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Downs KS Obituaries and Death Notices
Monday, June 19, 2017Sunland Golf and Country Club’s Social Committee for two years. She was a member of NAMI (National Association for Mental Illness), and a major contributor to the Clallam County VeteranÕs Standdowns. She was an involved member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, and along with a group of other dedicated women in the church, they produced well over a thousand prayer quilts for wounded military veterans across Washington state; as well as, prayer quilts for ill members of the church and their families, neighbors, and friends.Carolyn always had a warm smile, a kind word, and a caring heart and hand for everyone that she encountered. She will forever be cherished and loved by those she left behind. Besides her devoted husband, Richard, she is survived by her brother Gary Riese and his wife Michel of Parrish, Florida; her sister Janice Dierdorff and her husband Terry of Olympia, Washington, also by her four children: Mark Maciejewski and his wife Donna of Issaquah, Washington, John-Paul Maciejewski and his wife Rochelle of Tampa, Florida; Teresa Rose Schultz and her husband Ryan of Wassau, Wisconsin; and Michael of Iola, Wisconsin; and a total of 5 grandchildren. As well, by her step-daughter, Karie Hempel and her husband Brian Bump; and her step-son Greg Hempel and his wife Rochelle Gurusinghe.In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to a charity of your choice.A Memorial Service will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 525 N. Fifth Ave, in Sequim, Washington on Friday, June 23rd, 2017 at 4 p.m. Her earthly remains will be interred in the Church Columbium. Carolyn’s beautiful soul has moved on to the joy of eternal life with her Savior, Jesus Christ, with God the Father, and with the heavenly host of Saints and Angels.Don MonsonDonald Edward Monson, age 93, died June 5, 2017 at the Washington VeteranÕs Home in Port Orchard, WA.A native of Fargo, ND, Don was the son of Gustaf and Tillie (Wiese) Monson.Don graduated Fargo Central High School in 1942 and enlisted in the US Army in 1943. He served as a gunner in the Army Air Force in an A-20 attack aircraft. He was assigned to duty in New Guinea and the Philippines and barely survived when an anti-aircraft shell exploded aboard his plane, killing his fellow gunner. He served for the duration of WWII and was honorably discharged in 1946.After the war, he enrolled in the University of North Dakota and achieved a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce in 1950. He joined JC Penney company as a manager in 1951 and relocated to Lancaster, California in 1957. He later joined Sears as a merchandise manager and relocated to Hemet, California in 1966. In 1973 he joined Skyline Corporation in sales and later worked for Phillips Gasket Company as the General Manager. After retirement from Phillips in 1992, he relocated to Louisville, Colorado and owned a small art gallery and framing shop, which he operated until 2002. In 2008 he relocated to Sequim, WA to be closer to family.Besides working, Don loved sailing Hobie Cats, snow skiing, and photography. He was a Lutheran and was active in many church activities throughout his life.Don married Donna Rudolph of Fargo in 1948. They had three children, all living, Paul Summers of Sequim WA (age 64), Marc Monson of Broomfield CO (age 62), and Jon Monson of Gig Harbor WA (age 58). Don and Donna divorced in 1971. In 1987, Donald married Ruthanne Gebhardt.Don is survived by his brother Lawrence, age 92 of Fargo, his three sons and three grandchildren, Kristy Monson of Shoreline WA, Elizabeth Agerton of Bakersfield CA and Jonathan Monson of West Linn, OR. He is also survived by six grandchildren, David Tangren, Crystal Agerton, Joshua Ager ton, Karyn Cowperthwaite, Kaydence Monson and Addison Monson.He will be missed.A memorial service will he held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at Haven of Rest Funeral Home, 8503 State Route 16, Gig Harbor, Washington.Mickey SextonNovember 4, 1925 – May 13, 2017Mickey Sexton of Sequim, Washington died May 13, 2017. He was born November 4, 1925 in Fort Worth, Texas.He graduated from high school in Wharton, Texas in 1942.He m...
