NEWS FROM THE
DALLAS-DENTON DISTRICT LAY SPEAKERS
(page updated on February 8, 2007)

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1/30/2007

Carolyn Alderson, one of the Sherman McKinney district Lay Speakers passed away Tuesday (1/30/2007) night about 11:00 at TMC in Denison. She had been active in both district and North Texas Conference Lay Speaking Ministries activities.  She had been in the hospital for several weeks due to a fall.  She underwent surgery on her back and was in rehab when a staph infection developed that ultimately caused her death.

1/23/2007

Gigi Cain’s father, Dr. Rev. Philip del Rosario had a stroke on his way to the Philippines, and is now in a hospital in Burlingame, CA.  He was blessed with a physician specializing in strokes on board the aircraft. 

Gigi has flown to San Francisco to be with him.  Please keep this family in your prayers.

12/21/2006

The Dallas-Denton District Lay Speakers were called to fill Oak Haven UMC’s pulpit while the North Texas Conference Bishop’s Cabinet identifies a pastor to be appointed to this charge.  In short order, 3 Lay Speakers were identified to serve during January, with 4 more Lay Speakers later identified to serve during February.  Praise the Lord for His willing servants.

8/19/2006

North Texas Conference Bishop Rhymes H. Montclure, Jr. passed away from complications after brain tumor surgery. Click Here to view his memorial service and celebration of life in streaming video (available until October)

8/10/2006

Cathy Yaw, longtime lay speaker from FUMC, The Colony, died after a long battle with cancer. 

5/23/2005

Judith Allen's daughter, Miriam Martha Phillips McGovern, died of an asthma attack yesterday afternoon at the age of 31.  She leaves a son of 12 years.  The visitation will be Wednesday, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., at the DeBerry Funeral Directors, 2025 W University Dr, Denton, TX 76201.  The funeral will be at Trinity UMC, 633 Hobson, Denton, Thursday, at 10:00 a.m.  Please keep this family in your prayers as they deal with this unexpected, tragic loss.

Judith is one of our faithful soldiers of lay speaking ministries, who needs our support in this difficult time.

May 2005

Herman L. Totten Elected President ofDallas-Denton Layspeakers

In a special election held during the May meeting, Herman L. Totten, Ph.D., was elected President of the Dallas-Denton Layspeakers to replace the late Barbara Horn.

Dr. Totten is a lifelong United Methodist and has been a member of Trinity United Methodist Church Denton, Texas since the Church was founded in 1980. He was the first President of Trinity’s United Methodist Men in 1987. He chaired the Administrative Board and was Lay Leader from 1992-1994. He was elected by Charge Conference as Lay Representative to North Texas Annual Conference for two four-year terms: 1991-1995 and 2003-2007. He served as Chair of the Committee on Stewardship 1993-1994. He was Chair of the Finance Committee 1997-2000. He was elected Trinity’s Methodist Man of the Month for the month of June 2004. His District services include serving as a member of the Nominating Committee and being elected to the Committee on the District Superintendency May 16, 2004. His Annual Conference responsibilities include serving as a Teller 2003-2004.

Totten has been a University of North Texas (UNT) Faculty member since 1977, and since 1991, has been a Regents Professor in the School of Library and Information Sciences (SLIS). He received his BA degree with honors from Wiley College and his MLS and Ph.D. degrees in the fields of library and information science from the University of Oklahoma. On January 26, 2004, the United States Senate confirmed Totten’s nomination by President George W. Bush to the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. He was named a “Barrier Breaker” for the UNT 50^th Anniversary of Desegregation, February 14, 2004.

3/15/2005

In Memoriam

Barbara Horn Goes Home to the Lord

Barbara Horn
1930 - 2005

     On Tuesday, March 15, 2005, Barbara Horn went home to the Lord.  Her service was Thursday, March 17 at Blue Mound United Methodist Church with over 20 lay speakers attending.  The Rev. Jon Eckstein officiated with burial at Wear Cemetery in Collin County.  Barbara was a dedicated servant to the Lord, currently serving as President of Dallas-Denton Lay Speakers Association, administrative functions for Blue Mound UMC, records maintenance for the Wear Cemetery, and previously serving as Lay Speaking Ministries District Director, President of Dallas-Denton Lay Speakers Association, and President of Sherman-McKinney Lay Speakers Association.  Barbara also taught many lay speaking ministry courses, taught Sunday School, sang in Blue Mound’s choir, and did whatever was needed.

    She was born May 16, 1930, in McKinney to Ernest W. and Ella Lucille Duncan Horn. She graduated from Prosper High School and attended Stephen F. Austin College.   One brother, Isaac Horn, of San Antonio, survives her.

    Memorials may be made to Blue Mound United Methodist Church, 8421 N. I-35, Denton, TX 76207.  Cards to the family may be sent to the DeBerry Funeral Directors, 2025 W. University Drive, Denton, Texas 76201.

    Barbara Horn began in lay speaking ministries in 1984 and became a certified lay speaker in 1986 in the Sherman-McKinney district.  She was active in both the Dallas-Denton and Sherman-McKinney districts.  While president of the Sherman-McKinney Lay Speakers Association, the lay speakers served the visionaries banquet for the district.

     May we all learn from and follow Barbara Horn’s example of trying to live as Christ would.

Other memories:

I have lost a good friend and a loyal co-worker in the Lord's service.   -- Wanda Blair

Needless to say, I will miss Barbara.  We started Lay Speaking together in 1984 and were active members in two districts, Dallas-Denton (our home district) and Sherman-McKinney (our adopted district because we received our first advanced training course there).  We were together a lot because of our church and lay speaking activities.  Barbara was a great servant of God.  That always came first in her life.  Her life should be a lesson for all of us.  God Bless. -- Horace Trietsch

We remember Barbara for her loyal and faithful service.  She was humble and worked loyally to get whatever needed done.  She had a big impact as president of the Sherman-McKinney district for a couple of years.  -- Mary Lois O’Neal

She loved God, loved the church, and lived accordingly.  This made her a source of strength throughout the Dallas-Denton District, the Sherman-McKinney District, and, indeed, the North Texas Conference. -- John Bodnar Bodnar

I, as well as many others, will certainly miss Barbara. She's a stalwart to lay speaking. God bless. -- Bryan Nolan

I met Barbara Horn and Horace Trietsch, in 1985.  We were taking the beginning Lay Speaking class, and were in the same Dallas Denton district. We were just ordinary people who had heard God's call, or maybe that of the superintendents (as was their case). Little did we know, of the bonds we were forging, as we worked together.  There was calm, steady Barbara, with her knowledge of the Bible, and her habit of preparing for a class, as much as a year ahead of time.  Horace too, had a great knowledge of the Bible, and a way of explaining, the rites and rules of the church, that made you feel the honor and mystery of it all.  Of myself, all I can say, is that I organized, and blended and inspired together all who were in my classes, or so I have been told. We were always so happy, when God called our students to further their walk in His Ministry, and many of you were so called. I have always felt that we were God's enablers, helping each Lay Speaker through to the next part of their walk with God, whatever that walk was to be. The next year, when I again met them, in the advanced training, the district lines had been changed and I, now was in the Dallas South District, a thriving Lay Speakers area. Barbara, and Horace trundled on, just about the only Lay Speakers in their district. Calm and steady, they went, preaching and leading. Their enthusiasm and hard work, enabled the Dallas Denton District to grow and grow. They were its spark, its steadiness.  We all became District Directors, and Horace and I even were Conference Directors. Barbara, always there, prepared to teach, and always with a smile. There was such a joy in what we were doing. It is amazing to me, that God had put us all together, to carry on His work, whether it was in the very smallest of churches, or the very largest. I have missed that, in the years since I moved north. I shall miss my dear friend, but know that someday we shall all meet again, in that great by and by. God Speed Barbara... -- Jo Bredesen, Lay Speaker, Minnesota Metro East District

Barbara was a Great Lady for the Lord.  Now, She is in the second part of her life with the Lord, No Pain nor Sickness.  God Bless! -- W.E. DeVaughn

Barbara was a dedicated servant of Christ and made significant contributions to lay speaking ministries in the North Texas Conference.  -- Patti R. Martin