Mrs Phyllis Maud Albutt, on 9th August, aged 83. Saved in her mid thirties, the first time she attended the gospel meeting at Assembly Walk, Carshalton, Surrey, she was baptised, and received into fellowship along with her husband Peter who was saved a short time after her. She soon developed strong convictions about spiritual matters. Later was at Cullompton, Heavitree (Exeter), Bicester, and for the last seventeen years was at Broadwas on Teme. A virtuous woman devoted to the Lord, she desired spiritual growth in her family and others. She also had a deep concern for the unsaved. She will be greatly missed by her two daughters, family, and friends.
Mrs Mary Farmer passed to be with her Lord on 2nd August, aged 89 years. She was saved at the age of thirty and was received into fellowship at the Roman Road Assembly, Motherwell where she remained until moving home to Overtown and associating with the Assembly there from March, 1996. Due to ill health our sister was confined to home for a number of years. Mary was a quiet and godly sister loved by all. Please pray for her family who loved her dearly.
Mrs Doreen Lillian McIntosh was called home on 20th August, aged 84, after terms in hospitals. She was saved at the age of ten in the same room in which she was born and on the same date - 12th July - while reading over John 3.16. In early life she was in the assembly at Lower Windsor Avenue, Belfast, then at Derriaghy, and in 1954 came with her late husband John to Ballyclare. Doreen had a great interest in the assembly there, and in her last years gave herself much to prayer for all. She was a gracious Christian lady, dignified in all her ways, with a care for others, and will be much missed. Prayer is requested for her two sisters, three sons (Clifford and Ivan in Canada), two daughters, their spouses and grandchildren, some not yet saved. The funeral was taken by local brethren.
Mr James (Jim) Patterson, on 15th August, in his ninety-first year. Saved in 1932 during gospel meetings in Donegall Road, Belfast conducted by the late R Hawthorne and E Fairfield, he was associated with the assembly there all his life. He was a man of sterling Christian character, who served the Lord with full-hearted devotion in Sunday School work, gospel preaching, and shepherding the flock. A member of the convening body for the large Easter Conference, he was also deeply interested in the welfare of the elderly saints in the Faith House home. Highly respected by all who knew him, his large funeral was from Donegall Road Gospel Hall where his nephew, Jim Patterson, paid a fine tribute, S Thompson gave a message of comfort and challenge, and N Drummond prayed. At the graveside P McMurray spoke words of comfort. He is survived by his wife Edna and sons Donald and Denis.
Mrs Jessie Watt, called home on 13th August in her 101st year. Saved as a girl of fourteen, she was baptised in Stockport during the war years when she and her husband George lived in England. Returning to Gardenstown, our sister and husband were amongst a few believers who commenced the assembly there. In the course of time they moved to Fraserburgh where our sister was widowed in 1957. Jessie was consistent and faithful to the assembly and given to much hospitality until failing health confined her to her home, where she bore her frailty with dignity and was much loved and cared for by her daughter Margaret.
Mrs Helen (Nellie) Wilson, widow of the late Alfie Wilson, was taken into the presence of the Lord after a short illness, bravely borne, on 27th August, aged 87. She was saved when she was ten, and was received into fellowship in the Hebron Hall, Airdrie a few years later. She and her husband left some time after, and spent several years among "exclusive" believers. They came back to the Hebron Hall in the early 1970s, where she spent the rest of her life in consistent attendance. She loved the company of the Lord’s people and visiting other assemblies. The large gathering at her funeral was a fitting tribute of the esteem in which she was held. She will be missed in the small assembly.
Mr Stanley Zwecker, Co. Armagh. On 16th August our brother was suddenly called home to be with the Lord, aged 69 years. Both he and his wife, who were complete strangers to the gospel, attended gospel meetings in a portable hall conducted by T McNeill in early 1983. Both were awakened to their need of salvation, and both were saved, our brother being saved on 10th April. Following their conversion they were baptised and received into fellowship with the assembly at Drumacanver, and showed a real interest in spiritual things. Our brother was an outstanding visitor among his neighbours with tracts and calendars, and often shared in gospel meetings over the province on a Lord’s Day evening. He was known as a Christian gentleman, his funeral being one of the largest seen in the district with almost seven hundred people present. T McNeill spoke words of comfort and gospel at the home, and at the graveside M Campbell, a close friend, preached the gospel. Brethren McKinley, Rodgers, and Dickson shared in hymns and prayer. Prayer valued for his dear widow and family, some of whom are not yet saved.