Saturday, June 10, 2017Hill Baptist Church, Monroe. Visitation is 1-6 p.m. Friday at Smith Funeral Home, Monroe. Burial will be in the Richwood Memorial Gardens under the direction of Smith Funeral Home.Gene Wilson, 81DOWNSVILLE Gene L. Wilson, a rural News Star carrier for the Downsville Community, died Tuesday. Services are 2 p.m. Thursday at Holmesville Baptist Church near Downsville. Visitation is 1-2 p.m. Thursday at the church under the direction of Farrar Funeral Home of Farmerville.Previously acknowledgedCarter, Ernest: 10 a.m. Thursday, Cox Funeral Home of Delhi.Coston, Brize: 10 a.m. Thursday, Brown-Holley Funeral Home, Rayville.Glasper, Sammie: 11 a.m. Friday, Winnsboro Second Baptist Church, Winnsboro.Herrington, James: 1 p.m. Friday, Brown-Holley Funeral Chapel, Rayville.Johnson, Joseph: 11 a.m. Saturday, Cathedral of Love and Faith, Winnsboro.Jones, Frank: 11 a.m. Monday, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Delhi.Loyd, Frederick: 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Lane Chapel Baptist Church, Downsville.Pace, Gerald: Noon Saturday, Midway Church Cemetery north of Delhi.Pailette, Carolyn: Noon Thursday, First United Methodist Church, Winnsboro.Wade, Annette: 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Beulah Baptist Church, Farmerville.Funeral homes should submit death notices information by 4 p.m. Email: deathnotices@ thenewsstar.com.Read or Share this story: http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2017/05/25/deaths-may-26/347381001/...
Saturday, April 08, 2017John and Lois loved fishing from their off-shore boat, the “Osie Ain” in the Chesapeake Bay area. After selling the big boat, they downsized to smaller fishing boats and spent many happy weekends with his dedicated fishing partner, Jack Reynolds, from Richmond. His God-given talent, working with wood, will be his legacy at College Lutheran Church in Salem where he has been a long time member. His unique portable altar stands in the church chapel along with his creative candle sticks, crosses, easels, and church directional signs. The beautifully designed baptismal font, representing the Triune God, is placed in the center of the church nave in loving memory of his parents, Raymond and Leah Hinkle. John was a cancer survivor. He endured many operations as a result of his disease, he later developed COPD. He jokingly said he was a “graduating member of Good Samaritan Hospice” in 2010. He no longer will be tethered to oxygen supports that he was enduring 24/7 for the last 10 years, which has been a continuous struggle each day. But John was a trooper and each time he would bounce back from his hospital stays. The loving care for John by the staff at Lewis-Gale Medical Center is greatly appreciated as well as his doctors at Physicians Associates in Roanoke and Salem in their support and comfort to both John and Lois. A celebration of John’s life will be held at College Evangelical Lutheran Church, 210 South College Ave, Salem, 24153, on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 11 a.m. with The Rev. Richard Bansemer and The Rev. Dwayne Westermann officiating. A visitation will be held one hour prior in the church’s chapel prior to the service. An interment will be in the Columbarium at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saint Francis Service Dogs Foundation and College Evangelical Lutheran Church Memorial Fund. The charcoal drawing in John’s obituary was commissioned to Linda Bostic Smith, a well-known local artist to depict his rugged outdoor appearance and his love of guns. Online condolences may be expressed to www.johnmoakey.com.
