Obituaries: February 2007

Dr. James Church Blackwell, 84, of Centerville, Tenn., died Dec. 22. He was a dentist and an elder of the Centerville church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie. Survivors include a son, three daughters, five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, a brother and a sister.

Jason Blue Boultinghouse, 27, of West Monroe, La., died Dec. 17. The White’s Ferry Road church conducted his memorial service. Survivors include his parents, a sister and three grandparents.

Mary E. Campbell, 64, died Oct. 3. She was a teacher and a member of the Eastside church in Portland, Ore. She was preceded in death by her husband, Johnny. Survivors include a daughter, a son, three grandsons and four brothers.

Elma Willingham Cannon, 88, died Oct. 13. She was a secretary of Batsell Baxter, the first president of Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif. She was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, minister Sherman L. Cannon.
Survivors include three children, nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Loyd Collier, 86, died Jan. 3 in Elgin, Okla. He helped establish eight churches in Germany and served as a minister in Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Sarah, two daughters, two sons, seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, two brothers and three sisters.

James Norman “Shorty” Covert, 67, of Cross Lanes, W.Va., died Dec. 17. He was a carpenter and a deacon of the Dunbar, W.Va., church. Survivors include his wife, Louise, a son, a daughter, three grandchildren, his mother and a brother.

Archie L. Duty, 78, died Dec. 19. He served in the U.S. Navy and Air Force and was a minister most of his life, preaching his first sermon at age 12. He was a member of the Meadowlark church in Fort Collins, Colo.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Germa Lee. Survivors include two sons and five grandchildren.

Larry O. Ground, 89, died in Tyler, Texas. He started a congregation in Seward, Alaska, and built its first building. He was a builder and developer in Texas, where he served as an elder and minister for several churches. Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Martha, two daughters, three sons, 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and a brother.

Billie Burtis Hilliard, 101, of Norfolk, Va., died Dec. 27. She was a member of the Norfolk church for 65 years, where she taught Sunday school. She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil. Survivors include a daughter, a granddaughter and a great-granddaughter.

Robert “Bob” McCurley, 75, of Norman, Okla., died Dec. 26. He was a longtime member of the Alameda church, where he served as an elder for many years. While serving in the Army in Germany he was and elder of the Frankfurt church.
Survivors include his wife, Ann, a son, two daughters, six grandchildren and six siblings.

Bessie C. Patterson, 96, died Dec. 25 in Tulsa, Okla. She was a journalist and a teacher and wrote four Bible study books for women. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Elmer, six brothers, four sisters and two grandchildren. Survivors include three daughters, nine grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and a sister.

John H. Reimels Jr., 62, of Cape May Court House, N.J., died Dec. 29. He was a minister for several churches in New Jersey. He was a hospice chaplain and a volunteer at Camp Manatawny.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce, a son, a daughter, four grandchildren, his mother and a brother.

Theophilus “Ted” B. Underwood Jr., 88, died Jan. 18. He was a minister and former editor of the Gospel Advocate. He was a member of the Bellevue church in Nashville, Tenn. He was preceded in death by his wife, Orman. Survivors include two sons, two granddaughters, seven great-grandchildren and a sister.

Cora E. Wetherholt, 103, died Dec. 21 in Yadkinville, N.C. She was a member of the Norway Avenue church in Huntington, W.Va.
She was preceded in death by her husband, W.C., three sisters and three brothers. Survivors include two sons, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.