Mrs Rietta Allcorn was born in Airdrie in 1926, and went to be with the Lord just before her 90th birthday. Her mother’s death, when Rietta was seven, led to her trusting the Lord as her Saviour, and she was in fellowship in Airdrie during her early years. She met and married Norman Allcorn in 1951, and moved to Northern Ireland where they were in fellowship in the Limavady assembly. Three years later they moved to Millport, where they ran a Guest House and a Bed and Breakfast business. They had two sons and one daughter, but their elder son, Ian, was tragically killed in a car accident. Norman and Rietta moved to the Aviemore area after 30 years in Millport, and came into fellowship in Kingussie. Following her husband’s homecall, Rietta continued in the assembly, and was one from whom love for the Lord radiated constantly. She was a sister who was always praying, and is greatly missed by the saints in Kingussie.
Mr Harold Leacock Brown, aged 86, went to be with the Lord on 13th September. Born in Glasgow on 25th February 1930, he was saved as a boy of nine. With his parents, he moved to Portrush, Northern Ireland, at the age of 16. For most of his life, Harold was associated with the assemblies in Bangor, County Down, first at Central Hall, and then at Ebenezer Gospel Hall. Upon his retirement as a representative for Parker Knoll, in 1999, Harold moved with his wife, Martha, to Omagh, County Tyrone. In 2003 Martha was called Home, and Harold married Miss Molly Sproule in 2005.
At all times our brother was a faithful attender of local assembly meetings, always arriving early, and he loved nothing better than to attend Conference Meetings and Bible Readings throughout the United Kingdom. When health permitted, he could be found anywhere from Forres to Sidmouth in the company of like-minded believers. Ever an encourager of young men, and a supporter of the Gospel, consistent believers of this calibre are sorely missed in the present generation. Our brother leaves behind his wife Molly and daughters Jane, Pamela and Fiona, along with their husbands, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom he held in deep affection. On the day of the funeral, Omagh Gospel Hall was filled to capacity; a token of the esteem in which our brother was held.
Mrs Elizabeth Burnett (née Whitefield), known to all as Betty, was called Home on 29th August in Paraná, Argentina. Betty was born in Whitburn, West Lothian on 24th May 1941, the youngest daughter of a mining family. While watching King George VI lying in state, shown on one of the then few televisions in a local shop window, she thought “What if that were me?” That same night, when she was ten years old, her Dad led her to find peace and salvation in Christ.
Betty’s missionary interest was stirred as a young girl, and stimulated through various missionary publications. She married Jim in March 1963, and that marked the beginning of their united and uninterrupted service for God. They were commended by the Whitburn assembly to service in Argentina in November 1974. When questioned about the wisdom of it all, she replied without hesitation “We know the cost of obedience. What we don’t know is the cost of disobedience.” Her heart was set, and her surrender to the Lord´s will was evident in her willingness and special ability to adapt to places and homes which were so far removed from the home she had built up in Scotland. Nevertheless, her devotion to hospitality made new or young believers, and national workers, feel welcome. Her adaptability sprang from her sense of calling and initial surrender. This was evident, too, in her years of long trips with Jim, often, by choice, staying with very humble and poor believers.
Betty was a tower of strength to Jim in the beginning of the work in the city of Paraná, and she rejoiced with him in seeing three assemblies formed there. Her happy and pleasant disposition proved to be a real asset in witness, and precious fruit remains from that. People warmed easily to her. She was never in a hurry where people were concerned and, quite frequently, would be the last to leave a meeting after listening and praying with some unsaved person, or a sister in need. Apart from her role as a missionary, she was a great mother, and as a grandmother she simply conquered the hearts of her five Argentinian grandchildren.
On 5th July, she was rushed into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a local clinic. She was suffering from pneumonia and her general health was poor. After she had been in the ICU for more than 55 days (over 50 of these on a ventilator and in an induced coma) and undergoing several crises, the Lord in His unquestionable (and unquestioned) wisdom and love welcomed her to Heaven and Home.
Betty´s funeral, both in the Hall and at the cemetery, was led by her sons-in-law Heber Gallitto and Dr Marcelo Abdala. Two brethren who had travelled seven and ten hours respectively in order to be there also shared the Word. The presence of 13 unsaved Roman Catholic neighbours at the service in the Hall, including a devout Roman Catholic relative of Pope Francisco, told its own story of Betty´s relationships and witness to them. Prayer will be appreciated for Betty´s husband Jim and the family.
Mrs Mary Cargill, aged 99, was called Home on 5th October after a period of illness. Our dear sister was saved as a teenager, and that same year she was baptised and received into fellowship in the Arbroath assembly. After her marriage to Peter Cargill she moved to Bellshill assembly, then to Shiloh Hall assembly, Coatbridge. Later, she joined the Hebron Hall assembly where she remained for around 50 years. Our sister lived a godly consistent life, and was given to hospitality. She was a faithful attender of the assembly gatherings, and was able to continue until a week before the Lord took her Home. She will be greatly missed by all.
Mrs Grace Lily Croudace of Zambezi, Zambia, was called Home to her reward on 19th September at Chitokoloki Mission Hospital, Zambia, after a life lived for the glory of God.
