of the parent, Pennzoil Company, before retiring in 1990. He was a recipient of HSU’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 1983, as well as being awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree in 1990. He also helped fund the university’s Holland School of Sciences and Mathematics, Holland Medical High School and the future establishment of the Holland School of Health Sciences. He was preceded in death by four siblings. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jacque Nell; sons, David and Terrence; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.