ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Births
• Engagement
• Weddings
• Anniversaries
• Obituaries

Births

Joel and Suzanne (Oliver) Borton are excited to announce the birth of their second daughter, Tessa Elaine, who was born on her due date of July 27, 2005, weighing 7 pounds 6 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches long. Her big sister, Sophia, was thrilled to finally meet her. Tessa loves playing hide-and-seek with her big sister. Her grandparents are Robert Borton of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Jerry and Diane Oliver of Spokane, Washington.

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Ezekiel and Grace Alimi were delivered of a baby boy on Feb. 5, 2006, weighing 6 pounds 10 ounces and measuring 21 inches long. He is the sixth child of the family and his name is Joseph Oluwatobi Olugbenga Alimi. The Alimis attend the United Church of God in Lagos, Nigeria.

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Ahmed and Blessing Gbadamosi of the Lagos, Nigeria, congregation were delivered of a healthy baby boy May 23, 2006, weighing 3.8 kilograms. His name is Samuel Bioluwatife (as God desires) Ayomide (my joy arrived) Marvelous Iyinola (praiseworthy blessing) Idunuayomi (the sweetness of my joy) Gbadamosi.

He is the first son and the third child in the family. His sisters, Blessing and Precious, are happy to have a baby brother in the family (more so the parents)!

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Tracy and Valerie Davidson of the Birmingham, Alabama, congregation are thrilled to announce the birth of Sarah Anne. Sarah was born on March 2, 2006. She weighed 9 pounds and was 22 inches long. “Princess” Sarah receives many kisses each day from her two adoring brothers and the whole family is so pleased to finally have a girl!

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Engagement

Amy Hooser and Don Wuerfel of Dallas, Texas, are pleased to announce their engagement to be married. Amy is the daughter of Don and Elsie Hooser of the Sedro-Woolley, Washington, congregation. Don is the son of Simon and Eugenia Wuerfel of the Grand Rapids, Michigan, congregation. The couple became engaged on May 7, 2006, and are planning an August 20, 2006, wedding in Dallas, Texas.

Weddings

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth A. Graham II are thrilled to announce the marriage of their daughter Nicole Kristen Graham to Kelly Christopher Gard, son of Mr. Marvin O. Gard and Mrs. Kimberly A. Gard on Sunday, May 28, 2006. Family and friends from across the country gathered at the home of longtime friends Jack and Berna Long in Elwood, Illinois, to celebrate the event. Seventy people were present on this joyous occasion, enduring 95-degree heat to see the happy couple say their vows.

Lauren Graham, sister of the bride, was the maid of honor, and Andrew Edinborough was the best man. Ken Graham, father of the bride, officiated. Other dear friends representing the couple were Alison Leonard, Sarah Gard, Jacqueline Carr, John Hart, Nathan Wineinger and Kyle Wineinger.

Currently the couple is attending ABC in Cincinnati, Ohio. Following ABC graduation in August, Nicole and Kelly will return to Los Alamos, New Mexico, where they will continue their college educations at the University of New Mexico, and Kelly will continue his job at the National Lab in Los Alamos.

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Jackie, Brian, Jeff and Chris Wilhelm are happy to announce the marriage of their daughter/sister, Sondra Michelle Wilhelm to Samuel Lee Hines on May 13, 2006. Sondra and her three bridesmaids came down by horse and carriage. Candace Darrow was the maid of honor and Wade Reagan was the best man. Sondra's three brothers gave her away. Close to 200 friends and family came to the celebration.

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Mr. and Mrs. Jerry S. Girard of San Antonio, Texas, are happy to announce the wedding of their daughter, Dallas Leigh Girard, to Brett A. Efimov, son of Ted and Sylvia Efimov of Chicago , Illinois . The ceremony took place on a hot, sunny, Texas Sunday, July 2, 2006, in downtown Dallas , and was performed by Robert Fahey, pastor of the Chicago congregation.

LuAnne Warren (sister of the bride) was matron of honor, Mary Pat Proctor (sister) was bridesmaid, Mara Efimov (niece) was a junior bridesmaid and Melissa Proctor was the flower girl. Drew Efimov was best man, Bryan Efimov was groomsman, Matthew Warren was a junior groomsmen and Christopher Proctor was ring bearer.

The bride was very honored to have her father be able to walk her down the aisle after he suffered a large stroke three months earlier. The couple was also beautifully serenaded by Jessica and Roxanne Efimov (from the Brisbane , Australia , congregation) singing “From This Moment.” The couple will be attending the Chicago congregation.

