McSween ‘believed in community, church’
Adam McSween’s life took him across the country from Georgia to Nebraska to Washington and finally to the sands of Iraq. Everywhere he went, people described him as a dedicated father, soldier and servant of Christ.
McSween, 26, died April 6 near Kirkuk, Iraq. A Petty Office First Class in the U.S. Navy, he was assigned to the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit 11. McSween and two fellow sailors died when an improvised explosive device struck their Humvee.
McSween grew up in Valdosta, Ga., and attended the Central church, where he led singing, prayer and even preached all while still in high school, said John Klimko Jr., McSween’s youth minister.
“He conducted services for the shut-in and did yard work for the elderly.” Klimko, now the church’s family life minster, told the Valdosta Daily Times.
He attended York College in Nebraska on a track scholarship and earned an associate’s degree. Larry Light, an elder of the East Hill church in York, married McSween to his wife, Erin, and described him as “an excellent husband and father.”
McSween joined the Navy and moved his family to the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in Oak Harbor, Wash. The McSweens attended the Oak Harbor church and were friends with Barbara Bailey, a state representative. “Adam Believed in community and he was actively involved in it and in the church,” Bailey told The Herald newspaper.
McSween is survived by his wife, two daughters, ages 5 and 2, his parents, two brothers and a sister.
Grace Beamon
Grace Emilett Beamon, 97, of McKinney, Texas, died March 26. She was a founding member of the Bolivar, Texas, church. She was a member of the McDermott Road church in Plano, Texas. She was preceded in death by her first husband of 22 years, Forrest Beason, her second husband of 26 years, George Beamon, two brothers and two sisters.
Survivors include five children, two stepchildren, 15 grandchildren, four stepgrandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
Darwin Carroll
Darwin Redwine Carroll, 89, died March 12. For almost 70 years he was a member of the Montana Avenue church in El Paso, Texas. He served as an elder for more than 40 years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Ella Sadie, and a son.
Survivors include a son, a daughter, three grandsons and a great-grandson.
Roy Deaver
Roy C. Deaver, 84, died March 2. A longtime minister, he was the founding president of Fort Worth Christian College and established the Brown Trail School of Preaching. He was a member of the Longview, Texas, church. He was preceded in death by a brother and two sisters.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Wilma, three sons, eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Charlie Floyd
Charles Lee “Charlie” Floyd, 71, of Spring, Texas, died March 25. He was a longtime member of the Bammel church in Houston, where he served as a deacon and later as an elder. He was a longtime supporter of Sunny Glen Children’s Home in San Benito, Texas. Survivors include his wife, Charlene, four children, four grandchildren and a brother.
Frances Fulbright
Frances Janet Fulbright, 88, died March 19 in Abilene, Texas. She served as an administrative assistant in the dean’s office at Abilene Christian University and was a proofreader for ACU Press for 11 years. She was a member of the Hillcrest church in Abilene. Survivors include her husband of 58 years, James, a son, a granddaughter and a sister.
Leon Heath
Leon Heath, 78, died March 23 in Oklahoma City. He was a 1950 All-American fullback for the University of Oklahoma football team and played for the Washington Redskins for three seasons. He was a member of the Southern Oaks church in Chickasha, Okla. Survivors include his wife, Wanda, seven sons, 12 grandchildren, a great-grandchild and a sister.
Alma Johnson
Alma B. Johnson, 96, died April 6 in Abilene, Texas. She was a church member for more than 80 years and was a member of the Tuscola, Texas, church.
She was preceded in death by her first husband of 27 years, Larence Harrison, her second husband of 31 years, Harvey Johnson, three brothers and a sister. Survivors include two sisters.
John Peden
Dr. John Winston Peden, 59, died March 7 in Brentwood, Tenn. He was a dentist and a member of the Donelson church. He was president of the board of medical ministry Health Talents International and made trips to Latin America to provide free dental care.
Survivors include his wife, Vicki, a son and a stepdaughter.
