Obituaries

Wilma Jean Andrews, aged 93, Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) biggest and brightest cheerleader, went home to meet him Tuesday, February 13th, 2024. While her life and legacy most assuredly deserves a Lifetime movie, patriot podcast, and Hallmark marathon, we’ll do our best to do her justice within the confines of an “acceptable” obituary.

Born April 7, 1931 in Ashland, Kentucky, Wilma grew up in the local Church of God and graduated from Ashland / Boyd County High School where she lettered as a varsity cheerleader. Upon graduation, she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Drama and English and went on to receive her Master’s Teaching Certificate from Asbury (Seminary) University in Wilmore, Kentucky.

In college her favorite drama professor, Wally Buice, played unrepentant matchmaker by casting Wilma as the leading lady in romantic plays. Her leading man — a tall, dashing, dark-haired “preacher-in-training”, named Joe Andrews, nailed her love interest roles; and, by the time the last curtain fell, he had swept her off her feet and married her at her childhood home on June 7, 1953.

After a short honeymoon at a fire-and-brimstone campmeeting (oh yes they did), Wilma and Joe settled in Shurlington / Cross Keys — a tiny community in East Macon, Georgia. Joe continued his education at Mercer University and, together, they accepted their first pastoral position at Macon Evangelistic Church (where they would co-pastor for over 50 years). During their commission at “Macon E”, Wilma and Joe made five trips to the Holy Land. While there, they felt a calling to produce an Easter Passion Play of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ entitled, “He Touched Me.”

What was meant to be a one-time performance in April of 1970 went on to become six decades of recurring performances that are still widely attended, today. Wilma, a talented oil-and-canvas artist wrote, directed, and painted much of the play’s scenery. The scenes and backdrops were carefully crafted to be accurate replicas of the actual streets and buildings in Israel. The “Love Story of Our Savior” was told, from beginning to end, in His own setting.

Thousands, if not tens of thousands, attended the play. The number of salvation decisions made at the end of those performances will not be known until we reach heaven, but we truly believe Wilma was greeted by an incredibly, long line of people who came to know the Lord because of the Holy Spirit using her ministry.

In her early years, Wilma taught high school, English, at River North Academy. Later, at “Macon E’, she and Joe decided to build and open a church-sponsored, K4-12th grade school (Chapel Hill Christian Academy). At Chapel Hill, Wilma taught “Bible” to a young generation of South Macon students. Throughout the years she (and her entire family) were honored to hear from her “kids” who were still walking with the Lord due to her influence during their formative years.

In 1993, Wilma and Joe were in a devastating car accident. Their injuries were life altering — But, God!

After extensive physical rehabilitation, Wilma and Joe dedicated the rest of their lives to building a second church — United Community Church “UCC” (also in Macon). Wilma was an active Sunday School teacher and organizer of its Vacation Bible School. She also resumed teaching in the Bibb County Public School System.

Wilma was preceded in death by her parents — Winfield Addington Greene, Sr., and his beautiful bride, Myrtle Estep Greene. She was also preceded in death by her beloved siblings: Bette Ruth Rayle (& Eddie), her twin — Winfield “Bubby” Addington Greene, Jr, and Jack Greene. We are truly blessed to have her sisters-in-law: Betty Greene of Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Hilda Greene of Mason / Cincinnati, Ohio still with us today.

Wilma adored her children: Joseph (Josh) S. Andrews, Jr. (& JoAnn Corley) of Lizella, GA and Dawn Sharp Cox (& John) of Stockbridge, GA. When grandchildren arrived, her heart expanded to fill the universe with love for Jessica Brooke (& Caleb) Newberry and Shea Paul Sharp (all of Gray, Georgia); Brittaney Jade (& Beau) Swafford of St. Simons Island, Georgia; Ashleigh Bennett (& Grant) of Kathleen, Georgia; Morgan Corley (& Tasha) of Fort Lauderhill, Florida; and Jarrett Corley (& Courtney) of Barnesville, Georgia.

With long life comes the opportunity to spoil great-grandchildren; and, love and cuddle them, she did: Kalyb and Kanyn Durden of Gray, Georgia; Colton Spires, Willow Joiner, and Lathan Bennett of Kathleen, Georgia; Duke and Sawyer Swafford of St Simons Island, Georgia; Aria Sharp of Gray, Georgia; Morgan, Jr. & Cohen of Macon, Georgia; Cooper, Evie Grey, and Draco of Barnesville, Georgia; and Allison McCullough of Warner Robins, Georgia.

Never one to sit idle, Wilma was putting finishing touches on a Christian manuscript written by her sister Bette Ruth Rayle. Soon the family will publish their work of love: The Visitation, Conversations with An Angel.

Elizabeth Joy Vincent Balkcom, aged 82, beloved Sister, Mother and Grandmother of Collierville, Tennessee, went to be with her Lord on January 13, 2024. She was born on June 6^th, 1941, in Eustis, Florida. Growing up in the small town of Zellwood, Florida in the 1940s and 50s was special. Joy’s life center around her family, the Methodist Church, family-owned flower shop, community center and schools. She is proceeded in death by her beloved husband for 60 years Otis Harold Balkcom and parents Brittian Allen and Mary Elizabeth Vincent.

Joy was a graduate of Orlando Junior College (A.A), Asbury University (B.A.) and Winthrop University (M.A). She devoted her life to teaching and school administration alongside Otis as headmaster of Christian schools throughout the southeastern United States and South Korea. While living in Wilmore, Kentucky, Joy taught English as a second language to students of Asbury Theological Seminary.

In her spare time, Joy was an avid reader of historical Christian fiction and the Bible. Joy also had a green thumb and spent many hours in her garden caring for her plants and flowers.

Joy is survived by her two sons Brittian (Colleen) and Scott. She had four granddaughters Sarah, Mary, Chloe, and Skylar. Her sister, Mary Rebecca (Becky) Vincent Juvinall and two nephews Matthew (Jackie) and Nathaniel (Susan) Juvinall and three grandnieces Devin, Kathleen, and Hope.

Rev. Rodney O. Doughty, M.Div. ’78, aged 70, of Punxsutawney, passed away on Friday, February 2, 2024 with his loving wife Brenda by his side at Mulberry Square.

 He was born August 18, 1953 to Ralph and Helen (Jenkins) Doughty in Pittsburgh.

Rev. Doughty was a 1971 graduate of North Hills High School. He then went on to attend Mt. Vernon College and graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary. He was in the ministry for over 35 years and was called into the ministry at a young age while he was in high school. He followed his maternal grandparents and uncle into the role of becoming a pastor. He pastored Steffey Chapel, Covode, Cloe and North Point Methodist churches in his career. Rodney was a lifelong member of the Punxsutawney Central Fire Department with his passion being with the fire police. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, especially his granddaughter Bella, who lived locally. They would play games and take walks together.

He is survived by his wife Brenda (Hayden) Doughty, Punxsutawney, a daughter, Amanda Doughty Snowberger (Dwight), CT., a son Paul A. Doughty, Punxsutawney, three grandchildren, Steven Snowberger, Deborah Snowberger, Bella Pearce, and a sister, Barbara Waronek (Kevin) Pittsburgh, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Dr. Paul Dean Dyer, M.Div. ’70, aged 80, passed away in his sleep on the 20th of January, 2024, at the age of 80. He was born in Midland, Ontario on June 7, 1943. He met Marla Jean Foster at Greenville College while earning his Bachelors of Arts. Paul and Jean married on June 3, 1967 and they went on to have three children, Gerry, Niki, and Jason. Paul and Jean served as Free Methodist missionaries and raised their children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire) on and off from 1973 until 1995. Along the way, he earned his pilot license, a Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, his Masters of Cross-Cultural Communications from Wheaton College and his Doctorate of Ministry from Bethel Theological Seminary. Over the course of his life, Paul also pastored a Free Methodist church in Timmins, Ontario, Trinity United Methodist Church in Marion, IN, and Bach Memorial Church in Jackson, KY. He also taught Communications at Lexington Community College and served as a Hospice Chaplain from 1997 until his semi-retirement in 2015. He spent the last 12 years of his life in Jackson, Kentucky where he built many cherished friendships and continued to share God’s word. Paul is predeceased by his first wife Jean Dyer, his second wife Lois Gross Dyer, and his brother David Dyer. He is survived by his brothers, Stan and Frank, and his sisters-in-law Charlotte and Marg; his children, Gerry, Niki, and Jason and Jason’s wife Rebecca; his grandchildren, Ariana, Aiden, Ethan, Caleb, Natalie, Bishop, and Katrina; his many friends and his much-loved extended family gained through Lois. He is also deeply missed by his church family and friends in Jackson, Kentucky and his extended Free Methodist missionary family all over the world.

Carolyn Lillian Edwards, aged 93, of The Plains, Ohio, passed away at the Lindley Inn in The Plains, Ohio on Friday, February 23, 2024.

Born September 21, 1930 in Baltimore, Maryland, she was the daughter of the late Carlisle Swayne and Lillian Marie (Grueninger) Pritchett.

Carolyn was a member of the First Methodist Church in Athens, Ohio. She received a Bachelor’s Degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky and an Associate’s Degree in Dietetics from Hocking College before working as a dietician.

Carolyn is survived by her son, Daniel Lee (Dixie) Edwards of Big Island, Virginia; daughters, Olivia deKheta of Athens, Ohio and Melinda “Mindy” Fae (Larry) Edwards-King of Guysville, Ohio; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Besides her parents, Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband, Reverend Benjamin Thomas Edwards; and her brothers, Wesley Pritchett and Donald Pritchett.

Robbie Flynn Joy, aged 94, passed to her heavenly home on January 30, 2024. Robbie resided in Wilmore, KY and was preceded in death by her husband Donald Marvin Joy. Robbie taught elementary school for most of her entire life and retired from teaching in Warsaw, IN only then to teach enough years in Jessamine County to retire for the second time. She continued to educate well after retirement, as she became a full-time babysitter for most of her 16 great grandchildren. Robbie co-authored a book Two Become One with her husband Don, and earned two Masters Degrees in education. Her life was dedicated to God, education, and the family. It was the norm for Robbie and Don to semi-adopt so many others in to their extended family, including former Asbury Seminary students and many of the area youth that attended the Free Methodist Church in Warsaw, IN where they taught high school age Sunday school classes. Robbie was preceded in death by her husband Donald Joy, son John Joy, and her sister Johnetta Zweifel. She is survived by her son Michael Joy and his wife Kathy. Grandsons: Jason (Nicole)Joy, Justin Joy, Jordan (Paula) Joy. Granddaughters: Heather (Josh) Damron, Jami (Ray) Taylor, Lesli Schaffer Joy. Great-grandchildren: Caleb (Kate) Joy, Isaiah Joy, Micah Joy, Elijah Joy, Mason Tayor, Kobe Taylor, Justus Taylor, Nicholas Joy, Noah Joy, Madison Damron, Brooklynn Damron, Alexa Damron, Tyler Joy Brandon, and Tatum Schaffer, Jaydan Joy and Briana Joy. Great-Great Grandchildren: Orlando Damron, and Jackson Joy.

Donald Dean Mueller, B.Div. ’60, aged 87, of Colorado Springs, Colorado passed away on Sunday, January 28, 2024.

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