Loyal Gould, 86, Sept. 8 in Chicago of kidney cancer. A former Associated Press foreign correspondent, he later was chair of the journalism departments at Ohio State, Wichita State and Baylor universities. Loyal GouldAmong the highlights of his career was filing stories almost hourly from Berlin when East Germany’s communist rulers built the Berlin Wall in 1961. He escorted President Richard Nixon and his daughters when they visited the wall. He also reported on the trial of 21 Germans who worked in Auschwitz during the Holocaust and the opposition of most Germans to war-crime trials. He was chairman of Baylor’s journalism department from 1974 to 1993. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ilse, in 2000. He is survived by his wife, Yanling Li; and daughter, Loyan Ebba.

Joella Morris, 90, Sept. 12 in Houston. She and her husband, Stewart, were among the founders of Houston Baptist University in 1960 and have supported the university throughout its history.Joella Morris In addition to funding scholarships and campus facilities, they helped place 10 granite columns taken from the 1899 Galveston County Courthouse on the campus to symbolize the Ten Commandments. Known for her passion for American history, she spent the last five decades researching, preserving, restoring and honoring history in partnership with her husband. In recognition of their work, the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance presented them the President’s Award in 2007. She also was instrumental in establishing the Museum of Southern History, which now resides on the HBU campus as part of the Joella and Stewart Morris Cultural Arts Center. She is survived by her husband of 70 years; daughters, Caralisa Simon and Carlotta Barker; son, Stewart Jr.; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

H.K. Neely Jr., 79, Sept. 22 in Waco. He was the first dean of Hardin-Simmons University’s Logsdon School of Theology. A tribute service will be held Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. at the Logsdon Chapel. H.K. Neely Jr.He surrendered to the call of ministry at age 14 and began his ministry at Spring Creek Baptist Church near Meridian. He later was pastor of Necessity Baptist Church near Breckenridge and First Baptist Church in Rising Star. In 1963, he became chair of the religion department of Southwest Baptist College, later founding the Courts Redford School of Theology there. He came to HSU as chairman of the division of religion and philosophy, and became Logsdon’s first dean in 1983. He grew the school from 172 students to more than 330 in five years. He served HSU 18 years before returning to Southwest Baptist University as vice president for denominational relations and dean of the Redford School of Theology. In 2002, he was named executive director of the newly formed Baptist General Convention of Missouri. In 2006, he received the Lewis W. Newman Award from the Association of Ministry Guidance Professionals. He was preceded in death by his sister, Sue Ann Weise. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Barbara; son, Bob; daughters, Amy Jackson, Susan Johnston and Kara Goble; sisters, Pat Emsley and Carolyn Cook; and eight grandchildren.

David Massey, 57, Sept. 16 in Longview. He was pastor of First Baptist Church in Hallsville. He previously was pastor at First Baptist Church in Diana, Hebron Baptist Church in Yoakum, David MasseyEdgefield Baptist Church in Waco and Ephesus Baptist Church in Marquez. He was associate pastor at Bosque Valley Baptist Church in Clinton and minister of education/youth at First Baptist Church in Clifton. He served on the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas from 2002 to 2008, and the board of trustees of East Texas Baptist University from 2002 to 2011. He was preceded in death by his wife, Becky. He is survived by his daughters, Mari Lynn Hensley, Michelle Massey, and Martha Massey; son, David; mother, Marie Massey; sisters, Becky Ellison and Karen Gonzalez; and one grandson.

