Life Events
in the Church of God

Tammy Dionne, 37, daughter of Jean and Maurice Dionne of Rhode Island, has had three back surgeries this year. Her last surgery, April 9, has developed complications with a screw now inserted pressing on a nerve. She had her fourth surgery two days later. Please pray for good results.

Jo Duhaime, 13 Duhaime St., Hancock, Maine 04640, lost her husband one month ago. She now has lost her beloved uncle whom she cared for the past five years. Your prayers would be appreciated.

Ansley Kirkland, 4 months old, daughter of Brandi and Ben and great-niece of Shirley and Wade Hamil, is hospitalized with bleeding on the brain.

Tobin Phillips, 13, son of Mark, recovering from an assault at school.

Ethan Rhodes, 7, son of Mitch and Kim, suffering from leukemia, immune system failing. He is hospitalized, in isolation. To find out the latest information or to write him a note (which he loves to read), go to www.ethanrhodes.org.

Katie Seaman, 9, Atlanta area, undergoing radiation for a brain tumor around her brain stem.

Rodney C. Simmonds, Austria, recovering from injuries sustained in a cycling accident after being hit by another racer.

John Spicer, Hot Springs Village, Ark., recovering from foot surgery to repair broken bones.

Ruth Bregin, 1672 Hwy. Y, Bolivar, Mo., hospitalized, possible tuberculosis.

Ingrid Boyes, daughter of church member Sylvia of South Africa, was seriously injured April 25 when another vehicle crashed into passenger side of bakkie (pickup), she was riding in. She sustained multiple injuries.

Robert "Bobby" Monroe Ham, Jr., 52, of Dawson, Ga., died Sept. 22, 2008. Bobby was born in Pulaski County on Sept. 12, 1956, son of Robert Monroe Ham Sr. and Charlotte Britt Ham. He lived in Terrell County most of his life. He worked in his family business, Ham's Cash & Carry, for a number of years and later worked as a store clerk for Dollar General Store in Dawson. He was a member of the Intercontinental Church of God.

Survivors include his parents, Robert Monroe Ham Sr. and Charlotte Britt Ham of Dawson; two sisters, Robin Rothe and husband Klaus of Bloomington, Ind.; Connie Ellison and husband Larry of Big Sandy, Texas; niece and nephew Jessica Ellison and Matthew Ellison; and great-niece and nephew Isla Ellison and Nathan Ellison.

Charlie Frank Merecka, 70, of Big Sandy, Texas, died Oct. 12, 2008, in a local hospital. He was born Sept. 9, 1938, in Needville, and worked in construction. Survivors include his wife, Carroll Merecka; son Charlie Merecka; brothers John Merecka, Martin Merecka and Franklin "Luke" Merecka; and sister Evelyn Merecka Gaidosik.

Darlene Williams Finner died April 9, 2009. Mrs. Finner was 52. She was buried at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, Texas.

Jayson Lee Wynn, 49, of Gladewater, Texas, died March 31, 2009, as a result of an automobile accident. He was born June 30, 1959, in Kilgore, Texas, but moved with his family to Gladewater at the age of 14. He graduated from Gladewater High School in 1977 and, after working a couple of years in various fields, he joined his father in the family printing business, D&W Printing. Jayson served as president of the company and most recently was named president of Bill Win Properties, a rental-properties company. He was a community leader and was active in various organizations including the Gladewater Economic Development Corp., sergeant of arms of the Gladewater Rotary Club and member of the Gladewater Chamber of Commerce. He was a past president of Business Network International and formerly served on the Gladewater Lake Board.

He is survived by his son, Brandon Wynn, and his wife, Jennifer, of Overton, Texas; three grandchildren, Kaiden Dunn, Kaitlyn Brooke Wynn and Lauren Wynn, all of Overton; his parents, L.C. "Pete" and Karel Wynn, of Gladewater; brother Mark Wynn of Gladewater, sister Jana Ryan and husband Frank of Sibley, La.; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Pat Brown, 82, 8621 E. 96th St. North, Owasso, OK 74055, breast cancer.

