Mrs Helen Brown, aged 70, was called home on 9th July. She was saved in 1965 while attending gospel meetings conducted by Mr T McNeill and Mr J Martin, then soon afterwards was baptised and received into fellowship with the assembly at Ballintoy. She was a faithful attender at all meetings for many years and will be sadly missed. Despite her recent trying illness she bore a cheerful and hospitable disposition. Her large funeral drew many from the district in which she lived. Brethren G Patton, M McKillen and R McKeown spoke a faithful word in the home, the hall, and at the grave. Prayer is requested for the large family circle.
Mrs Rachel (Reta) Craig, in her 93rd year, was called home on 1st August. Born on 25th August, 1919, Reta received Christ as her Saviour on 9th November 1934 while attending meetings conducted by David Craig and Adam Buick in Tully Gospel Hall. She saw the truth of salvation through John 3.36 after speaking to Mr John Hamill. Shortly afterwards she was baptised and received into fellowship in the Wellington Street assembly, Ballymena. Since her marriage to John Craig on 23rd August, 1950 Reta has been a faithful and highly appreciated member of the Ahoghill assembly. She was marked by fidelity and hospitality towards the Lord’s people and was a succourer of many. She enjoyed good health until 4 years ago and since then has been lovingly cared for by her husband John. Her final months were spent in Prospect Private Nursing Home from where she went suddenly but peacefully into the presence of her Lord. Her funeral service was from Ahoghill Gospel Hall where a large company heard words of comfort and salvation from Sam Jennings followed by Roland Pickering at the graveside, assisted by elders from the Ahoghill assembly. Prayer is valued for her devoted husband John and her children Robert, Dorothy and Kenneth and their spouses along with her eight grandchildren and three great-grandsons.
Mrs Isabel Galbraith, aged 80, was called to be with her Lord on 26th June, after a long illness. Saved as a girl, Isabel was baptised and received into assembly fellowship at Ebenezer Gospel Hall, Wishaw where she continued in happy fellowship for many years along with her late husband Ian. In retirement they moved to Largs where they were in fellowship in Brisbane Hall for 10 years before moving to enjoy fellowship with the saints in Bethany Hall, Gourock for the last 6 years.
Mrs Mary Ann Harrison, in her 100th year, went to be with Christ on 1st July. She was saved as a girl of 19 when attending gospel meetings conducted by Mr J Murphy in the townland of Kanesse near Cookstown, Co Tyrone where she was born and lived. Her employment brought her to Belfast where she was in fellowship in the Windsor assembly. She was predeceased by her husband, Harry, in 1985. After a few years she came to reside in Dromore, Co Down and was in happy fellowship there until moving to Faith House Care Home some 18 months ago. She bore a consistent testimony and was faithful in her attendance at all the assembly meetings while health permitted. She was much loved and greatly respected: a sister beloved who will be much missed. Her funeral was from the Gospel Hall in Dromore and conducted by Mr J Lennox and Mr W J Nesbitt, assisted by local brethren, Mr D Graham and Mr R J Tinsley. Prayer is requested for her many nephews and nieces in N Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
Mrs Lily Hoare was called home on 30th April in her 97th year. She was saved in 1933 when Hugh Lindsay took the gospel to the village of Drumaness. During meetings conducted by T Graham and J B Jordan Lily Rice, as she then was, on hearing the gospel for the first time was the firstfruits of a work of God, and was followed by her sisters and a number of other girls. In 1954 God again moved in salvation when four of their husbands along with other family members were saved. They were soon baptised and received into the assembly at Ballynahinch. Due to the work of God prospering, a hall was built in 1957 and soon after a testimony was established in the village in full fellowship with the saints in Ballynahinch. Lily was a foundation member of the company. She was a woman of prayer and had the joy of seeing all her family saved. She was godly in life, and consistent in testimony especially with her many catholic neighbours, many of whom heard the gospel in the hall and at the graveside. George Green paid a fitting tribute to a life well lived for God. A Thompson shared in prayer, S Thompson gave the message in the hall, and J Rice at the grave. Her memory is revered.
Mrs Jenny MacLeod, aged 95, on 20th April. Saved at the age of 20, she and her late husband of 66 years, Angus, enjoyed fellowship in the assemblies at Cambuslang, Bridge of Weir, Kilmacolm, Tarbolton, and ultimately Woodpark, Ayr. Throughout her life, Jenny had two burdens - one for the lost and the other for revival amongst the Lord’s people, praying earnestly and faithfully for both. She will long be remembered for witnessing to friends and neighbours, many of whom she brought to gospel meetings. Please remember her two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, and the extended family circle in prayer.
Mrs Catherine (Cath) Reid, aged 97, called home on 31st May. Cath had spent her early married life gathering with the saints in Porch Hall, Glasgow. Three years after the homecall of her husband Jimmy in 1966 she came to reside in Dunfermline, where she met with the assembly in Hospital Hill. Our sister loved her Lord, and the Lord’s people, and was consistent in her attendance at the assembly gatherings. Latterly she moved to a nursing home in Broughty Ferry to be near her daughter, and it was from there that the Lord called her home. Please remember the family in prayer. "Awaiting that glad re-union day."
Miss Persis Russell, aged 79, called home on 18th February. Our sister was saved at gospel tent meetings held outside the town of Lurgan in 1959. The meetings were conducted by the late A Lyttle and A McShane and proved to be a fruitful time of ingathering. A number of the Russell family were also blessed with salvation at the time. After her baptism Persis was received into the assembly at Lurgan where she served the Lord and His people over the intervening years. She was a most consistent attender of the assembly meetings as well as a regular supporter of gospel meetings in the larger area. Limited by poor health for the past months, her passing to be with Christ was a welcome release from the increasing problems of illness. Like her New Testament namesake, "the beloved Persis" will be greatly missed in the assembly and in the family circle, especially by her three sisters and her brother Elwood. Her funeral service from Lurgan Gospel Hall was conducted by D Gilliland and J Lennox with other brethren sharing in prayer.
