The Janet Bearden Welcome Center at Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center will be dedicated July 25 at 2 p.m. There will be a brief dedication of the new facility, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The welcome center honors Janet Bearden who served at Linden Valley many years with her husband, Tim Bearden, former senior manager of the conference centers. She died of cancer in 2013. An open house will follow the ceremony.
In March, the GAs at Central Baptist Church in Johnson City, led by Jackie Maggard and Holley Ziglar, celebrated the Annie Armstrong Easter offering with a tea party. The GA room is set up like a fancy restaurant with flowers, real china plates and cups, and cloth napkins. Former GAs who are now in middle or high school serve the girls finger foods in Miss Annie’s Tea Room. Because of COVID-19, the church has not been able to meet since March 11, so the GAs were unable to host the annual tea party. One of the GAs, a second grader named Anna Claire Carder, set up her own tea room at home.
DEATHS
, 91, died May 28 in Springfield. Ordained into the gospel ministry in 1953, LeMay served as pastor of several Tennessee Baptist churches for more than 67 years, including Barfield Baptist Church, Murfreesboro; Eastwood Baptist Church, Nashville; Rock Springs Baptist Church, Columbia; Harsh Chapel Baptist Church, Nashville; Bethlehem Baptist Church Springfield; and Cherry Mound Baptist Church, Cottontown. He is survived by two children, nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church.
World War II veteran James William Hopper of Alcoa died May 19, two days short of his 95th birthday. After returning from the war, Hopper answered God’s call to ministry and served as pastor of churches in Grainger, Carter, Blount and Knox counties. After “semi-retiring” from ministry he was a member of Broadway Baptist Church, Maryville, for 18 years. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 62 years, Dent Hopper. He is survived by his second wife of 17 years, Gracene, a daughter, two stepchildren, two grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and numerous step grandchildren and step great grandchildren.
Retired Tennessee Baptist pastor Carl Lee Armes died March 12 in Oak Ridge at the age of 89. A native of Petros, he served as pastor of Cardiff Baptist Church, Rockwood, and Pine Ridge Missionary Baptist Church, Harriman. He also filled in at numerous churches throughout the area. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Christine, three children, five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
LEADERS
Jon Bingham has joined the staff at First Baptist Church, Lexington, as the assistant to the pastor for evangelism and young adults. Jon and his wife, Allison, have three children.
Valley View Baptist Church, Athens, called Mike Jones as pastor, effective March 15.
Alex Williams, a recent graduate of Union University, joined the staff at First Baptist Church, Lexington, as minister of middle school and recreation, effective June 7.