Saturday, April 08, 2017TV – especially rodeos, bull riding, and the Golden State Warriors.She is survived by her children, Linda (Wendell) Cutler of Heyburn, Gay Dawn (Lonnie) Downs of Burley, Marshall May and Mervin (Tracey) May both of Rupert; 17 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; and 24 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her bonus Merrill family, daughter-in-law, Evelyn (Gary Lynn-deceased) Merrill; and son, Donald Lee (Deann) Merrill, all of Bountiful, Utah; and 34 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her husbands, Wayne and Donald; her son, Marlin; Don’s son, Gary Lynn Merrill; her parents; and her siblings, Norma Bedke, Josie Spiers, Darhl Udy, Arthella Warren, Lyle Udy, and Patty Hayden. Sign up to get each day's obituaries sent to your email inbox .whatcounts-form-container.well { padding-bottom: 5px; } .whatcounts-form-container .left-col, .whatcounts-form-container .right-col{ float: left; width: 100%; max-width: 345px; } .whatcounts-form-container .left-col{ margin-right: 20px; } .whatcounts-form-container .whatcounts-min .left-col{ max-width: none; margin: 0; } .whatcounts-form-container .disclaimer { font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom:10px; clear:both; } .whatcounts-form-container .input-group-addon.wc-addon-captcha{ padding: 4px 10px; border-left: 0; } The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 31, at the Burley West Stake Center, 2420 Parke Ave., in Burley, with Bishop Brent Winn officiating. Burial will follow at Gem Memorial Gardens in Burley.Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday, March 30, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Friday, preceding the service at the church.Memorial contributions in Loleta’s name may be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Fund, Missionary Fund, or a charity of your choice.
Saturday, April 08, 2017Jr. (Wanda) of Chestertown, MD, Tere Vallandingham (Joe) of Clements, MD, Ida Dilks (George) Chestertown, MD, Marsha Guy (Donnie) of Leonardtown, MD, D'Anna Drost (Kevin) of Columbia, SC, Rick Downs of Mechanicsville, MD, 12 Grandchildren and 11 Great- Grandchildren. Siblings: Ann Potts of Chestertown, MD, Louise Edler of Rock Hall, MD and Alice Jamar of Chestertown, MD. The family will receive friends on Monday, April 10, 2017 from 5:00 PM-8:00 PM with prayers recited at 7:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A. Leonardtown, MD. A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 10:00 AM in the Funeral Home Chapel with Deacon Joe Lloyd officiating. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens Leonardtown, MD. Pallbearers will be: Scott Gorman, Ricky Downs, Bobby Vallandingham, Eddie Gorman, David Vallandingham and Harold Anderson. Contributions may be made to Mechanicsville Vol. Rescue Squad P.O. Box 15 Mechanicsville, MD 20659. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A. Leonardtown, MD.
Monday, April 03, 2017Essie Bellfield, Orange’s first black mayor. “That’s why we call it the Mother Church, not only because it was one of the first, but because it gave black people a home. It still does.”Crawford’s downstairs office is lined with old desktop computers and self-help books on carpentry. The walls are stained with water damage from Hurricane Ike, whose 2008 devastation washed away historical documents and photos.His voice grows from a low rumble to an excited squeal as he describes the importance of education in the black community - starting at its origins.“What I find that can make us great as a people is education,” said Crawford, 70, who has been the head pastor at Mount Zion for 21 years. “The absence of knowledge is dangerous, and the echo in your brain created from ignorance brings upon violence when you are lost.”Mount Zion first sponsored a school for blacks in the church’s basement in 1873, led by teachers L.M. and S.M. Sublett, according to Orange historian Howard Williams’ book “Orange in Pictures.”Mount Zion’s success prompted the construction of St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church in 1884 on N. 14th St. as a church for Mount Zion’s members who lived farther away. Mt. Olive Baptist Church was built in 1910 and Mt. Sinai Baptist opened 10 years later. Today, Orange has 22 Baptist churches.“These churches set the standard for what the black community strives to be,” said Henry Lazby, 84, a former chairman of the deacon board at El Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, which formed in 1949. “They’ve tried to instill the right ideas of community and fellowship.”Mount Zion went through several renovations and moved twice, according to church documents. Classes continued despite pressure from the white community to move to make room for a dance hall, as well as a late 19th-century storm that “blew the church of its blocks”.Mount Zion’s current location was completed in 1926.In 1901, the Orange Colored School opened and at different times was housed at Mount Zion and Salem Methodist Church.One of the school’s four teachers was Emma Henderson Wallace, who went on to work at Orange’s first black high school, Moton, in 1916. She became principal in 1933, according to the Texas Historical Commission, and the school was renamed after her in 1946.Mount Zion “gave us a historical foundation of spirituality and education that allowed us to rise up as a people,” said Carol Luper, whose grandfather, the Rev. Luke Dunlap Jr., helped save the church during th...
