Death Notice- Betty Hunter

From the Ralph Buckner Funeral Home announcement

Betty Lorene Hunter
January 22, 1927 - February 18, 2012

Betty Lorene Williams Hunter, a long-time resident of Cleveland, has joined her husband, Bishop Harper Hunter of 65 years, in the Celestial City of God. The culmination of years of ministry together has ended in reaching the glorious goal of her life—to rule and reign with the King of kings and Lord of lords! Her evanescent flesh gave up as she transitioned to a new life in Christ on Saturday, February 18, 2012, in the presence of family and friends.

Betty Lorene was born on a cold January 22nd in 1927 to parents James and Sadie Williams of Akron, Ohio and attended school in her home town until her graduation from Bucktel High School in 1945. She took piano lessons as a preteen and later joined her guitar-playing mother in the Akron Church of God of Prophecy band, playing piano, organ or drums—whatever instrument was needed.

It would not take long before a young visiting evangelist holding a revival at her local church decided to snatch her up as she seemed the perfect minister’s wife. She married Harper Hunter in 1945 in between two scheduled revival campaigns he was holding and the rest of the story more or less became history. The young evangelistic team traveled far and wide, pulling a trailer behind with her Hammond organ and other musical instruments the two played. This was the infancy of a ministry that later became well known—covering her duties as the spouse of an evangelist/pastor/state overseer/general headquarters official—as Betty dutifully took her husband’s ministry as her own and made it better.

To this union was born a son, Harold, and several years later a daughter, Deborah. Betty also worked at Preston Printing, White Wing Publishing House, and various state offices of the Church of God of Prophecy. The ministry with Harper resulted in taking up residences in Wisconsin, Kentucky, Tennessee, Wyoming, South Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Alabama, South Carolina, and Mississippi as she served as First Lady of the states where her husband served as overseer or headquarters official. During the years of the Hunters’ ministry as state overseers, the youth and children at the many state youth camps fell in love with “Grandma Hunter” (as she would instruct them to call her) due to her fun-loving games and pranks.

Betty Hunter is survived by her son, Dr. Harold D. Hunter and wife Sondra of Oklahoma City; her daughter, Deborah S. Hunter Jones of Smyrna; granddaughter, Heidi Jones Bradley and husband Blake of Nashville; grandson, Matthew Landon Jones of Nashville; great-grandchildren: Ceylon, Lennon, Jude and Aerelyn Lorene Bradley of Nashville; her brother, Richard L. Williams and wife Barbara of Kansas City, Missouri; her brother-in-law, Thomas Dudding of Cleveland; her sister-in-law, Helen Hunter Batson of Roseburg, Oregon, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Bishop Harper Hunter; her parents, James W. and Sadie D. Williams of Akron, Ohio; her brothers, James W. Williams, Jr., and Clifford Williams of Akron, Ohio, and Bill E. Williams of South Carolina; a sister, Roberta A. Dudding of Cleveland, Tennessee; mother and father-in-law, Harper and Edith Hunter of Ashland City, Tennessee; her son-in-law, Rev. Mikey Jones, Jr. of Smyrna; and brother-in-law, Rev. Charles Batson of Roseburg, Oregon.

Family visitation will be Saturday, February 25th, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., with the memorial service starting at 1 p.m. at the Peerless Road Church of God of Prophecy. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens and Mausoleum. Officiating ministers will be Bishop Fred S. Fisher Sr., former general overseer of the Church of God of Prophecy, Rev. Kay Horner, National Coordinator of Cry Out America, Rev. Terry Fowler, Assistant to Presiding Bishop of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, and Rev. Steven Spears, Associate Pastor of the Peerless Road Church of God of Prophecy.

Betty Williams Hunter will be remembered as having inspired hope in many, shown compassion to more than most, and having embraced those rejected by others. Her memorial service will be dedicated to the theme “I Surrender All” as depicted in this famous hymn.

Ralph Buckner Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Hunter family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.

Service times for Pastor Lamar Dotson

Here are the visitation and service times for Bishop Lamar Dotson.

Visitation: Wednesday 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Funeral: Thursday 2:00 p.m.

Location: Coffee County Funeral Home located on Highway 55 in Manchester, Tennessee.


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Death Notice - Dr. Roland Harding

Dr. Roland Harding passed away Sunday, February 12, 2012 in the VNA Hospice at 95 years of age.

Born in North Dakota, he served in Congress for the state of North Dakota, was a registered Pharmacist and obtained a Doctor of Science Degree from NDSU. He was Director of the VA Pharmacy Services in VA Central Office, Washington, DC before retiring and relocating to the Butler area in 1988. Serving in World War II as a forward observer and artillery officer with the 3rd Armored Division, he retired after attaining the rank of Lt. Col. He loved God, his family, his country and the people in his life.

Surviving are his wife, Fern and two sons, Dr. Freddie (Juanita) and Stephen (Dari) Harding.

Viewing will be Tuesday, February 14, 2012 from Noon to 2 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. at the Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, Inc., 124 East North Street, Butler, PA 16001, where the funeral service will be held at 6 p.m. with Reverend Bobby Hile of Family Life Ministries officiating.

Interment will be in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies with full military honors on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 2 p.m.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent c/o Harding Family, 446 Cherokee Drive, Butler, PA 16001.

Death Notice - Claude McMahan

I am saddened to report that one of our dear saints in Tennessee has passed away, but I am overjoyed to know that his entry to heaven was no doubt a grand event. Please join me in prayer for this family and local church. The email from Pastor Terry Barnwell states it so well...


Dear Arrowhead Church Family;

Bro. Claude McMahan went home to be with The Lord this evening around 6pm. Another hero of the faith has gone home! Bro. Claude served his family as a godly example and he did it well! He also served our church for over 50 years as a deacon, charter member, and faithful servant.

As soon as arrangements are complete I will notify you immediately. Please join with me in praying for all the family and also over the next few days reflecting on the life of honor and dignity this great man of God lived before us.

May God Bless You,



Bro. Terry