Newsmakers, September 2009

AWARDED: The Southern Hills church, Abilene, Texas, the Faith-Based Partner of the Year Award by Big Brothers/Big Sisters for committed service to the children of Abilene. Dickie Hill, Abilene Christian University professor of exercise, science and health, the Presidential Award for his service to the Christian Society for Kinesiology and Leisure Studies. Hill attends the University church in Abilene. Andrew Hairston, minister of the Simpson Street church in Atlanta, an honorary doctorate by Abilene Christian University.
 
NAMED: Col. Paul Johnson, Brigadier General in the U.S. Air Force. He attends the J-Six church in Benson, Ariz. Norma Bond Burgess, founding dean of Lipscomb University’s College of Arts and Sciences, Nashville, Tenn. Mike Epinette, director of development for Genesis Alliance, a Hispanic church-planting ministry in Dallas, Texas.
 
HONORED: John M. Davis for 50 years as minister of the Ridgewood church, Beaumont, Texas.
 
CELEBRATED: The 100th anniversary of the Farmington, Tenn., church on Aug. 16.
 
NEW MINISTER: Stan Helton, the Tammany Oaks church, Mandeville, La.
 
ANNIVERSARIES: 64th: Murray and Geri Marshall, Ennis, Texas. 60th: Parker and Donna Henderson, Perry, Fla. 55th: Bob and Nova Elliott, Bob and Sue Gibson, Edmond, Okla. 53rd: Clyde and Gwen Antwine, Edmond, Okla. 50th: Gene and Freda Martin, Searcy, Ark. Dale and Sharon Foster, Houston. 
 
BIRTHDAYS: 100th: Ruth Branum, Muskogee, Okla. Inis Puckett, Centerville, Tenn. 90th: Winnie Fitz, Hastings, Neb.
 
PASSAGES: Joan Selle Biggers, 72, July 24, former president of the Associated Women for Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., member of the Mountain Avenue church in Tucson, Ariz. Tom Boker, 79, July 9, deacon of the Memorial Road church in Oklahoma City. Everett Donaldson, 79, June 9, former elder of the Rolling Hills church in Mount Sterling, Ky., minister, former director of Silver Maple Camp in Kansas. Joy Lanier Henshall, 80, member of the Sunset church in Lubbock, Texas. Guthrie Hite, 74, July 24, member of the Memorial Road church in Oklahoma City, longtime volunteer with Health Talents International. Denise Hunter, Aug. 17, 2008, wife of minister in Robinson, Texas. Louise McCluggage, 84, Aug. 18, longtime church member in Oklahoma. Lucy Randolph, 109, Oct. 31, 2008, member of the South Downey church in Downey, Calif. Bruce Tallon, 52, elder of the Memorial Road church in Oklahoma City. Raymond Gray Tucker, 78, July 23, member of the Thomaston Road church in Macon, Ga. Ronney Wheeler, July 25, minister for the Church of Christ at Gold Canyon in Arizona.