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Monday, June 19, 2017Sunland Golf and Country Club’s Social Committee for two years. She was a member of NAMI (National Association for Mental Illness), and a major contributor to the Clallam County VeteranÕs Standdowns. She was an involved member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, and along with a group of other dedicated women in the church, they produced well over a thousand prayer quilts for wounded military veterans across Washington state; as well as, prayer quilts for ill members of the church and their families, neighbors, and friends.Carolyn always had a warm smile, a kind word, and a caring heart and hand for everyone that she encountered. She will forever be cherished and loved by those she left behind. Besides her devoted husband, Richard, she is survived by her brother Gary Riese and his wife Michel of Parrish, Florida; her sister Janice Dierdorff and her husband Terry of Olympia, Washington, also by her four children: Mark Maciejewski and his wife Donna of Issaquah, Washington, John-Paul Maciejewski and his wife Rochelle of Tampa, Florida; Teresa Rose Schultz and her husband Ryan of Wassau, Wisconsin; and Michael of Iola, Wisconsin; and a total of 5 grandchildren. As well, by her step-daughter, Karie Hempel and her husband Brian Bump; and her step-son Greg Hempel and his wife Rochelle Gurusinghe.In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to a charity of your choice.A Memorial Service will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 525 N. Fifth Ave, in Sequim, Washington on Friday, June 23rd, 2017 at 4 p.m. Her earthly remains will be interred in the Church Columbium. Carolyn’s beautiful soul has moved on to the joy of eternal life with her Savior, Jesus Christ, with God the Father, and with the heavenly host of Saints and Angels.Don MonsonDonald Edward Monson, age 93, died June 5, 2017 at the Washington VeteranÕs Home in Port Orchard, WA.A native of Fargo, ND, Don was the son of Gustaf and Tillie (Wiese) Monson.Don graduated Fargo Central High School in 1942 and enlisted in the US Army in 1943. He served as a gunner in the Army Air Force in an A-20 attack aircraft. He was assigned to duty in New Guinea and the Philippines and barely survived when an anti-aircraft shell exploded aboard his plane, killing his fellow gunner. He served for the duration of WWII and was honorably discharged in 1946.After the war, he enrolled in the University of North Dakota and achieved a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce in 1950. He joined JC Penney company as a manager in 1951 and relocated to Lancaster, California in 1957. He later joined Sears as a merchandise manager and relocated to Hemet, California in 1966. In 1973 he joined Skyline Corporation in sales and later worked for Phillips Gasket Company as the General Manager. After retirement from Phillips in 1992, he relocated to Louisville, Colorado and owned a small art gallery and framing shop, which he operated until 2002. In 2008 he relocated to Sequim, WA to be closer to family.Besides working, Don loved sailing Hobie Cats, snow skiing, and photography. He was a Lutheran and was active in many church activities throughout his life.Don married Donna Rudolph of Fargo in 1948. They had three children, all living, Paul Summers of Sequim WA (age 64), Marc Monson of Broomfield CO (age 62), and Jon Monson of Gig Harbor WA (age 58). Don and Donna divorced in 1971. In 1987, Donald married Ruthanne Gebhardt.Don is survived by his brother Lawrence, age 92 of Fargo, his three sons and three grandchildren, Kristy Monson of Shoreline WA, Elizabeth Agerton of Bakersfield CA and Jonathan Monson of West Linn, OR. He is also survived by six grandchildren, David Tangren, Crystal Agerton, Joshua Ager ton, Karyn Cowperthwaite, Kaydence Monson and Addison Monson.He will be missed.A memorial service will he held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at Haven of Rest Funeral Home, 8503 State Route 16, Gig Harbor, Washington.Mickey SextonNovember 4, 1925 – May 13, 2017Mickey Sexton of Sequim, Washington died May 13, 2017. He was born November 4, 1925 in Fort Worth, Texas.He graduated from high school in Wharton, Texas in 1942.He m...