Linda Bruns, Moses Lake, Wash., fractured foot not healing.

Steve Bruns, Moses Lake, Wash., hospitalized with a stroke.

Susan Carter, 173 April St., Mobile, AL 36608, fibromyalgia and other ailments.

Tammi Chamberlain, P.O. Box 103, Wilson Creek, WA 98860, recovery from lung cancer surgery on April 1.

Norma Daulton, P.O. Box 365, Worthville, KY 41098, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Richard Burrows, 21, 117 Willow Creek Rd., Vicksburg, MS 39183, cancer.

Jakey Byrnes, son of Joe and Cristine, Friedreich's ataxia and hyperthyroidism.

Sherra Campbell, Modesto, Calif., cancer.

Emily, 27, cervical cancer.

Karen Fitzhugh, Cordova, Tenn., niece of Mary and Don Robbins of Little Rock, Ark., thyroid cancer.

Bernie Schnippert, slow-growing carcinoid cancer.

Eva Thompson, c/o Sondra Beam, 111 Klista Cove Rd., Fulton, MS 38843, stage IV lung cancer, metastasized to spine in three place.

Johnny Jones, 3-day-old son of Jeff and Sarah Jones of Big Sandy, Texas, has been diagnosed with ventricle transverse heart, a condition where the heart is basically flip-flopped in the chamber. It is a treatable condition. Johnny is scheduled for surgery April 21 at the Children's Hospital in Dallas. He will most likely be hospitalized for at least a month. The family would greatly appreciate prayer for him.

Jayne Dahms-Breeden, 80, a 48-year resident of Bowie-Crofton, Md., died April 13, 2009, at Anne Arundel Medical Center after a three-month battle with cancer. She was born Sept. 4, 1928, in Philadelphia, Pa., and attended Frankford High School in Philadelphia. She was self-employed as a real-estate professional and was a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. She began listening to The World Tomorrow in the early 1960s and was baptized in 1968. She attended the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Md., congregations of the WCG for many years and then attended the Living Church of God. She loved reading and studying the Bible and serving her family. In her final year whenever someone would ask her how she was she would reply, "I am grateful, hopeful and thankful." She is preceded in death by her husband Harry Breede and her former spouse, Robert E. Dahms Sr.

Survivors include two sons, Robert E. Dahms Jr. and Richard A. Dahms; one daughter, Rebecca Dahms-Lioi; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Her funeral service was conducted by Living Church of God minister Ray E. Clore on April 21, 2009.

Dustin Montgomery Allen, 27, of Big Sandy, Texas, died April 4, 2009. He was a supervisor for Brock Services. He is survived by his wife, Kimberly; daughter Maycie; parents, Monte and Sherry Allen; brother and sister-in-law Chase and Sara Allen; nephew Cameron and niece Ryleigh; grandparents Carol and Charles Richmond and Melven and Ivirne Allen; aunts and uncles Amy and Rardi Thibodeaux and their daughters Amanda, Courtney and Mykayla; Becky and Greg Desborough and their son, Byron; Jesse and Sally Allen and son Brett.

Barbara L. Black, 67, of Big Sandy, Texas, died peacefully at home Monday, May 11, 2009, after a short battle with cancer. She was born Jan. 16, 1942, in Los Angeles to Donald and Minnie McDonald. She was preceded in death by both parents, a stepfather and a brother. Mrs. Black was a member of the Church of God for more than 51 years (she attended for 56 years). She was a devout wife (50 years this October), mother, grandmother, Christian, cook, baker, house cleaner, friend, birthing assistant, caretaker, teacher, listener, giver and nurturer. She is greatly missed.

Survivors include her husband, Charles Black of Big Sandy; four daughters, Cathy Jones and husband Alan of Hawkins, Texas, Cindy Martin and husband David of Lindale, Texas, Janet Gordon and husband Peter of Tyler, Texas, and Julie Black of Frankston, Texas; a son, Carl Black, and wife Kelley of Round Rock, Texas; 11 grandchildren; stepsister Karen Rogers of Frankston; and stepbrother Mark Jauch of Tyler.