Polly Hooper, 76, Sept. 4 in Dallas. She and her husband, Arville Senter, served 20 years as missionaries in Tanzania starting churches, training pastors and working in evangelism. Polly HooperAfter returning to the United States, she became active in Woman’s Missionary Union. Following her husband’s death, she married Dale Hooper in 1994. They served as Mission Service Corps volunteers in South Africa and Tarrant Baptist Association. She most recently served five years as a ministry assistant with Texas WMU and was set to retire at the end of the year. She is survived by her husband; twin sister, Maurine Jones; sister, Margaret Gayle; son, Randy; daughters Belinda Kingsley and Paula Moore; stepsons, Rollin and Ryan Hooper; stepdaughter, Renee Hooper; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Welby Edwards, 98, Sept. 9 in Tyler. He was a former longtime trustee of East Texas Baptist University. He and his wife, Davida, funded creation of the School of Nursing in 1989. In 2001, he received an honorary doctor of humanities degree from the university. In 2005, he donated funds to renovate the ETBU softball field. Earlier, he served as an officer with a four-man crew in the Pacific with the Far East Air Force. He was discharged in 1945, receiving the Philippine Liberation Medal, three Battle Stars, one Bronze Star and 35 cents for bus fare back to his hometown of Tyler. He was a charter member of the Radio Bible Class at First Baptist Church in Tyler in 1935, and was a deacon there more than 50 years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years; sisters, Vivian McNeill and Veo Mallard. He is survived by his wife, Sue; son, D.M.; daughter, D’Ann Stripling; stepson, Donald Dudley; stepdaughter, Elizabeth Lampin; one grandson; two stepgrandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Ivan Potter, 74, Aug. 29 in Dallas. A graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he directed fundraising Ivan Potterefforts for churches through Share, Inc. Church Finance, Texas Baptist Financial Services and the Baptist General Convention of Texas United We Build Program. He helped churches both domestically and globally until this year. When he was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2011, he declared, not “Oh, God, I have cancer,” but “Oh, cancer, I have God.” He is survived by his wife, Shelby; stepdaughter, Brandi; and two grandchildren.

Earl Pfeil, March 7 in Salt Lake City. A graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he was minister of education at Richman Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, First Baptist Church in Clarksville, First Baptist Church of Urbandale in Dallas and Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Dallas. He is survived by his wife, Georgia.

Johnny Fira, 56, Aug. 7 in Irvine, Calif., after a long battle with heart disease. He had been associate Johnny Firapastor and music minister at Primera Iglesia Bautista in San Angelo. He was a basketball and football official more than 15 years. He also was active in Texas Baptist Men and a board member of Faith In Action. He was preceded in death by his sister, Eliza Guzman. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Linda; daughter, Kristen Borrego; son, Joshua; brothers, Willie Jr., Eugene, and Joe Ray; sisters, Ophelia Cervantes, Evila Cervantes, Gloria Bryant and Linda Fira; and two grandchildren.

Antonio Castillo, 94, June 20 in Lubbock. He was a 1940 graduate of Mexican Baptist Antonio CastilloTheological Seminary in El Paso. During his 40 years of ministry, he was pastor of churches in Mexico as well as congregations in Del Rio, Shallowater, Sinton, Tahoka and San Angelo. Although he retired in 1983, he continued to preach and mentor. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Maria, after 40 years of marriage; his stepson, Tony; and all his siblings. He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Anita; daughters, Eunice Garcia, Hogla Tyler, Elma Gonzalez and Egla Washburn; stepdaughters, Rachel Harmon and Jo Ann York; stepson, Jesus Toscano; five grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; and three great-grandsons.

Elaine “Honey” Greer, 92, Aug. 16 in Dallas. She was the widow of Gene Greer, a longtime pastor in the Dallas area and Baptist General Convention of Texas staff member who retired as associate director of the State Missions Commission and died in 2003. She served alongside her husband in all those capacities. She also was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Erin Greer. She is survived by her sons, Bill and Andy; daughter, Virginia McBee; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Milton Cunningham, 84, Aug. 3 in Waco. He died from complications following a stroke. After his mother died one month after his birth, he traveled with his father, who was an itenerant preacher and Milton Cunninghamchurch planter. He enrolled at Baylor University when he was 16 years old. He credited Baylor President W.R. White with bringing him to faith in Jesus Christ. While attending Baylor, he also experienced a call to ministry, and he continued his education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in pursuit of that call. He and his wife, Barbara, were missionaries in Africa 15 years, serving in Rhodesia, Zambia, Kenya and Ghana. He also was pastor of Westbury Baptist Church in Houston 17 years before returning to Baylor, where he served as chaplain and later as sports chaplain. In recent years, he was interim pastor of First Baptist churches in San Antonio, Athens, Corsicana and Woodville. He was the founder of Heart and Hands, a missions foundation that sent student missionaries all over the world. He served as president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas from 1977 to 1979, and he was chairman of the board of trustees at Baylor from 1985 to 1986. He was recognized as a distinguished alumnus of Baylor and also received the Huckins Award. He is survived by his wife of 57 years; sons, Milton and Miller; and two grandsons. 