Dot Schoppert
Dorothy “Dot” Schoppert, 83, died March 21. She was a founding member of the Shades Mountain church in Birmingham, Ala. She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, George. Survivors include three sons, six grandchildren and two sisters.
McSween, 26, died April 6 near Kirkuk, Iraq. A Petty Office First Class in the U.S. Navy, he was assigned to the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit 11. McSween and two fellow sailors died when an improvised explosive device struck their Humvee.
McSween grew up in Valdosta, Ga., and attended the Central church, where he led singing, prayer and even preached all while still in high school, said John Klimko Jr., McSween’s youth minister.
“He conducted services for the shut-in and did yard work for the elderly.” Klimko, now the church’s family life minster, told the Valdosta Daily Times.
He attended York College in Nebraska on a track scholarship and earned an associate’s degree. Larry Light, an elder of the East Hill church in York, married McSween to his wife, Erin, and described him as “an excellent husband and father.”
McSween joined the Navy and moved his family to the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in Oak Harbor, Wash. The McSweens attended the Oak Harbor church and were friends with Barbara Bailey, a state representative. “Adam Believed in community and he was actively involved in it and in the church,” Bailey told The Herald newspaper.
McSween is survived by his wife, two daughters, ages 5 and 2, his parents, two brothers and a sister.
Grace Beamon
Grace Emilett Beamon, 97, of McKinney, Texas, died March 26. She was a founding member of the Bolivar, Texas, church. She was a member of the McDermott Road church in Plano, Texas. She was preceded in death by her first husband of 22 years, Forrest Beason, her second husband of 26 years, George Beamon, two brothers and two sisters.
Survivors include five children, two stepchildren, 15 grandchildren, four stepgrandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
Darwin Carroll
Darwin Redwine Carroll, 89, died March 12. For almost 70 years he was a member of the Montana Avenue church in El Paso, Texas. He served as an elder for more than 40 years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Ella Sadie, and a son.
Survivors include a son, a daughter, three grandsons and a great-grandson.
Roy Deaver
Roy C. Deaver, 84, died March 2. A longtime minister, he was the founding president of Fort Worth Christian College and established the Brown Trail School of Preaching. He was a member of the Longview, Texas, church. He was preceded in death by a brother and two sisters.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Wilma, three sons, eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Charlie Floyd
Charles Lee “Charlie” Floyd, 71, of Spring, Texas, died March 25. He was a longtime member of the Bammel church in Houston, where he served as a deacon and later as an elder. He was a longtime supporter of Sunny Glen Children’s Home in San Benito, Texas. Survivors include his wife, Charlene, four children, four grandchildren and a brother.
Frances Fulbright
Frances Janet Fulbright, 88, died March 19 in Abilene, Texas. She served as an administrative assistant in the dean’s office at Abilene Christian University and was a proofreader for ACU Press for 11 years. She was a member of the Hillcrest church in Abilene. Survivors include her husband of 58 years, James, a son, a granddaughter and a sister.
Leon Heath
Leon Heath, 78, died March 23 in Oklahoma City. He was a 1950 All-American fullback for the University of Oklahoma football team and played for the Washington Redskins for three seasons. He was a member of the Southern Oaks church in Chickasha, Okla. Survivors include his wife, Wanda, seven sons, 12 grandchildren, a great-grandchild and a sister.
Alma Johnson
Alma B. Johnson, 96, died April 6 in Abilene, Texas. She was a church member for more than 80 years and was a member of the Tuscola, Texas, church.
She was preceded in death by her first husband of 27 years, Larence Harrison, her second husband of 31 years, Harvey Johnson, three brothers and a sister. Survivors include two sisters.
John Peden
Dr. John Winston Peden, 59, died March 7 in Brentwood, Tenn. He was a dentist and a member of the Donelson church. He was president of the board of medical ministry Health Talents International and made trips to Latin America to provide free dental care.
Survivors include his wife, Vicki, a son and a stepdaughter.
Dot Schoppert
Dorothy “Dot” Schoppert, 83, died March 21. She was a founding member of the Shades Mountain church in Birmingham, Ala. She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, George. Survivors include three sons, six grandchildren and two sisters.
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