MILESTONES, September 2013

Birthday

Leon Freeman — 90
Leon Freeman will celebrate his 90th birthday on August 8, 2013. Leon has been a longtime member of the Airline Drive Church of Christ. He was married to Billie Freeman for 41 years until she lost a battle with cancer in 1987. A World War II veteran, Leon retired from the U.S. Air Force after 28 years of service as a CMSGT. He enjoys fishing, woodworking and gardening. He is a man of many talents and he enjoys using his talents to bless others. Friends and family often enjoy his delicious fish frys. Leon has brightened many homes with his beautiful handmade wooden tulips. The “Tulip Ministry” at Airline delivers the colorful tulips to the sick, shut-ins and visitors in the community. His family is thankful for his inspiring Christian example and the way that he continues to serve God and be a blessing to those around him. All three of his children, eight grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren and their families look forward to gathering together and celebrating his birthdays with him each year!

Anniversary
Glover and Margie Ship – 65 years
My beloved Margie,
I will never forget the day we met, when I crashed your 15th birthday party. You were charming and outgoing. Two years later we were engaged and four years later we were married. We had nothing but each other, but that was enough. Now, 65 years later, I still find you charming and outgoing. You have remained at my side through five difficult years in a publishing plant, a near-fatal illness, poverty, serving with small churches, a tour of duty at Pepperdine, 18 years in Brazil, my graduate studies, service at Abilene Christian, our years at OC and the Chronicle, and now teaching at Austin Grad, not to mention four sons and two daughters, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. What a journey we have had!

Memorials
Laura Earp Autrey
Laura Earp Autrey, 49, met her Savior on July 4, 2013, after a five-year-long, courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer. She was born to Clarence and Sarah Earp on Feb. 9, 1964, and was raised in Hennessey, Okla. Laura attended Oklahoma Christian University from 1982 to 1985, majoring in vocal education and participating in Chorale and Chamber Singers. At OC she met Philip Autrey, whom she married in 1985. They were blessed with three children, and Laura focused her love, attention, and gifts on her family from the beginning to the end. Laura was a faithful member of the Pleasant Ridge Church of Christ in Arlington, Texas, for the last 27 years, blessing many ministries with her talents, especially the nursery and LTC Chorus. Laura is survived by her husband Philip, children Victoria, Alexandra, and Nicholas, mother Sarah Earp, sisters Susan Jones and Nancy Stansberry and brother-in-law Mark Stansberry, along with a host of loving extended family and friends.
Otto “Bud” Barron
Mr. Barron of Newport, Ark., departed this life July 16, 2012, at the age of 87.
Mr. Barron was a World War II Navy Veteran who served as a Navy Seabee, Petty Officer Second Class in the Pacific Theater.
“Bud” married Dorothy Rovene Williams on April 21, 1946, at the Holden Avenue Church of Christ in Newport. He retired from the Arkansas Employment Security Division after 31 years, 21 of these as manager. He was a faithful member of the Holden Avenue church, serving on benevolence and mission committees.
His devotion was not limited to his local church. With God’s help he and his wife worked side-by-side on 35 mission trips overseas, including work in Ukraine, the Caribbean, Guyana, and the Pacific regions.
Sharing their faith with people around the world was for them truly a labor of love.
Maxine Cato Hunter
Maxine Cato Hunter, 89, of Nashville, Tenn., died Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. She served the Lord all her days and was an inspiration and encourager to all who met her.
She daily tended to other’s needs with a servant heart. She was a ladies’ Bible class teacher, both nationally and internationally, traveling the world as a missionary. She began the “Monday Meals” ministry at the Granny White Church of Christ, serving meals to those in need.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Willie Cato (longtime gospel minister), son, Mark Cato, and is survived by husband of 14 years, Henry Hunter, five children, numerous great and grandchildren and beloved friends.
Alonzo D. Welch
Alonzo D. Welch, 95, passed away on Sunday, July 14, 2013. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 69 years, Katherine Netterville Welch; his parents, Samuel Welch and Lucy Emily Garner Welch; his brothers, Roy Welch, Willis C. Welch, and Hatley Welch; and his sister, Eula Leona Welch Earnest. He is survived by his three daughters, Rosalind Seabrook and Mary Cooper of Madison, Miss., and Kanet Thomas of Westlake Village, Calif.; by his sons-in-law Doug Cooper of Madison and James Thomas of Westlake Village, Calif.; and by his seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Service was held on Friday, July 19, at the Meadowbrook Church of Christ, burial Natchez City Cemetery. Donations can be made to the Sunnybrook Children’s Home, P.O. Box 4871, Jackson, Miss. 39296-4871.