Jack Hightower, 86, Aug. 3 in Austin. He died of complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was a graduate of both Baylor University and the Baylor Law School. A year after graduation, he was Jack Hightowerelected to the Texas House of Representatives, where he served one term. He was appointed district attorney for the 46th Judicial District in 1957, where he served until 1961. In 1965, he was elected to the Texas Senate, where he served 10 years. He was a trustee at Baylor from 1972 until 1981 and was noted as a distinguished alumnus in 1978. He was a U.S. Representative from 1975 to 1985. In 1985, he was appointed first assistant attorney general of Texas, where he served two years. He was elected as a justice on the Texas Supreme Court in 1988 and served until 1995. He was a deacon at First Baptist Church in Austin and taught Sunday school there many years. He was a trustee of Wayland Baptist University from 1991 until 2001. His personal and official papers are housed in Baylor’s W.R. Poage Legislative Library. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Colleen; daughters, Ann Hightower, Amy Brees and Alison Suttle; and six grandchildren.

Andrew Heard, 30, July 26 in Cuero. He was quarterback of the 1998 Cuero Gobbler state finalist football team before learning he had Hodgkin’s Disease. He recovered and went on to play Andrew Heardfootball at Texas Tech University and Baylor University. A graduate of Baylor’s Truett Theological Seminary, he was high school minister at Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas four years. He wrote two books, Your Best Life Later and A Gray Faith, that flowed out of his struggle with Hodgkin’s Disease and lung cancer and explain his walk of faith during adversity. He is survived by his wife, Bailey; daughter, Ellie; parents, Mary and Mark Heard; sister, Rene Moore; and grandmother, Elbie Heard.

Carrie Adams, 75, June 23 in Rockdale. She was the wife of Leslie Adams, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Rockdale. She was preceded in death by her son, John Leslie Adams Jr. She is survived by her husband of 52 years.

Caroline Adams

Caroline Adams, 94, died May 29 in Fort Worth. She worked as an administrative assistant for Tarrant County Baptist Association from 1953 to 1959 and the Baptist General Convention of Texas from 1960 to 1978.

She was a member of University Baptist Church in Fort Worth. She was preceded in death by her brother, J.G. Adams; and sister, Ruth Belcher.

Robert Baldridge, 89, June 22 in Seattle, Wash. He served on a minesweeper in the South Pacific during World War II. A graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, the retired Baptist pastor served several churches including Old Concord Baptist Church and White Rock Baptist Church in Hunt County, Antioch Baptist Church in Cooper, First Baptist Church in Bells, First Baptist Church in Royse City, King Memorial Baptist Church in McKinney, Parkview Baptist Church in Plainview, Copeville Baptist Church in Copeville, Harvey Baptist Church in Stephenville and Faith Temple Baptist Church in Terrell. He retired as associate pastor of Highland Terrace Baptist Church in Greenville. He was a member of Harvey Baptist Church in Stephenville at the time of his death. He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Jo; brother, Ralph; and grandson, Chas Phillips. He is survived by his daughter, Joetta Phillips; son, David; four grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Brian Jennings, 41, June 16 in Burleson. Jennings, teens’ pastor at Alsbury Baptist Church in Burleson, Brian Jenningswas one of several people helping a stranded driver just after midnight. Jennings was one of four people killed—including a mother and her child—when the driver of an oncoming vehicle struck the group. More than a half-dozen more people were injured. Police were investigating whether the driver was intoxicated. Jennings had just left the high school graduation party of his oldest son. He served the Burleson church six years. He is survived by his wife, Shaunna; sons, Evan and Micah; and daughter, Abby.