Saturday, June 10, 2017Hill Baptist Church, Monroe. Visitation is 1-6 p.m. Friday at Smith Funeral Home, Monroe. Burial will be in the Richwood Memorial Gardens under the direction of Smith Funeral Home.Gene Wilson, 81DOWNSVILLE Gene L. Wilson, a rural News Star carrier for the Downsville Community, died Tuesday. Services are 2 p.m. Thursday at Holmesville Baptist Church near Downsville. Visitation is 1-2 p.m. Thursday at the church under the direction of Farrar Funeral Home of Farmerville.Previously acknowledgedCarter, Ernest: 10 a.m. Thursday, Cox Funeral Home of Delhi.Coston, Brize: 10 a.m. Thursday, Brown-Holley Funeral Home, Rayville.Glasper, Sammie: 11 a.m. Friday, Winnsboro Second Baptist Church, Winnsboro.Herrington, James: 1 p.m. Friday, Brown-Holley Funeral Chapel, Rayville.Johnson, Joseph: 11 a.m. Saturday, Cathedral of Love and Faith, Winnsboro.Jones, Frank: 11 a.m. Monday, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Delhi.Loyd, Frederick: 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Lane Chapel Baptist Church, Downsville.Pace, Gerald: Noon Saturday, Midway Church Cemetery north of Delhi.Pailette, Carolyn: Noon Thursday, First United Methodist Church, Winnsboro.Wade, Annette: 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Beulah Baptist Church, Farmerville.Funeral homes should submit death notices information by 4 p.m. Email: deathnotices@ thenewsstar.com.Read or Share this story: http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2017/05/25/deaths-may-26/347381001/...
Saturday, April 08, 2017John and Lois loved fishing from their off-shore boat, the “Osie Ain” in the Chesapeake Bay area. After selling the big boat, they downsized to smaller fishing boats and spent many happy weekends with his dedicated fishing partner, Jack Reynolds, from Richmond. His God-given talent, working with wood, will be his legacy at College Lutheran Church in Salem where he has been a long time member. His unique portable altar stands in the church chapel along with his creative candle sticks, crosses, easels, and church directional signs. The beautifully designed baptismal font, representing the Triune God, is placed in the center of the church nave in loving memory of his parents, Raymond and Leah Hinkle. John was a cancer survivor. He endured many operations as a result of his disease, he later developed COPD. He jokingly said he was a “graduating member of Good Samaritan Hospice” in 2010. He no longer will be tethered to oxygen supports that he was enduring 24/7 for the last 10 years, which has been a continuous struggle each day. But John was a trooper and each time he would bounce back from his hospital stays. The loving care for John by the staff at Lewis-Gale Medical Center is greatly appreciated as well as his doctors at Physicians Associates in Roanoke and Salem in their support and comfort to both John and Lois. A celebration of John’s life will be held at College Evangelical Lutheran Church, 210 South College Ave, Salem, 24153, on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 11 a.m. with The Rev. Richard Bansemer and The Rev. Dwayne Westermann officiating. A visitation will be held one hour prior in the church’s chapel prior to the service. An interment will be in the Columbarium at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saint Francis Service Dogs Foundation and College Evangelical Lutheran Church Memorial Fund. The charcoal drawing in John’s obituary was commissioned to Linda Bostic Smith, a well-known local artist to depict his rugged outdoor appearance and his love of guns. Online condolences may be expressed to www.johnmoakey.com.