Born on 20th October 1933 to missionary parents, Wallace and Ruth Logan (USA), pioneers of the work at Chavuma, Grace was saved on her mother’s knee, aged five. After qualifying as a teacher, Grace was commended to the Lord’s work in 1958, labouring faithfully at Chavuma, and establishing a boarding school for girls. David Croudace (later to become her husband) was commended the same year, and went to the Zambezi West Bank, starting a small hospital and visiting every village in the area.
Married in 1972, David and Grace made their home in Zambezi, and had 1,500 teenagers under the sound of the Gospel daily as they taught in the High School there. Many believers throughout Zambia and elsewhere were saved as a result of that valuable work, and some are now in full-time Christian service.
Grace’s Christ-likeness was evidenced by her deep and genuine care for others’ material and spiritual needs, not least the many orphans and widows she took into her care – often up to 200 at a time - and her legendary meek and gentle spirit are attested to by the myriad lives she touched.
A woman of prayer and faith, for over 30 years Grace laboured faithfully at David’s side as they extended their field of service to Mozambique and Malawi, traversing thousands of kilometres serving the Lord’s people and the lost. Many of the Lord’s servants benefited richly from Grace’s encouragement and example. Never a couple to consider retirement, on relocating to the Cape for better healthcare as Grace’s health deteriorated, their mission field simply expanded to the gang members, drug addicts and others among whom they were found. Only eternity will reveal how many will “arise … and call her blessed”.
She is survived by her devoted husband, David, who has lost “my dearest friend, my faithful fellow worker, my prayer partner”, and who will greatly value your prayers.
Mr Tom Gracey, in his 90th year, passed peacefully into the presence of his Lord on 8th November. He was saved at the age of 19 at meetings held by the late Joe Turkington and Harold Paisley. He was baptised and received into the Lurgan assembly where he later became a respected elder and convenor of the Annual Conference. Our brother was highly esteemed, and this was displayed by a large company at his funeral service in the Gospel Hall. It was conducted by David Gilliland, and Gary Woods at the graveside. Tom is survived by his wife Violet and family, for whom prayer is requested.
Mrs June Halliday (née Morrison), aged 91, was called Home on 24th September. A native of Guardbridge, Fife, June worked in a home-bakery, and met her husband, Jack, when he was stationed at nearby RAF Leuchars during the Second World War. After the war, Jack and June came to live in Dundonald, Belfast, and June was saved during meetings conducted by the Faith Mission in Ballybeen Mission Hall. The couple rejoiced in household salvation, seeing their daughter and two sons trusting the Lord. June came into fellowship in Comber Road Gospel Hall, Dundonald, in May 1965, where Jack and their daughter, Julia, were already in fellowship.
In mid-1972 they moved to Scotland, and were in fellowship in the Glenrothes assembly until their return to Northern Ireland, and the Comber Road assembly, in April 1990. June was a faithful member of the assembly, and had a particular interest in the Sisters’ Missionary Group. She was married to Jack for 71 years. The Service of Thanksgiving in Dundonald Gospel Hall included tributes from her sons Gordon and Jack (Canada). Prayer is appreciated for her husband Jack and the family circle.
Miss Bertha McGarrol Milne was called into the presence of her Lord on 21st September, aged 94. She was the eldest in a family of three, but out-lived both her sister Olive, and her brother John. Bertha was saved when a young girl, and was baptised and received into the fellowship of the assembly in Prince Street Hall, Peterhead in September 1945. Over many years she earned the affection and esteem of her fellow believers for her consistent and godly life. Bertha excelled as a Sunday School teacher, taking a personal interest in her pupils and encouraging their spiritual progress. Her commitment to the Gospel was real, and she would often stand at the end of the street where she lived to distribute tracts to passers-by. She also frequently expressed her great appreciation of the teaching she had received in the assembly. Bertha’s father had been lost at sea in 1951, and her mother passed away at a comparatively young age. In these circumstances, she was grateful for the support of her two aunts. Their kindness to her was fully rewarded as Bertha devoted herself to their care in their old age. In recent years Bertha resided in Summerhill Home, Aberdeen, from whence she entered into her rest.
Mrs Ruth Sloan, in her 90th year, was called Home on 16th July. She was saved as a young lady of 20. In 1968 she was received into the fellowship of the assembly gathered in Ballykeel, near Ballymartin in Co Down. She was a dependable member of the local assembly where she loyally attended all the meetings for many years. Ruth was a quiet person who loved the Lord’s people and had a good interest in the spread of the Gospel. She was given to hospitality, faithful, caring, and consistent, a godly wife and mother who was predeceased by her husband Jim in 1990. In the last year of her life she was mainly confined to her home, and then hospital, followed by a term in nursing care. A large company gathered for her funeral service from the family home to the Gospel Hall and adjacent Burial Ground. Our sister leaves a son, Ivor, and a daughter, Beverley, eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, a sister, Mrs Wilma Murdock, and a wide family connection. Please pray that the entire family circle may all come to know her Saviour too.
