  Batsell Baxter 1886 - 1956 Fay Scott Baxter 1890 - 1940 The Howe Messenger
Friday, January 3, 1941 pg. 1 NATIVE OF COUNTY DIES IN ARKANSAS Sherman - Mrs. Fay Baxter, 50, wife of Batsell Baxter, former president of Abilene Christian College and George Pepperdine College at Los Angeles, California, died Tuesday at 2 a.m. of heart trouble at her home in Searcy, Arkansas. Services were held Wednesday morning at Searcy and the body was brought to Sherman Wednesday night. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Waldo chapel, conducted by Dr. A.R. Holton, pastor of the Walnut Street Church of Christ and R.C. Bell of Abilene Christian College. Burial was in Holloway Cemetery. Surviving are her husband, Batsell Baxter, a teacher in George Pepperdine college, who had been visiting at Taft, Texas; 3 sisters, Mrs. Dimmett Howard, Mrs. J.W. Hollingsworth, and Mrs. Mae Legate, all of Sherman; a brother, G.W. Scott of Tom Bean. Also surviving are a number of nieces and nephews. She was a sister of the late E.B., C.O. and C.W. Scott. Nephews were pallbearers. Mrs. Baxter was born February 26, 1890, 10 miles southeast of Sherman, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.B. and Josephine Scott. She was married in 1911 at her birthplace. Mrs. Baxter attended the public schools here and Austin College. For 28 years she had been connected with educational work, serving at Thorp Springs Christian, Abilene Christian, David Lipscomb (Nashville), and George Pepperdine colleges. Mr. Baxter had been a member of the faculty at Harding since September. Gospel Advocate January 2, 1941 pg.21 In the midst of the Christmas season came the news of the untimely death of Sister Batsell Baxter, which occurred at Searcy, Arkansas on December 4. Brother Baxter, who teaches Bible in Harding Collete in Searcy, was in the hospital critically ill. Sister Baxter was occupying the room next to his, to be near him. Monday night she retired to her room. On the morning of Christmas Eve she was found dead in her bed. The doctors stated that she had been dead for several hours. The funeral services were conducted at Sherman, Texas Friday, December 27. She is survived by her husband; one son, Batsell Barrett Baxter, who is a teacher in Pepperdine College, Los Angeles, California. Gospel preacher, writer, and educator. President of Abilene Christian College, 1924-32; David Lipscomb College, 1932-34, 1943-46; George Pepperdine College, 1938-40. Staff writer for Gospel Advocate, 1932-56. He spoke on the 1st Annual Bible Lectureship at Freed-Hardeman College in 1937. Biographical Sketch On The Life Of Batsell Baxter. Batsell Baxter was born to Price and Etta Elliott Baxter on November 17, 1886, at Sherman, Texas. He was baptized by T.B. Larimore at a gospel meeting in Sherman, Texas, that lasted almost six months. In 1912, he married Frances Scott who was a wonderful helpmeet and companion to him through their life together. She passed on to her reward in 1940. Baxter began preaching in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1908 and attended Nashville Bible School, where he sat at the feet of David Lipscomb and James A. Harding. He was greatly influenced by the life and teaching of David Lipscomb. He stood as a link with such pioneers as Lipscomb, Harding, Elam, Freed and others. He was very much like Lipscomb in his judgment and his mixture of meekness and humility. Both men stood steadfastly for the truth and yet in meekness and in love.  Baxter attended school at Texas Christian University, Baylor University, and taught school at Thorp Springs Christian College, Abilene Christian College, Cordell Christian College and Harding College. He was president of Abilene Christian College from 1924-32, president of David Lipscomb College, 1932-1934, and again in 1943-1946. He was president of George Pepperdine College, 1937-1939. He had been president emeritus and head of the Bible Department at David Lipscomb since 1946. He had written regularly for the Gospel Advocate for 26 years and was a highly respected member of its staff. At the services that were conducted at Sherman, Texas, on March 7, Don Morris recalled the influence of Baxter upon his life, and stated that it was quite possible that he would never have been associated with Abilene Christian College had it not been for Baxter. He first met Baxter when his father took him to see the young Dean at Thorp Springs Christian College. He paid tribute to Baxter's courage and vision in leading the college to the new campus in Abilene and in building the new buildings to provide for the school's growth. Athens Clay Pullias paid tribute to the great assistance Baxter had been to him, personally, and to David Lipscomb College. He emphasized the fact that Baxter would live on in his influence on the lives of students who had studied with him. It was the privilege of those present to close the service by recounting some of the attributes of Baxter's life as a Christian and as a gospel preacher. He was a man like Moses in his meekness. He was a man of vision, a man who encouraged young men to prepare for places of leadership, and was willing to step down and encourage them in taking the lead. He thoroughly believed in Christian education. After Morris had received news of Baxter's death, he opened a letter from Baxter expressing appreciation for the wonderful lectureship week in Abilene. The letter contained a check for Abilene College. Truly, a great prince in Israel died on March 4,1956, when Baxter went to be with his Lord. Baxter began preaching in 1908 in Nashville, Tennessee. He preached in numerous places, particularly in Corsicana, Texas, and had numerous appointments around the Christian colleges where he taught. He preached the gospel in 21 states. Funeral service was conducted in Nashville, Tennessee, by Athens Clay Pullias, B.C. Goodpasture, George Benson, and R.C. Bell. The body was taken to his original home in Sherman, Texas, where another service was conducted by Don Morris of Abilene Christian College and Athens Clay Pullias of David Lipscomb College. Baxter is dead at the age of 70, but he still speaks through the work of his son, Batsell Barrett Baxter, whose work continues to live. He speaks through his thousands of boys and girls who have felt the impact of his life. He speaks through his writings of his lifetime. We thank God for the blessing of knowing Baxter through the years. We shall miss his counsel and encouragement. May the Lord multiply his teaching and influence for the cause so that untold good may redound to the glory of God through the ages. His body was laid to rest along side that of his faithful companion who preceded him in death, in the Holloway Cemetery near Sherman, Texas. He was survived at his death by his son, Batsell Barrett Baxter, who has now joined his father in death. —In Memoriam, Gussie Lambert, Shreveport, Louisiana 1988, pages 18-20. Another biography appears in the Gospel Advocate, Feb. 22, c1940, pg.183.  History of the Restoration Movement: Batsell Baxter Holloway Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |