Obituaries
Aaron was born on April 5, 1974, to Darrel Bailey and Marsha Duggins in Lexington, Kentucky. He graduated from the Independent High School of Jessamine County in 1993.
Aaron enjoyed sports growing up and played soccer for Jessamine County High School. He loved camping, fishing, listening to music, and spending time with his family and friends. He never met a stranger and wouldn’t have a negative thing to say about anyone. Aaron had several jobs during his life, most recently he worked at Asbury Theological Seminary.
Aaron leaves behind his mother and father, Marsha and Darrel; his three sisters, Jenna Bailey, Andrea [Daniel] Tolson, and Sara Grace Bailey; also his niece Auburn Bailey and nephew Bailey Mackenzie Messer; his two Aunts Deborah [Steve] Rhoades and Denise [Dennis] Adam’s. A Great Nephew and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his Grandparents Gary Bailey and Virginia [Joe] Trueblood; Glenn and Drumenda Duggins. Pallbearers will be Dan Tolson, Michael Rhoades, Wiley Adams, Ethan Adams, Bailey Messer, John Olson, and Brad Cochran. Honorary pallbearers include staff and friends at Rose Terrace.
Mildred Violet Key, aged 100, nicknamed “Sunshine” by her husband, William “Billy” Key, was promoted to glory on October 14, 2024, in Dublin, GA. Born on March 10, 1924, in Westerville, OH, Sunshine proved Billy wise in his choice of her new identity. From the time she was a ten-year-old she met the light of the world, Jesus, his light shone through her life in such a compelling way that calling her name became a witness to that light that cannot be put out.
A perky cheerleader full of life and energy, Sunshine graduated from Westerville High School. She continued her education at Asbury College (now Asbury University) majoring in English. It was there she met Methodist-pastor-to-be, Billy Key from Adrian, GA. Their close to 70 years of marriage began as he continued his education at Asbury Theological Seminary. While a student Billy initiated his service as a Methodist preacher at the rural Gravel Switch Methodist Church, Gravel Switch, KY. For the next nearly 50 years Sunshine would be his much-loved partner in life and ministry, serving in Waycross, Woodland, St. Mary’s, Waynesboro, Perry, Americus, Tifton, Valdosta, the Dublin district, and retiring from the Isle of Hope United Methodist Church in Savannah.
Sunshine’s official occupation was a homemaker. She had all the gifts needed to be a wife, mother, pastor’s spouse, and friend to all who came her way. She was a pianist, soloist, Sunday School teacher, seamstress, cook, caring and sometimes demanding mother, and always a supportive wife to her dynamic and delightful husband. In his retirement, Billy preached 200 revivals and campmeetings with Sunshine by his side. In the years since his death, Sunshine has continued to seek to minister to her fellow residents and Addington Place staff. She will be missed by all who knew her.
Preceded in death by her father, Edward Roscoe Sites; mother, Violet Smothers Sands; stepfather, Nelson Sands; husband, William Russell Key, brothers, Edward and Edsel Sites; and son, Scott Key, Sunshine made the most of a life of love and service to Jesus.
Her light and life lives on through her devoted children, Brenda (Don) Adams of Dublin, GA; Danny (Kris) Key of Wilmore, KY; Todd (Janice) Key of Barney, GA; and Betsy (Keith) Moran of Dublin, GA. Sunshine’s legacy of faith continues through her 12 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews, who all profited by being on her prayer list.
Robert (Bob) Vincent Marston, B.Div. ’56, aged 91, went to be with his Lord on Friday, September 20, 2024 with his wife, Ardath, holding his hand. He was born January 13, 1933 to Bishop Leslie Ray Marston and Lila Lucille (Thompson) Marston. Bob married Ardath Mae Mulholland in 1952 in Greenville, Illinois and just celebrated their 72nd Anniversary on May 30 of this year.
Bob graduated from Greenville College, Illinois class of 1953. He later graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1956. For the next 30 years, Bob pastored in Garden City, Battle Creek, Charlotte, Jackson, Hillsdale and Temperance in the Southern Michigan Conference of the Free Methodist Church. Bob also served at Westwood Heights FM Church and two Methodist churches from 1990-1997. Bob and Ardath attended Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church from 1997 to 2017. Upon moving to Milan, Bob and Ardath attended Milan Free Methodist Church from 2017 to the present. Bob was a lover of golf, tennis, table tennis and classic cars.
Besides his wife, Ardath, Bob is survived by his son Ron (Kathi) Marston, son Chuck (Carol) Marston, daughter Janet McFall; 8 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, sister Evelyn Mottweiler, daughter Julie Esther Marston, and grandson Robert Marston McFall.
Danny Philpot, M.Div. ’78, aged 71, was born in Lexington, Kentucky on January 6, 1953. He passed to his heavenly home at age 71 on October 31, 2024, surrounded by the family he loved so much.