Saturday, April 08, 2017TV – especially rodeos, bull riding, and the Golden State Warriors.She is survived by her children, Linda (Wendell) Cutler of Heyburn, Gay Dawn (Lonnie) Downs of Burley, Marshall May and Mervin (Tracey) May both of Rupert; 17 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; and 24 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her bonus Merrill family, daughter-in-law, Evelyn (Gary Lynn-deceased) Merrill; and son, Donald Lee (Deann) Merrill, all of Bountiful, Utah; and 34 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her husbands, Wayne and Donald; her son, Marlin; Don’s son, Gary Lynn Merrill; her parents; and her siblings, Norma Bedke, Josie Spiers, Darhl Udy, Arthella Warren, Lyle Udy, and Patty Hayden. Sign up to get each day's obituaries sent to your email inbox .whatcounts-form-container.well { padding-bottom: 5px; } .whatcounts-form-container .left-col, .whatcounts-form-container .right-col{ float: left; width: 100%; max-width: 345px; } .whatcounts-form-container .left-col{ margin-right: 20px; } .whatcounts-form-container .whatcounts-min .left-col{ max-width: none; margin: 0; } .whatcounts-form-container .disclaimer { font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom:10px; clear:both; } .whatcounts-form-container .input-group-addon.wc-addon-captcha{ padding: 4px 10px; border-left: 0; } The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 31, at the Burley West Stake Center, 2420 Parke Ave., in Burley, with Bishop Brent Winn officiating. Burial will follow at Gem Memorial Gardens in Burley.Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday, March 30, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Friday, preceding the service at the church.Memorial contributions in Loleta’s name may be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Fund, Missionary Fund, or a charity of your choice.
Saturday, April 08, 2017Jr. (Wanda) of Chestertown, MD, Tere Vallandingham (Joe) of Clements, MD, Ida Dilks (George) Chestertown, MD, Marsha Guy (Donnie) of Leonardtown, MD, D'Anna Drost (Kevin) of Columbia, SC, Rick Downs of Mechanicsville, MD, 12 Grandchildren and 11 Great- Grandchildren. Siblings: Ann Potts of Chestertown, MD, Louise Edler of Rock Hall, MD and Alice Jamar of Chestertown, MD. The family will receive friends on Monday, April 10, 2017 from 5:00 PM-8:00 PM with prayers recited at 7:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A. Leonardtown, MD. A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 10:00 AM in the Funeral Home Chapel with Deacon Joe Lloyd officiating. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens Leonardtown, MD. Pallbearers will be: Scott Gorman, Ricky Downs, Bobby Vallandingham, Eddie Gorman, David Vallandingham and Harold Anderson. Contributions may be made to Mechanicsville Vol. Rescue Squad P.O. Box 15 Mechanicsville, MD 20659. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A. Leonardtown, MD.
Monday, April 03, 2017Essie Bellfield, Orange’s first black mayor. “That’s why we call it the Mother Church, not only because it was one of the first, but because it gave black people a home. It still does.”Crawford’s downstairs office is lined with old desktop computers and self-help books on carpentry. The walls are stained with water damage from Hurricane Ike, whose 2008 devastation washed away historical documents and photos.His voice grows from a low rumble to an excited squeal as he describes the importance of education in the black community - starting at its origins.“What I find that can make us great as a people is education,” said Crawford, 70, who has been the head pastor at Mount Zion for 21 years. “The absence of knowledge is dangerous, and the echo in your brain created from ignorance brings upon violence when you are lost.”Mount Zion first sponsored a school for blacks in the church’s basement in 1873, led by teachers L.M. and S.M. Sublett, according to Orange historian Howard Williams’ book “Orange in Pictures.”Mount Zion’s success prompted the construction of St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church in 1884 on N. 14th St. as a church for Mount Zion’s members who lived farther away. Mt. Olive Baptist Church was built in 1910 and Mt. Sinai Baptist opened 10 years later. Today, Orange has 22 Baptist churches.“These churches set the standard for what the black community strives to be,” said Henry Lazby, 84, a former chairman of the deacon board at El Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, which formed in 1949. “They’ve tried to instill the right ideas of community and fellowship.”Mount Zion went through several renovations and moved twice, according to church documents. Classes continued despite pressure from the white community to move to make room for a dance hall, as well as a late 19th-century storm that “blew the church of its blocks”.Mount Zion’s current location was completed in 1926.In 1901, the Orange Colored School opened and at different times was housed at Mount Zion and Salem Methodist Church.One of the school’s four teachers was Emma Henderson Wallace, who went on to work at Orange’s first black high school, Moton, in 1916. She became principal in 1933, according to the Texas Historical Commission, and the school was renamed after her in 1946.Mount Zion “gave us a historical foundation of spirituality and education that allowed us to rise up as a people,” said Carol Luper, whose grandfather, the Rev. Luke Dunlap Jr., helped save the church during th...
