Mr John Caldwell, aged 84, was suddenly called home on 7th September. He was saved as a young man of 17 while attending gospel meetings in a barn near his home. He was later baptised and received into fellowship in the Kells assembly where he continued for many years and was a valued overseer. Despite many health problems, he was a regular attender at the assembly meetings until a short while before his homecall. John was a cheerful and contented man who loved the Lord and spoke of Him to many people with whom he came into contact, both in the district and further afield. For over 30 years he was also engaged in hospital visitation most Lord's Day afternoons, distributing gospel tracts and conversing with many patients and nursing staff. Eternity alone will reveal the results of this great work. The high esteem in which he was held was evidenced by the very large company which gathered at his funeral and heard the gospel plainly preached by J Rogers and W Martin. T Armstrong and local brethren B Wilson, F Warwick and K Roy also participated in the service. Our brother was a faithful husband to his late wife, Peggy, and a loving father to Alistair, Margaret, William and Robert. It gave him great joy to see his family all saved and in assembly fellowship, and many of his grandchildren also. He will be sadly missed in the home, the assembly and the community. Prayer valued for his family circle.
Mr John S Carroll, aged 90, on 26th October. Born in Belfast, John became a coppersmith by trade and a member of the Irish Guards, but for most of his life he served in the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Saved as a constable in 1953 in the town of Newry, in 1957 he moved to Enniskillen where he was a sergeant instructor in the R.U.C. Training Depot. A very talented, upright and highly respected man, he brought these qualities to the local assembly to which he was totally committed and where he was an elder for many years. In 1972 he lost his second son through terrorist activity, and he and his late wife Ray carried the burden of this loss throughout the remainder of their lives. His Christian standing in the R.U.C. and in the community was reflected in the large attendance at his funeral service which was conducted by local brethren, helped by others. Prayer is requested for his two remaining sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Mrs Elsie Hutchinson (neé Martin) went home to be with her Lord on 3rd September. She was born in 1919 near Banbridge, and on her very first day at school she was to meet two classmates who were to have a profound impact on the rest of her life. The first was a girl named Molly who later married Philip Thompson, with whom she served the Lord on the mission field in Tanzania. It was Molly who asked Elsie to go with her to hear the gospel, and when still in her teens, at meetings conducted by Mr Fred Bingham, Elsie was saved. The other classmate was a boy called Jim Hutchinson, and there began then a friendship that later turned to courtship and in 1944 to marriage. They began married life in Londonderry where Jim was the manager of a shoe shop, but soon after he was called of God to full time service as an evangelist. In effect both of them were called, as Jim could not have done what he did without the wholehearted support of his wife. Elsie willingly and without complaint was left at home, sometimes for months at a time, looking after and bringing up their two daughters, Margaret and Maureen. Sometimes she was both mother and father to them, making toys and playing games, as well as doing whatever jobs that needed to be done around the house - baking, cooking and sewing along with cutting firewood, painting fences and minor repair work. Mrs Hutchinson's interests were many and varied. Possibly because she was so often "home alone" she had a concern for students, nurses and others who moved to Belfast for study or work, and she often invited them round for fun and food. Right until her last weeks she maintained a great interest and concern for missionaries and their work, spending hour upon hour knitting and crocheting, also making pencil cases and other items for them which would be suitable Sunday school prizes, a task to which her great grandchildren were often conscripted as helpers! A valued member of the assembly at Dundonald, she rarely missed a meeting, and encouraged the younger brethren and visiting speakers with her timely and pointed comments. After suffering a fall and subsequently a stroke she was confined for the last number of weeks but even in her last hours she had a word for family and friends that were not saved, and as they stood by her bedside she urged them to trust the Saviour and meet her in heaven.
It was a principle in Israel that those who stayed with the stuff got the same reward as those that went to battle, so Elsie has gone to her reward while leaving behind a great example for succeeding generations. It was her wish that David Radcliff and Thomas Wallace would speak at her funeral services, something which they felt very honoured to do. A large number from all over the country attended and heard David Gillespie pay tribute to her faithfulness in the assembly and her grandson Greer and son-in-law Doug give family appreciations. A close friend and regular visitor Drew Craig participated in prayer and thanksgiving for a life lived and an example set to the glory of God.
Miss Jessie Lewis, aged 80, was called home suddenly on 15th October. Jessie was the daughter of the late Mr Samuel Lewis (Evangelist) and Mrs Jessie Lewis. Saved as a girl of 16 she was later baptised and received into the fellowship of the Ballinamallard assembly. In 1966 Jessie moved with her parents to Omagh and was in happy fellowship with the assembly there for almost 50 years. She always had a great interest in the gospel especially amongst the young people and was a faithful Sunday School Teacher for many years. She was also deeply involved in the work of the Postal Bible School and marked lessons from its commencement until her home call. Her large funeral from Omagh Gospel Hall was shared by her cousin Drew Craig and S Patterson. A fitting tribute was paid by Trevor Watson. She will be sadly missed by the Christians in Omagh, and especially by her cousin Drew, his wife and family.
Miss Emma Scott, aged 17, went to be with Christ suddenly on 15th October as a result of an accident. Emma was the youngest child of Richard and Sally, and sister of Christopher and Victoria. She was saved in March, 2013 when J Rogers and J Fleck were preaching in Buckna, and, with Victoria, was baptised the following month and received into the little assembly at Moneydig near Coleraine. Emma was valued most highly and much loved by all who knew her, whether in Christian life, amongst her many relatives in the Scott and Fleck families, or in the family business. She was making progress in the things of the Lord, and, being possessed of an unusually sweet and winning personality, she was using her opportunities well, especially in children's work. The sense of loss and grief has been profound, and the impact felt widely. Over 1,000 attended the funeral. God's presence was real, as D Gilliland and W Martin, assisted by J Rogers, M McCandless, J Lennox and S Maze contributed. Please continue to pray for unsaved relatives and that the Lord will overrule to bring blessing to many. The prayers of the saints in many lands have been, and are, immensely valued and the Lord has strengthened. In what appears as Emma's last daily reading she had underlined the closing verses of 1 Corinthians 15. Such hope and victory give great comfort to the family in the "little while" lying between.
Mrs Sheila Tate, aged 67, was called home peacefully to be with Christ on 12th October. Our dear sister trusted the Lord Jesus at the early age of 10 years. She was widowed when her beloved husband William passed away in 1992 after which she joined the assembly in Banbridge and gathered with the saints until her home call. Sheila also was a supporter of the gospel preached around her area. Many of our dear sister's relations are without Christ, and for them prayer would be greatly valued. A large number attended her funeral services where words of comfort and challenge from the Scriptures were given in the Gospel Hall and at the graveside by D Radcliffe and J Rogers.