Surviving family includes his loving wife, Barbara Davis Philpot, Alpharetta, Georgia; three children, Micah Daniel Philpot of Lexington, Ky; Mary Philpot Wortz (Gary) of Lexington, Ky; Parker Judson Philpot (Allie) of Marietta, Ga; and four grandchildren, Peyton Renee Wortz, Brayden Thomas Wortz, Sadie Meschell Philpot and Mable Grace Philpot; and one brother, Timothy Philpot (Susan) of Loxley, Ala. Danny is preceded in death by his parents, Ford R. Philpot and Virginia Robinson Philpot.
Danny’s wife Barbara was the romance and love of his life for thirty-seven years. It was impossible to think of Danny without Barbara.
His happiest days on earth were the days when his children were born. His pride and joy Micah in 1974, and then the little girl he wanted so much, Mary in 1976, and finally his baby boy Parker in 1990. And then grandchildren Peyton, Brady, Sadie, and Mabel. He loved them all to the end.
He had the best of both worlds as an Alabama football fan, a Kentucky basketball fan, and an Atlanta Braves fan. Hunting, fishing, and golf were life-long passions.
Danny graduated from Tates Creek High School in 1971, where he was president of his Senior class and a football and baseball star. He then attended Asbury College (B.A. 1975) and Asbury Theological Seminary (M. Div. 1978), and later received a Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary.
Danny’s life was largely influenced by a profound experience of salvation through Jesus Christ as a high school junior at age 17 and almost immediately began a career in ministry. His nickname on the football team was “Rev”, and his passion for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ never really stopped.
He pastored Methodist churches in Kentucky while still in college and seminary, and then, upon graduation at age 25, he was selected to be the founding pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Lexington, Kentucky. The church opened in the Fayette Mall Cinema in July 1978, and quickly became a church home for over five hundred people. Danny also preached as an evangelist around the United States and Zaire, Africa with his father, Ford Philpot in the 1980’s.
In 1986, Danny moved to the Atlanta area, where he continued in his pastoral role at Mt. Pisgah UMC, Oglethorpe UMC, and Christ UMC in Roswell, Georgia. Danny retired as a United Methodist pastor after twenty-five years and went into the business world with Olan Mills, but his ministry continued and even flourished as the Chaplain of the American Legion Post #201. His friends at the Legion became his best and final congregation.
In 2009, Danny survived a massive heart attack which led him to start a blog called Fixed Hearts (fixedhearts.blogspot.com). He loved to tell the story of his ‘near death experience’ to anyone who would listen about his personal encounter with Jesus on the other side. Jesus sent him back to Georgia, knowing that there was more work to be done on earth. Just like King Hezekiah, Danny heard a similar voice: “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life.” (Isaiah 38:5). His last fifteen years were a fruitful testimony to the grace of God and the reality of Heaven for Danny.
David Stephen, M.Div. ’79, aged 75, passed away on September 21, 2024.
Joseph “Joe” Wright, aged 70, passed away on October 4, 2024. In 1954, he was born in Seymour, Indiana. He spent his childhood in Michigan and Ft. Lauderdale. On a fateful day in 1978, young Joe found himself in Georgetown, Kentucky, in the same room as a beautiful woman. Prior to this day, he left Ft. Lauderdale, had a stint in the Air Force, then attended Asbury Seminary where he studied to become a pastor. This led to a prayer meeting in Georgetown with his parents and that young woman. He married the beautiful Sharon Wright, they had three amazing children, and resided in Georgetown for the next 45 years.
Joe was a fine man; a solid man of virtue, principle, dedication, drive and unparalleled ambition. He spent his life working as a pastor, a mechanic, and an attorney. He loved to work but his wife and children (and later grandchildren) were his real joy in life. To provide for them meant everything. In truth, they were his life’s work.
He was perpetually in the role of the wise man; dealing out wisdom to anyone in need. His insight was honest and true no matter how difficult to hear. His intelligence and competence cemented his role as the family patriarch.
Joseph laid the cornerstone of the family. He was truly a great founder.
In the afternoon of October 4, 2024, Joseph Wright’s soul left this earth with his life’s work by his side. Though they grieved deeply, they were all incredibly grateful that God had given them this amazing spouse and father. He is survived by his wife Sharon, his children, Jonathan (Jessica) Wright, Daniel (Julie) Wright, and Kelly (Brian) Wright; nine grandchildren, Erie (Joey) Dunn, RiLee Wright, Zach Marshall, Katelyn Marshall, Dylan Wright, Remy Wright, Walker Wright, Beatrice Wright, Ariadne Wright; brothers Samuel (Yvonne) Wright, Jim (Peggy) Wright. Clearly, the man lived a full life.
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