Greetings from Union Springs Baptist Church and we are off to a great start with the new time change. We will be in the new church sooner than you may imagine. The great vision of our wonderful pastor Robert L. Terrell Jr. is leading us to higher and higher levels in Christ Jesus.

Hats off to the Nursing Home Ministry for consistently bringing the Word and great joy to the members and staff at Madison Health and Rehabilitation. Evangelist Stokes, Sis. Rebecca Hubbard and Sis. Willie Ann Johnson do a tremendous job heading this and all feedback tells of blessed and uplifted souls. Thank God for you ladies and all the others that take time every third Saturday for this mission.

On Sunday our own Minister Kathy Hubbard traveled to Mount Vernon Baptist Church to speak at their Women’s Day Program. Several members of the Springs went to support her and I know that all there were blessed by the Word that went forth. Also on Thursday, Oct. 3, Sister Toni Terrell will speak at Triumph Church in Monroe as a part of their three night revival. Please plan to attend and hear a message from the Lord.

To Jalen, Shaunice, Aris, Precious and Shanquarius, job well done. These are our Chanters of God’s Word and they did wonderfully as they gave their answers to 10 specific questions about Jesus. Also, kudos to their leader Sister Jamie Baker who is also the church secretary. Thanks Jamie for your devotion to doing the work of the church and also for making me smile last Wednesday night at Bible Study.

Jennette Harris Bryant, 80, of 377 Farm Road, Canon, died Monday, September 21, 2009 at the Hart County Hospital in Hartwell.

Mrs. Bryant was born in Hart County July 24, 1929, daughter of the late Roscoe and Myrtie Hayes Harris. She was a seamstress in the textile industry and was a member of the Old Canon Baptist Church. She was twice married first to the late Garnett Berryman and second to Dan Bryant of Canon.

She is survived by her husband Dan Bryant; sons and daughters-in-law, Eddie and Pat Berryman of Royston, David and Loretta Berryman of Madison; daughters and sons-in-law, Judy and Curtis Brown of Hartwell, Linda Faye and the late Jesse Gilstap of Pickens, South Carolina, Marie and Brent Peeples of Canon; grandchildren, Kandy Britt, Chad Brown, Chris Brown, Lisa McIntosh, Brian Seigler; great-grandchildren, Nicole Britt, Jessica Britt, Tristan Britt, Don Britt, Dakota Brown, Gage Brown, Cayden McIntosh and Kamryn McIntosh; brothers and sisters-in-law, Clyde and Betty Harris and Douglas and Kathleen Harris, all of Hoschton and Donald and Wanda Harris of Commerce. She was preceded in death by grandson, Stanley Berryman, and brothers Jimmy Harris and R. M. Harris.

Funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, September 23 at the Pruitt Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bill Manus officiating. Burial was in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Royston.

Pruitt Funeral Home in Royston was in charge of arrangements.

Mary Stewart Howell, 86, of Madison, died Friday, September 18, 2009. She was born June 24, 1923 in Greene County to Arlin Bert Stewart and Laura Vinson Stewart. She was married to William A Howell Jr. who preceded her in death. She was retired from Morgan Sportswear. Mrs. Howell was a member of Annie Mary Baptist Church in Monroe. She enjoyed reading and caring for her family but especially enjoyed her grandchildren.

Mrs. Howell is survived by her children, Bobby Howell and Katherine of Madison and Mary Allene Smith and Thomas of Boca Raton, Florida; a brother Jo Stewart and three grandchildren, Billy B. Smith, Keith Howell and Todd Howell, and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, September 22 in the chapel at A. E. Carter Funeral Home. Interment followed at Madison Memorial Park.

A.E. Carter Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Spearman McClain, 86, of Bostwick, died Wednesday, September 16, 2009. He was a native of Morgan County. He was born June 10, 1923 to Perry F. and Annie Harper McClain. He was married to the late Ruby Shelton on December 21, 1944. He was a veteran of the United States Army having served in Korea. He spent his career working for Westinghouse. Mr. McClain was a member of Lighthouse Ministries in Monroe. He enjoyed gardening and working in his yard as long as he was able.

Mr. McClain is survived by his children, Linda Vickery and Scott of Colbert, Joyce Dixon and Jimmy of Statham and Royce McClain and Vickie of Madison; a sister, Anna Kate Pritchett; 13 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and two step-children, Irene Ruark and Michael Hall.

Funeral service was held at 3 p.m. Saturday in the chapel of A. E. Carter Funeral Home with Rev. Wayne Powers and Rev. Rick Smith officiating. Interment followed at Prospect Cemetery.
A. E. Carter Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Elizabeth Sherrill Tilson Hall, "Lizzie," 84, died Friday, September 11, 2009 in Jefferson. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ross “Poppy” Tilson and “Winnie” Davis Debord Tilson, and two infant daughters, Norma Jean and Judy Grey.
She is survived by her husband, Rev. D. Chester Hall Sr., “Chet” of Jefferson; one daughter, Loretta Joy Hall Hancock, “Joy” of Jefferson; two sons, Daniel Chester Hall Jr., “Dan” of Gainesville and Marvin Alan Hall, “Alan” of LaGrange, Kentucky; one brother, Harry Edward Tilson of Falls Church, Virginia; eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Monday, September 14 at 11 a.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel in Marion, Virginia. With the Rev. Frank “Smitty” Hall officiating. Burial was in the Cleghorn Valley Baptist Church Cemetery, Smyth County, Virginia
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.seaverbrown.com. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory served the Hall Family.

A memorial service in Mrs. Hall’s honor will be held Saturday, September 26 at 2:30 p.m. at Rehoboth Baptist Church, Washington, Georgia.

Marilyn Wade Christian, 82, of Madison died Saturday, September 12, 2009. She was married to the late J. C. Christian. She was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi on May 24, 1927 to J. W. Wade and May Van Jobe Wade. She was a homemaker.

Mrs. Christian is survived by three children, Denise Tyler of Atlanta, Max Renfro Jr. of Seymour, Tennessee and Andrea Rogers of Montgomery, Alabama; 13 grandchildren. Mrs. Christian was preceded in death by her husband, J. C. Christian and a son, George Renfro.

A.E. Carter Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.