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Anniversaries

Richard and Dorene Eckman, of the Anchorage, Alaska, congregation, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on June 18, 2006. Richard serves the Alaskan congregations as an elder (with Dorene right there by his side!) and has done so for nearly 30 years.

The Eckmans have two daughters, Wendy Eckman-Jewell and fiancé Scott Englehardt, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Mandy Jennings and husband Scott from the Gold Coast, Australia. The Eckmans also have four grandchildren: Aaron, Austin, Ashlee and Anthea Jennings.

Due to distance, the Eckmans were unable to be with their children for this occasion, however, a beautiful gemstone globe was given to them to remind them that even though, as a family, they are spread across the globe, they are still very near and dear to each other.

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Obituaries

Sasha Marin Talbott was stillborn at 35 weeks to Kristine (Williams) and Kirk Talbott in Laguna Beach, California, on Feb. 16, 2006. She weighed 3 pounds 4 ounces and measured 17 inches long.

A memorial service was held on June 24, 2006, in Orange, California, with about 70 family and friends in attendance.

The Talbott family attends the Garden Grove, California, congregation.

Sasha is survived by her family members in United: brother Addison (3 3/4 years old) and sister Zoë (2 years old), grandma Jean Talbott of Texas , grandparents Richard and Marty Scholz of Massachusetts and aunt Karen and cousin Nadia Esseghaiar of Texas .

The Talbotts sincerely thank everyone for all of their prayers, cards, e-mails, calls, flowers and meals during this difficult time.

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Irene Reis Penney, 63, of St. John's, Newfoundland, died June 29, after a valiant struggle with cancer. She had not been able to attend services since Passover 2005, but she was on a phone hook-up for Sabbath services until she was hospitalized during the last two weeks of her life. Even on the last Sabbath she was alive and in the hospital, when someone went to visit, she wanted to know what the sermon was about and the main points of the sermon.

She never wavered in her faith and she now awaits the future that a loving God has prepared for all who love His way.

The funeral was officiated by David Smith, elder of the Newfoundland congregation.

Her daughter, Alicia, appreciates the prayers and concern of the Church. Irene also had a sister, Norma Benson, who is a member. She is also survived by a brother, David, and several nieces and nephews and many friends.

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Wilma Greely, a member of God's Church for many years, died three days after suffering a stroke on March 1, 2006. She attended the Phoenix East, Arizona, congregation and leaves behind her two children and grandchildren.

She lived a full life and spent much of her time visiting and worrying over others. Fifteen minutes before the stroke, Wilma had said in conversation that she was ready to go. She was a friend to all and the official giver of hugs. No one ever visited the congregation without meeting her—she made a point of it. She was a lively, loving and active member of the Church right up until the end.

Her shining face at the door each Sabbath is missed by everyone.

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Samuel M. Tucker Jr. of Mineral Wells, West Virginia, died June 5, 2006, of breathing complications.

He was a longtime active member of God's Church since 1967. He was a Korean War veteran.

Surviving are two older sisters and an older brother, Robert, who is a longtime member of God's Church.

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Doris Walker Pate, a longtime member of the Phoenix East, Arizona, congregation, died on June 19, 2006, after enduring many health difficulties in these past few years. A memorial service was held there on June 24.

Doris was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, the second child and only girl of three. She moved to Globe, Arizona, in 1950 and there, for the first time, heard Herbert Armstrong on the radio broadcast from Juarez, Mexico. She and her cousin George were baptized in 1959 in Canyon Lake near Phoenix, and she was one of the first members in the Phoenix area back in 1962.

Doris continually thought of others first and was passionate for keeping God's truth. The Feast was her joy, and she enjoyed collecting Feast pictures more than any other type of photos. She, for a small person, was known for her “mighty hug,” and her friends look forward to receiving another from her when they see her in the Kingdom.

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Abigail Nworgu, 7, died on June 16, 2006. She was sick for eight months with typhoid, malaria and a cough. Abigail was born on June 23, 1998, and would have been 8 years old if she had lived one more week. She is survived by her parents, Coleman and Stella Nworgu, and by two sisters, Ruth and Lilly. The Nworgu family attends the United Church of God congregation in Owerri, Nigeria. Cards can be sent to Coleman and Stella Nworgu, c/o United Church of God, Box 2189, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

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Announcements: Members are welcome to submit announcements of the births, engagements, weddings, significant anniversaries (25, 40, 50, 60, etc.) and obituaries in their families. Please include a self-addressed envelope if you would like photos returned. Most items are 50 to 100 words and should not exceed 250 words. Please e-mail (preferred) or give them to your local pastor to forward to United News.