Mr Alexander Campbell Coventry, aged 78. On 17th March, after years of suffering borne with fortitude, our esteemed brother Lex was called to be at home with his Lord. Born in Glasgow, our brother was in fellowship in Stark Road Gospel Hall, Detroit, USA before moving back to Scotland where he enjoyed fellowship with saints in Harley Street Gospel Hall, Victoria Hall and Bethesda Hall, Glasgow before moving to Kirn when he was received into fellowship with the saints in Bethany Hall, Gourock. Over these many years, Lex was active in children’s work, tract distribution and open air work, and was a regular contributor in the gatherings for the Lord’s Supper. He had a strong voice and was an accomplished precentor of the praise. At all times Lex maintained a good testimony before his neighbours, to nurses and fellow-patients in hospital, and, even in his closing days at home, to the Marie Curie nurses attending to him. In the words of 2 Kings 4.9, Lex was truly "an holy man of God". Prayer is valued for his wife Jean and the family.
Mrs Margaret (Gretta) English, aged 89, called home to be with the Lord on 17th January after a long illness which was borne with great dignity. Gretta was brought up in Ardmore district, Co Armagh, was saved as a young girl of 14 years in 1935, and was baptised and received into the assembly there. She married Mr Joseph English, brother of the late Mr Fred English - missionary to Africa. They gathered with the believers in Waringstown assembly for some years and latterly again in Ardmore. She was a most Christlike lady, marked by gentleness. Her love and devotion to her husband, family and others was borne out in her own quiet way. Remember in prayer her son Stanley and her daughter Margaret who cared faithfully for her mum in her lengthy illness. Words of comfort were given by Mr Norrie Emerson in the home, and a clear presentation of the gospel at the graveside by Mr Wallace Lawson.
Mr Wilf Jefferson, aged 98 years, was called into the presence of his Lord and Saviour on 24th March. He was saved 85 years ago as a boy of 13 in his home town of Warrington where he spent the major part of his life. He and other young men saved at a similar time left the independent Methodists, were baptised, and were convicted of the truth of gathering to the Lord’s Name alone. Subsequently they founded the assembly at Hope Hall, Bewsey estate. Later he was associated with the saints in Widnes and Latchford. He was always active in the Lord’s service – in the 1950s, along with his wife and another couple, he started a Sunday School work in the village of Penketh. Many were his tales of journeys to preach the gospel. In 1999 he moved down to Wallingford to live with his daughter. He was in happy fellowship with the saints there, and was loved and respected by many in the area, including unsaved neighbours. He had a great heart for the gospel - he loved to preach it and to hear it preached well - and was a regular attender at any series of gospel meetings in the locality. When well past 90 years of age, he still joined the assembly in tract distribution in the town centre. His prayer life was exemplary – the list of those he regularly remembered was long, including unsaved friends and many of the Lord’s servants. He could be heard singing heartily the songs of Zion at assembly gatherings both locally and further afield. Now he is at home with the Lord he loved. The burial service in Warrington and the memorial service in Wallingford were both a fitting tribute to a "beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord" (Col 4.7). Whose faith follow.
Mrs Margaret McMorris, aged 86, called home on 11th March. She was saved in her early teens, baptised, and received into assembly fellowship in Central Hall, Bangor. Our sister was a faithful member of Ballinamallard Assembly since 1946, and was present at all meetings until her health failed. Afterwards she was in nursing care until her homecall. Mrs McMorris and her late husband Sam showed much kindness and hospitality to the Lord’s people. Margaret, a sister beloved in the Lord, will be greatly missed. The funeral service was conducted by W Bell, and at the graveside by her nephew W Loane. Prayer is valued for her family and the wider family circle.
Mr Roy Newell, called home on 31st March after a short illness patiently borne. He was saved in October, 1989 at gospel meetings in Banbridge conducted by T McNeill and A Aiken. He was subsequently baptised and received into the Dromore assembly with his wife, Betty, who was saved at the same time. He was a faithful and consistent member of the assembly and had a definite exercise in relation to the spread of the gospel, especially in personal work and tract distribution. He returned to Scotland, where he was born, on a number of occasions to spread the gospel amongst people that he had known in his youth. He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Betty, and his only daughter, Deborah who will appreciate the prayers of the Lord’s people. The funeral from Dromore Gospel Hall was of large dimension, and many unsaved heard a clear gospel message preached. It was conducted by T Topley, B Tinsley, R Pickering and T McNeill.
Mr Ernie Shanks, aged 65, of Ballywalter, Co Down, called home on 16th January after many years of ill health following renal failure and a subsequent transplant in 1972. Ernie was saved as a young boy after hearing his father, Jim, preach the gospel. He was baptised as a teenager and in fellowship for a number of years at Holywood. Following his marriage to Miriam (Jackson) in 1974, he was associated with assemblies at Glenburn, Belfast, New Bradwell and Holden Park Hall, Tunbridge Wells before returning to live in Northern Ireland in 1996. When his health allowed, Ernie was an able gospel preacher and a great encourager of others. He bore his illness with courage, dignity and faith and was a godly example to saved and unsaved alike. He will be greatly missed by the small assembly at Bethel Hall, Ballywalter and by his wife and sons, Matthew and Andrew, and their families.
