Around the State

• Don Piper, author of 90 Minutes in Heaven, will be the chapel speaker at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Dec. 3 at 11 a.m. Piper was declared dead as a result of an automobile accident in 1989, but twice was revived. During the time he was “dead,” he was given a glimpse of heaven, he claims.

• Dallas Baptist University has received a $300,000 gift from Wayne and Buena Stevenson to help finance construction of the Patty and Bo Pilgrim Chapel. Longtime supporters of the school through a variety of avenues, he serves on the board of directors for Bill Glass Champions for Life Ministries and received an honorary doctor of humanities degree from DBU in 2006. She has served as a DBU trustee for seven years and was a 2004 recipient of the school’s Ruth Award. They are members of First Church in Plano.

• Baylor University broke ground Nov. 15 on the Jay and Jenny Allison Indoor Football Practice Facility. The facility is expected to be completed by the start of preseason camp next August.

• Houston Baptist University’s alumni association has recognized two alumni and one HBU staff member for their contributions to the school. Francis Bui received the Meritorious Service Alumnus Award. He has served on the HBU Alumni Board of Directors since 2002, chaired homecoming, the graduation cookout and the Husky Hustle 5K Fun Run. Mike Reinfeldt received the Distinguished Alumnus Award. In his 28th season with the National Football League, he is in his second season as executive vice president and general manager of the Tennessee Titans. He was an All-Pro safety for the Oilers/Titans franchise from 1976 to 1983. Clay Porter, director of instructional television at HBU, received the Hallmark Award, which honors an HBU faculty or staff member who is particularly supportive of HBU alumni.

• Abilene Association honored several individuals and a church at its annual meeting. Bill and June Dent, members of First Church in Abilene, were named laypersons of the year. Joel Tobey, pastor of Elmwood Church, was named bivocational minister of the year. L.W. Hutchinson, pastor of Mount Sinai Church, was named pastor of the year. Fort Phantom Church, where Bill Dickson is pastor, was named church of the year. Shirley Stewart of the ABA staff was named staff member of the year.

Anniversaries

• First Church in Chappell Hill, 25th, Dec. 7. Joe McCannon, founding pastor, will speak in the morning service. Chet Priddy will lead a memorial time during that service. Former Pastor Charles Matejowsky will lead a lunch and afternoon program. David Beckworth is pastor.

• Justin Horton, fifth as student minister at Second Church in Corpus Christi, Dec. 14.

Retiring

• Carolyn Shapard, as minister to adults at Wilshire Church in Dallas, Dec. 31. She has served more than 10 years, and was ordained in 2005.

Deaths

• Ed Laux, 90, Oct. 11, in Dallas. Laux was pastor of Williams Memorial Church in Ravenna, First Church in McGregor and Pioneer Drive Church in Abilene, and then he began a 23-year career with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, heading up the convention’s Training Union division. A member of Wilshire Church in Dallas more than 45 years, he was known for writing notes and letters of encouragement. He is survived by his wife, Dot; and sister, Anabel Schmidt.

• Buddy Reed, 70, Oct. 21 in Waco. He was pastor of College Street Church in Beaumont, Mertens Church in Mertens, First Church in Salado, Tanglewood Church in Jasper, First Church in Robinson and Bruceville Church in Bruceville. The Bruceville Church honored him in 1997 with the title of pastor emeritus. He served Waco Association as moderator and evangelism director. At the time of his death, he was a member of Cottonwood Church in Lorena. He is survived by his wife of almost 52 years, Marcell; son, David; daughters, Susan Fletcher and Rebecca Nickell; brother, Bruce; step-brother, John; and 11 grandchildren.

• Raymond Sanders, 81, Nov. 3 in Westminster, Colo. A 1958 Howard Payne University graduate, he was a long-time minister along the Rio Grande. Prior to that, he was pastor of Central Church in Brownwood, where he was ordained in 1958; First Church in Fort Hancock; and First Church in Van Horn. After completing language studies at Mexican Baptist Bible Institute in San Antonio, he and his wife became Texas River Ministry missionaries. In 1969, he became director of missions for Big Bend Association, where he served until his retirement in 1990. His last 10 years as director of missions, he added to his responsibilities the directorship of the Sul Ross University Baptist Student Ministry. While serving along the Rio Grande, he started 16 churches. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jan, earlier this year. He is survived by his daughters, Brenda Sanders and Kathy Beach; sons, Larry and Kenneth; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

• Ann Baker, 78, Nov. 8 in Dallas, after an 18-month battle with cancer. A Howard Payne University graduate, she was honored as one of the school’s outstanding alumni. The wife of Dick Baker, she supported him in his ministry as a music evangelist, as well as when he was minister of music at Birchman Avenue Church in Fort Worth from 1951 to 1957 and later at Prestonwood Church in Dallas from 1978 to 1992. She is survived by her husband of 57 years; son, Paul; daughter, Lori Ann Simmons; brother, James Self; and four grandchildren.

• Lucy Thomas, 77, Nov. 10 in Dallas. She was the wife and ministry partner of J.V. Thomas, a church-starting pioneer in the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Southern Baptist Convention. In 1979, she and her family were one of seven families to found Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall. She is survived by her husband of 59 years; daughter, Teresa; sons, Terry and Tim; one sister; and one brother; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

• Winfred Walker, 78, Nov. 12 in Dumas. Walker attended Hardin-Simmons University before transferring to Wayland Baptist University. He began his ministry at age 18, serving as pastor of pastor of a church in Wastella. He served almost 50 years as either pastor, associate pastor, or music and education director. He served churches in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado and New Mexico. He served Texas congregations in Tahoka, Sweetwater, Pampa, Perryton, Amarillo, Morse and Sunray. At the time of his death, he was a member of First Church in Dumas. He was preceded in death by his brother, David, and sister, Alice Terry. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary Jane; son, James; daughters, Margaret Parsons and Janet Walker; brother, Don; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Event

• Tim Zimmerman and The King’s Brass will perform with the 200-plus member Tallowood Church choir in the church’s annual Christmas music concert, “A Festival of Carols,” Dec. 5-7. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday. There is no admission charge, and tickets are not required.

Ordained

• Carl Reimold to the ministry at Elmont Church in Van Alstyne.