Editor’s Note: Within the past month, four faithful Christians of my acquaintance for whom I held genuine respect and love, passed from this life. Those four are Brother J. F. Dancer, a gospel preacher, Sister Connie Hazeltine of West Second Street church of Christ in Bloomington, IN, Sister Sharon Fox of Southside church of Christ, Mattoon, IL, and Sister Ellen Stanton of the Terre Haute church of Christ. All four hold a special place in my heart, and to their families, and the brethren who also loved them, I extend my deepest sympathy. It seems only fitting to express some thoughts of their lives that may encourage others.
J.F. DANCER – Several years ago, I was at Mattoon, IL in a gospel meeting. I’ve forgotten where Brother J.F. was preaching that week, but on a weekday, we were blessed to gather at the home of sister Verna Jeffers. Her husband, Homer, had been an elder at Mattoon, and her hospitality extended to any faithful Christian at any time. I have a picture of ten of us at her home! J.F. was a gentle man, bolstered by his wife Willie, and whose devotion to truth and righteousness was exquisite. His encouragement through the years was without compromise and I value the time we shared in the study of God’s word.
CONNIE HAZELTINE – Connie was a Kentucky lady in every sense of the honor! Her husband having died, she moved to Bloomington, IN in the early 2000s and quickly identified with the Lord’s church at West Second Street. She and several other widowed or elderly single women occupied a particular pew in the building, and I would tease, though I respected each of them. Connie was an avid Bible student and every time I’d visit with her in her home, she had a question or two that would challenge me. After leaving 2nd Street in 2013, Connie and another member, Rose Burch, came to Orleans to visit us during a gospel meeting. I would see Connie occasionally when in Bloomington, usually at the funeral of another Christian we knew and loved. Her love for the brethren was an example we would all do well to follow!
ELLEN STANTON – Ellen’s late husband, Melvin, was a gospel preacher who lived at the time of our frequent visits in Sullivan, IN. Melvin preached for the Sullivan church of Christ for several years, before returning to his “homeland” of Centralia, MO. He preached then for the Hallsville church of Christ. While in Sullivan, it was not uncommon for me to stop by their home before traveling farther into Illinois to preach a gospel meeting. Ellen was the consummate hostess, always having some refreshments at the ready while Melvin and often the late Lyle Berry and I would visit. She was always a devoted helpmeet to Melvin and a tremendous bible student in her own right.
SHARON FOX – If my memory is correct, it was circa 1980 when I met Sharon and Malcomb (Mack) Fox. The brethren of Southside church of Christ, Mattoon, IL asked me to come and preach a gospel meeting. I stayed with the late George and Irene Miller; George having been an elder at Mattoon. George introduced me to Mack and Sharon and encouraged me to encourage Mack to become an elder in the Lord’s church. Though Mack never became an elder, his leadership as a faithful one was not without righteous influence. Sharon was then working as an IRS agent and proved her orderliness in every word and deed! She loved the Lord and worked tirelessly in teaching bible classes, organizing bible class materials, working alongside her husband in helping couples strengthen their lives as husband and wife, and more importantly, strengthening their souls in service to the Lord.
Much more could be said of each of these precious souls but allow the scriptures to speak on their behalf: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.” (Revelation 14:13) God knows their lives much better than I could write of them: He also knows the unforgettable influence each has had on countless numbers of souls who, through their diligence, now know the truth and have obeyed it! Thank you, God, for allowing them to have a faithful part in influencing me!