STAFF CHANGES
• Darren Meadows, to Cave Rock Church, Troutville, as pastor.
• Ed Preston, to Tsena Commocko Church, Providence Forge, as pastor.
• Michael Riley, to Hitesburg Church, Virgilina, as pastor.
• Wally Newcomb, resigning as pastor of Mountain Pass Church, Salem.
• Joe Womack, to Floyd Church, Floyd, as interim pastor, effective Sept. 5.
• Daniel Reed, to Fort Trial Church, Stanleytown, as associate pastor for children and youth.
• Caleb Foust, to Biltmore Church, Glen Allen, as student minister.
• Rob Marsh, to Ferry Farm Church, Fredericksburg, as youth pastor.
RETIREMENT
• Peggy Hildreth recently retired as organist at Mechanicsville Church, Mechanicsville, after having served in that position for 33 years.
ORDINATION
• Dennis Green, executive pastor at Powhatan Community Church, Powhatan, will be ordained to the gospel ministry by the church on July 11.
CHURCH NEWS
• Azalea Church, Norfolk, will host an evening of gospel music by McMillan and Life from Nashville, Tenn., on July 24 at 7 p.m.
DEATHS
• Retired Virginia Baptist pastor Fred M. Cox died May 21 in Danville at the age of 75. During his ministry he served churches in Missouri and Virginia. His Virginia pastorates included Stateline, Shermont and Highland Park churches in Danville. More recently, he was a member of Woodlawn Church, Danville. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Heisner Cox; a daughter, Cheryl Brooks; two sons, David and Gary Cox; and six grandchildren. A funeral service was held May 24 at Woodlawn Church, Danville.
• Retired Virginia Baptist pastor Jean Paschal Stephens died June 12 at the age of 94. His 40-year ministry in Virginia included pastorates at Newington Church in Gloucester, Battery Park Church in Battery Park, Brent-Lox Church in Chesapeake and Ware Neck Church in Ware Neck. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, a son, Robert Stephens; two daughters, Janet and Rebecca Stephens; and two grandchildren. A funeral service was held June 15 at Broadway Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky.
• Velma Martin Sowers, widow of Walter Crista “Chris” Sowers died May 21 at the age of 102. A funeral service was held at First Church, Hillsville.
Marion Baptist Church celebrates anniversaries
Mark Ross, pastor of Marion Baptist Church, and Carl A. Collins Jr., pastor from 1957-61, look on as several members who were present for the first service in its current location remove items from a time capsule that had rested in the church cornerstone for 50 years.
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As Marion Baptist Church in Marion prepared for its June 6 homecoming service celebrating the 50th anniversary of its North Main Street site and 165th anniversary as a church, several men gathered to remove the cornerstone to retrieve a time capsule. Despite multiple attempts and a variety of tools, their efforts failed. The cornerstone could not be removed, and the capsule had to be extracted through an interior wall.
During the service, pastor Mark Ross reflected that the failed effort was symbolic of Marion Baptists’ true cornerstone, Jesus Christ. “He shall not be removed. Not even the gates of hell shall prevail,” said the pastor, referencing Matthew 16:18. He went on to challenge the church to face the 21st century by holding onto the eternal and letting go of the temporal.
The cornerstone was laid August 23, 1959, and the first service took place in the new church on June 6, 1960. Carl A. Collins Jr., pastor at that time, was present for the service. At 92, he remains active in ministry. Collins watched as several members present for the first service opened the time capsule and revealed its contents, which included documents, a coin from the church treasurer and a Bible, among other items.
In memory of Anne Clark
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A plaque was recently given to CrossRoads Camp and Conference Center by the Woman’s Missionary Union of Calvary Church, Lovingston, in memory of Anne Clark who was the Piedmont Association’s WMU director from 1981-1986 and who also served as WMU director at Calvary Church, for many years. She was instrumental in the opening of Camp Little Crossroads and supported it prayerfully and financially. Pictured (left to right, front row) are Alice Rutherford, Jean Bridgwater and Sarah Purvis, (back row) Ruby York, Betty McClellan and Addie Stevens, with the plaque in honor of Anne Clark given to the camp.
Founding Lakewood resident celebrates 105th birthday
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Ida Crowder, one of Lakewood Manor’s original residents, celebrated her 105th birthday on on June 20. A native of Richmond, she was born in 1905 and lived through both World Wars. In her lifetime, she’s seen women earn the right to vote, automobiles become commonplace and countless inventions that have changed the world. She taught second and third graders to read in schools in the Richmond area for 45 years. She’s been a member of Northminster Baptist for 95 years and has fond memories of being baptized when she was 10.
Crowder was an original resident of Lakewood Manor when she moved there on July 17, 1978. For many years Ida planned Lakewood’s famous Monday entertainment programs to the delight of her fellow residents. “I enjoy everything at Lakewood and still go to everything we have,” she says.
Since becoming a centenarian, Ida has coined a phrase for each birthday. This year as she blew the candles out on her cake, she said she was “105 and glad to be alive.” To the residents and staff at Lakewood Manor, she’s an inspiration.