Submitted by
Lena Stone Criswell
(Newspaper Unknown)
1961

10th ANNUAL CRISWELL HOMECOMING
HELD SUNDAY, LARGE CROWD PRESENT

       A large crowd attended the tenth annual Criswell Cemetery Association Memorial Homecoming Day Sunday, June 11, at the Criswell community center.
       The cemetery and community center grounds were atractive (sic) for the homecoming.
       The steel fence all around the cemetery is completed, and now the aim as a project for the association is to renovate the community center building and keep the cemetery cleaned.
       At 11 a.m., a program was presented under the direction of Mrs. George Stone.
       Thomas Stone was in charge of the congregational singing, and Mrs. C. A. McCoy was pianist.
       Three congregational songs were sung, led by Mr. Criswell.  The welcome address was given by Mrs. Donald Sandhoff, the response by Nelda Stone.  A song, "Now I Belong to Jesus," was sung by Mrs. Jane Baron.  "Standing Somewhere in the Shadows." was sung by Nancy Shook and Sue Pharis, and "Near to the Heart of God," by Mrs. Jane Baron.
       A memorial reading, "I Shall Not Live in Vain," was given by David Broxton.
       The mortuary list was read by Mrs. George Stone and included the following names:  Gile Borden Stone, Mrs. Gladys Durham Etter, and Mrs. John Henry Quick.
       The memorial prayer was led by Albert Wolf, and the memorial address was delivered by Rev. Hugh Durham, pastor of the Valley Mills Baptist Church.  He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Durham of Dallas, and the grandson of the late Rev. and Mrs. L. H. Willingham of Marlin.
       The invocation was given by Rev. Durham.  At noon a basket lunch was served on tables under shade trees.
       After lunch congregational songs were led by Thomas Criswell, J. L. Caddell and others.  Accompanists were Mrs. C. A. McCoy and Mrs. Jack Richardson.  There was also special music by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas of Mart.
       A business meeting was held with President C. A. McCoy presiding.  Thomas Criswell, secretary, read the minutes of last year's meeting.  Contributions were made for the upkeep of the cemetery.
       The nominating committee, G. W. Stone, Fred Broxton and J. L. Caddell, renominated all officers and directors for the coming year; For president, C. A. McCoy; vice president, J. E. Ray; secretary - treasurer, Thomas Criswell, business manager, C. C. Stone, and directors, J. L. Caddell, A. W. Walts, Fred Broxton, H. F. Stone Sr., A. J. Wolf and Thomas Criswell, all were reelected.
       O. N. Campbell attended and furnished the public address system.

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