Seth Dorrell, 32, June 16 in Mexico City. Dorrell had just finished a mission trip when he suffered a heart Seth Dorrellattack that may have been brought on by a two-year fight with cancer. Dorrell and his family had been going to Mexico on mission trips since he was 5 years old. He was in Philadelphia eight years serving and living in one of the city’s lowest-income communities. He also ministered in Thailand, Peru, Indonesia, Mexico and Haiti. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and had moved to Waco from Haiti, where he was serving the poor. A Baylor University graduate, he worked with Mission Waco/Mission World as the director of Mission World. He attended Church Under the Bridge in Waco. He is survived by wife of almost nine years, Sarah; parents, Jimmy and Janet Dorrell; daughter, Finley; brothers Josh and Zach; sister, Crystalina Fajardo; and in-laws, Timothy and Nancy Pfanner.

Lonnie Richards, 77, June 19 in Houston. He was head basketball coach at Houston Baptist University from 1970 to 1975 Lonnie Richardsafter serving as an assistant coach for Gerald Myers. In 1973, he led the Huskies from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I, which coincided with the school’s renaming from Houston Baptist College to Houston Baptist University. During his time at HBU, Richards posted a record of 51-74. He was ordained as a deacon at Broadway Baptist Church, and he later attended Park Place Baptist Church, Sharpstown Baptist Church and Elkins Lake Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Rosenel; son, Rick; daughter, Lorri Apel; brother, Lawrence; and five grandchildren.

Ed Billings, 84, June 2 in Lampasas. After playing basketball and baseball at Wayland Baptist University, he had a high school coaching job lined up but was drafted by the U.S. Army before he could begin. Ed BillingsAfter leaving the military, he went to Baylor University and earned a master’s degree. He coached at Cisco Junior College one year before returning to coach at Wayland until 1962. After a year spent in Pakistan on a Fulbright Lecturer Grant, he entered the doctoral program of Indiana University. He returned to Wayland as athletic director, but in 1966, he began serving as the athletic director at Houston Baptist University, where he served until his retirement in 1990. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Honor at Wayland in 1994, and in 2007, he was inducted into the HBU Athletic Department’s Hall of Honor. He also was recognized as a recipient of Letterman Award in the HBU Walk of Honor. He is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, LaVaye; son, Duane; daughters, Renae Norwood, Sonii Nagel and Jenny Len Self; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Paul Mansfield, 83, June 8 in San Angelo. Paul MansfieldA layman, he was ordained as a deacon at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas. Later, as a member of First Baptist Church in San Angelo, he created a ministry that provided sack lunches to families traveling through San Angelo on long-distance bus trips. He also was involved with the volunteer organization at Baptist Memorials Ministries in San Angelo. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sue; daughters, Jayne Mansfield, Jennifer Peal and Amy Babinski; sons, Rob and Paul Jr.; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Kenneth Bradshaw, 83, April 26 in Corpus Christi. A graduate of Southwestern Kenneth BradshawBaptist Theological Seminary, he was a pastor 25 years, serving churches in Oklahoma, Maryland and Texas. In 1977, he joined the faculty of Howard Payne University and established a satellite campus in Corpus Christi. He was the founding president of what now is the South Texas School of Christian Studies, where he recruited students, taught classes, handled administrative tasks and raised funds. He continued to head the Corpus Christi campus 18 years until his retirement in 1995. He is survived by his wife, Betty; daughters, Deborah Jinkins and Sharon Bradshaw; son, Steven; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Bob Elliott, 79, May 22 in Lufkin. He was pastor at First Baptist Church, San Diego; Seven Sisters Baptist Church, Seven Sisters; Green Baptist Church, Kenedy; Elliott Bob ElliottBaptist Church, Hearne; Calvary Baptist Church, Victoria; Fruitvale Baptist Church, Fruitvale; First Baptist Church, Bastrop; Conway Avenue Baptist Church, Mission; Market Street Baptist Church, Houston; Fisher Drive Baptist Church, Baytown; First Baptist Church, La Porte; and interim pastor at 19 churches. He formed the Bob Elliott Evangelistic Association, and he was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Lufkin at the time of his death. He spent his later years mentoring pastors through the Unity Baptist Association Seminary Extension. The association has established a scholarship fund in his name to help bivocational pastors continue their theological training. He was preceded in death by his brother, David; sister, Irene Diltz; and grandson, Collin Thompson. He is survived by his wife, Mittie; sons, James Thompson, Robert Elliott, Galen Thompson, John Britton and Stephen Elliott; daughter, Christie Cook; brother, Bill; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren