Biography Notes:
Newspaper: originally by John Nelson
Lady Preacher Retired
"Religion in this area has made some great strides in the last few years," says Mrs. Flora Belle Keith, a veteran of 32 years in the Methodist Church ministry.
The life long preacher and educator retired in June after serving as a Methodist Church preacher for over three decades and at eight churches.
"The big changes I've seen in religion since I began have been in the churches educational programs and in their youth programs, especially church camps," explained Mrs. Keith.
"The camps help so much," she declared. "The youth of today are very spiritually minded, looking for answers for all of the so called chaos in the world."
"I gave up the ministry because I can't get around as well as I used to. I haven't exactly quit, I have just changed to a lower gear," she laughed. "I hope to do some fill-in preaching and a little bit of work at youth camp in the future."
Mrs. Keith began her preaching career in Fay shortly after she was married.{NOTE: No, she was in Fay before she married Rev. Keith.] She and her husband both had congregations. After seven years of preaching the gospel at Fay, she and her husband moved to New Liberty (in Beckham County). In the following years she preached in churches in Roosevelt,(Kiowa County) and Elmer,(Jackson County).
Immediately prior to becoming a preacher, she taught school. She was educated at Southwestern State College in Reydon, Gotebo, Port, Foss, and Weatherford.
When she began in the ministry, the Methodist Church was
divided into three groups. "I had to break away from the Methodist Episcopal South because they did not allow women to preach at the time. I changed to the Methodist Protestant where I received my credentials," the preacher explained. Mrs. Keith had no formal training in the ministry although she took "all of the required study courses."
When I left my last congregation, there were three women preachers in the Altus district. The poor district supervisor certainly had his hands full," she laughed.
"I enjoy working with young people more than anything," she
opined. "They are the staff of my life."
One of her most rewarding memories concerns Glen (Red) Miller, basketball coach at Cameron College in Lawton. "Red was just a youngster then," she related. "He was coaching a high school basketball team where I was living. I saw Red across the gymnasium one night at a basketball game, so I went over to talk to him. His boys were all gathered around him, waiting for the game to start. When he saw me he said, "Boys , This is the best teacher I ever had.
She taught me the rewarding life of being a Christian."
"I've had so many rewarding experiences since I began. It would be impossible to remember them all," she exclaimed. "I tell my friends that my job is to preach, teach, marry, and bury," she laughed.
*****************************************
The Secret Wedding
Flora Belle married another Methodist minister in 1950, the Rev. Joseph Fletcher Keith, a widower with seven living adult children and their families. Flora Belle and Brother Keith had known each other since 1912. This was a "surprise wedding". She told her Fay, Oklahoma congregation at the morning service to be sure to come to the evening service because it was going to be special. There would be a guest speaker, refreshments, and surprises. She wanted a really big turnout.
To the surprise of all, the guest speaker was a fellow minister to perform the wedding ceremony for Flora Belle and Brother Keith. Flora Belle had a terrific sense of humor and was delighted to intrigue and shock her congregation. "Now." she said, "I can sleep late on Sunday morning and let Brother Keith get up early.I'll do the evening service."
She did so love a good joke, a good story, and lively conversation. They were in Fay for seven years, then moved to New Liberty, Oklahoma.
Brother Keith died in 1957 and is buried with his first wife, Lillie Virginia (Senn) Keith in Norman, Oklahoma.
****************************************
OBITUARY:
Flora Belle Keith
Services for Mrs. Flora Belle Keith, 75-year-old retired Methodistminister and school teacher , were in the First United Methodist Church of Clinton on Thursday of last week.
Mrs. Keith, who had been living in the Methodist Home in
Clinton died March 15, 1976.
She was a native of Texas , born in Sulphur Springs, and coming to Washita County, Oklahoma as a small child. Both she and her husband, the late Rev. J. F. Keith, were Methodist ministers, Mrs. Keith having originally preached in the Methodist Protestant church.
Among the churches she pastored were those at Roosevelt and
Gotebo in Kiowa County, Chapel Hill east of Clinton, and also Fay, Reydon and Elmer, Oklahoma. She taught school at Cooperton in Kiowa County.
Surviving are her sister, Nell (Nellie Maude Jennings) Beane, of La Habra, California; and a brother, Almer Dee Jennings, Sister-in-law -Mrs. John Howell (Clara Emma Hatchett) Jennings, of 308 North Washington, Hobart. Many nieces and nephews also survive her.
*******************************
Newspaper: originally by John Nelson
Lady Preacher Retired
"Religion in this area has made some great strides in the last few years," says Mrs. Flora Belle Keith, a veteran of 32 years in the Methodist Church ministry.
The life long preacher and educator retired in June after serving as a Methodist Church preacher for over three decades and at eight churches.
"The big changes I've seen in religion since I began have been in the churches educational programs and in their youth programs, especially church camps," explained Mrs. Keith.
"The camps help so much," she declared. "The youth of today are very spiritually minded, looking for answers for all of the so called chaos in the world."
"I gave up the ministry because I can't get around as well as I used to. I haven't exactly quit, I have just changed to a lower gear," she laughed. "I hope to do some fill-in preaching and a little bit of work at youth camp in the future."
Mrs. Keith began her preaching career in Fay shortly after she was married.{NOTE: No, she was in Fay before she married Rev. Keith.] She and her husband both had congregations. After seven years of preaching the gospel at Fay, she and her husband moved to New Liberty (in Beckham County). In the following years she preached in churches in Roosevelt,(Kiowa County) and Elmer,(Jackson County).
Immediately prior to becoming a preacher, she taught school. She was educated at Southwestern State College in Reydon, Gotebo, Port, Foss, and Weatherford.
When she began in the ministry, the Methodist Church was
divided into three groups. "I had to break away from the Methodist Episcopal South because they did not allow women to preach at the time. I changed to the Methodist Protestant where I received my credentials," the preacher explained. Mrs. Keith had no formal training in the ministry although she took "all of the required study courses."
When I left my last congregation, there were three women preachers in the Altus district. The poor district supervisor certainly had his hands full," she laughed.
"I enjoy working with young people more than anything," she
opined. "They are the staff of my life."
One of her most rewarding memories concerns Glen (Red) Miller, basketball coach at Cameron College in Lawton. "Red was just a youngster then," she related. "He was coaching a high school basketball team where I was living. I saw Red across the gymnasium one night at a basketball game, so I went over to talk to him. His boys were all gathered around him, waiting for the game to start. When he saw me he said, "Boys , This is the best teacher I ever had.
She taught me the rewarding life of being a Christian."
"I've had so many rewarding experiences since I began. It would be impossible to remember them all," she exclaimed. "I tell my friends that my job is to preach, teach, marry, and bury," she laughed.
*****************************************
The Secret Wedding
Flora Belle married another Methodist minister in 1950, the Rev. Joseph Fletcher Keith, a widower with seven living adult children and their families. Flora Belle and Brother Keith had known each other since 1912. This was a "surprise wedding". She told her Fay, Oklahoma congregation at the morning service to be sure to come to the evening service because it was going to be special. There would be a guest speaker, refreshments, and surprises. She wanted a really big turnout.
To the surprise of all, the guest speaker was a fellow minister to perform the wedding ceremony for Flora Belle and Brother Keith. Flora Belle had a terrific sense of humor and was delighted to intrigue and shock her congregation. "Now." she said, "I can sleep late on Sunday morning and let Brother Keith get up early.I'll do the evening service."
She did so love a good joke, a good story, and lively conversation. They were in Fay for seven years, then moved to New Liberty, Oklahoma.
Brother Keith died in 1957 and is buried with his first wife, Lillie Virginia (Senn) Keith in Norman, Oklahoma.
****************************************
OBITUARY:
Flora Belle Keith
Services for Mrs. Flora Belle Keith, 75-year-old retired Methodistminister and school teacher , were in the First United Methodist Church of Clinton on Thursday of last week.
Mrs. Keith, who had been living in the Methodist Home in
Clinton died March 15, 1976.
She was a native of Texas , born in Sulphur Springs, and coming to Washita County, Oklahoma as a small child. Both she and her husband, the late Rev. J. F. Keith, were Methodist ministers, Mrs. Keith having originally preached in the Methodist Protestant church.
Among the churches she pastored were those at Roosevelt and
Gotebo in Kiowa County, Chapel Hill east of Clinton, and also Fay, Reydon and Elmer, Oklahoma. She taught school at Cooperton in Kiowa County.
Surviving are her sister, Nell (Nellie Maude Jennings) Beane, of La Habra, California; and a brother, Almer Dee Jennings, Sister-in-law -Mrs. John Howell (Clara Emma Hatchett) Jennings, of 308 North Washington, Hobart. Many nieces and nephews also survive her.
*******************************
Biography Notes:
Newspaper: originally by John Nelson
Lady Preacher Retired
"Religion in this area has made some great strides in the last few years," says Mrs. Flora Belle Keith, a veteran of 32 years in the Methodist Church ministry.
The life long preacher and educator retired in June after serving as a Methodist Church preacher for over three decades and at eight churches.
"The big changes I've seen in religion since I began have been in the churches educational programs and in their youth programs, especially church camps," explained Mrs. Keith.
"The camps help so much," she declared. "The youth of today are very spiritually minded, looking for answers for all of the so called chaos in the world."
"I gave up the ministry because I can't get around as well as I used to. I haven't exactly quit, I have just changed to a lower gear," she laughed. "I hope to do some fill-in preaching and a little bit of work at youth camp in the future."
Mrs. Keith began her preaching career in Fay shortly after she was married.{NOTE: No, she was in Fay before she married Rev. Keith.] She and her husband both had congregations. After seven years of preaching the gospel at Fay, she and her husband moved to New Liberty (in Beckham County). In the following years she preached in churches in Roosevelt,(Kiowa County) and Elmer,(Jackson County).
Immediately prior to becoming a preacher, she taught school. She was educated at Southwestern State College in Reydon, Gotebo, Port, Foss, and Weatherford.
When she began in the ministry, the Methodist Church was
divided into three groups. "I had to break away from the Methodist Episcopal South because they did not allow women to preach at the time. I changed to the Methodist Protestant where I received my credentials," the preacher explained. Mrs. Keith had no formal training in the ministry although she took "all of the required study courses."
When I left my last congregation, there were three women preachers in the Altus district. The poor district supervisor certainly had his hands full," she laughed.
"I enjoy working with young people more than anything," she
opined. "They are the staff of my life."
One of her most rewarding memories concerns Glen (Red) Miller, basketball coach at Cameron College in Lawton. "Red was just a youngster then," she related. "He was coaching a high school basketball team where I was living. I saw Red across the gymnasium one night at a basketball game, so I went over to talk to him. His boys were all gathered around him, waiting for the game to start. When he saw me he said, "Boys , This is the best teacher I ever had.
She taught me the rewarding life of being a Christian."
"I've had so many rewarding experiences since I began. It would be impossible to remember them all," she exclaimed. "I tell my friends that my job is to preach, teach, marry, and bury," she laughed.
*****************************************
The Secret Wedding
Flora Belle married another Methodist minister in 1950, the Rev. Joseph Fletcher Keith, a widower with seven living adult children and their families. Flora Belle and Brother Keith had known each other since 1912. This was a "surprise wedding". She told her Fay, Oklahoma congregation at the morning service to be sure to come to the evening service because it was going to be special. There would be a guest speaker, refreshments, and surprises. She wanted a really big turnout.
To the surprise of all, the guest speaker was a fellow minister to perform the wedding ceremony for Flora Belle and Brother Keith. Flora Belle had a terrific sense of humor and was delighted to intrigue and shock her congregation. "Now." she said, "I can sleep late on Sunday morning and let Brother Keith get up early.I'll do the evening service."
She did so love a good joke, a good story, and lively conversation. They were in Fay for seven years, then moved to New Liberty, Oklahoma.
Brother Keith died in 1957 and is buried with his first wife, Lillie Virginia (Senn) Keith in Norman, Oklahoma.
****************************************
OBITUARY:
Flora Belle Keith
Services for Mrs. Flora Belle Keith, 75-year-old retired Methodistminister and school teacher , were in the First United Methodist Church of Clinton on Thursday of last week.
Mrs. Keith, who had been living in the Methodist Home in
Clinton died March 15, 1976.
She was a native of Texas , born in Sulphur Springs, and coming to Washita County, Oklahoma as a small child. Both she and her husband, the late Rev. J. F. Keith, were Methodist ministers, Mrs. Keith having originally preached in the Methodist Protestant church.
Among the churches she pastored were those at Roosevelt and
Gotebo in Kiowa County, Chapel Hill east of Clinton, and also Fay, Reydon and Elmer, Oklahoma. She taught school at Cooperton in Kiowa County.
Surviving are her sister, Nell (Nellie Maude Jennings) Beane, of La Habra, California; and a brother, Almer Dee Jennings, Sister-in-law -Mrs. John Howell (Clara Emma Hatchett) Jennings, of 308 North Washington, Hobart. Many nieces and nephews also survive her.
*******************************
Newspaper: originally by John Nelson
Lady Preacher Retired
"Religion in this area has made some great strides in the last few years," says Mrs. Flora Belle Keith, a veteran of 32 years in the Methodist Church ministry.
The life long preacher and educator retired in June after serving as a Methodist Church preacher for over three decades and at eight churches.
"The big changes I've seen in religion since I began have been in the churches educational programs and in their youth programs, especially church camps," explained Mrs. Keith.
"The camps help so much," she declared. "The youth of today are very spiritually minded, looking for answers for all of the so called chaos in the world."
"I gave up the ministry because I can't get around as well as I used to. I haven't exactly quit, I have just changed to a lower gear," she laughed. "I hope to do some fill-in preaching and a little bit of work at youth camp in the future."
Mrs. Keith began her preaching career in Fay shortly after she was married.{NOTE: No, she was in Fay before she married Rev. Keith.] She and her husband both had congregations. After seven years of preaching the gospel at Fay, she and her husband moved to New Liberty (in Beckham County). In the following years she preached in churches in Roosevelt,(Kiowa County) and Elmer,(Jackson County).
Immediately prior to becoming a preacher, she taught school. She was educated at Southwestern State College in Reydon, Gotebo, Port, Foss, and Weatherford.
When she began in the ministry, the Methodist Church was
divided into three groups. "I had to break away from the Methodist Episcopal South because they did not allow women to preach at the time. I changed to the Methodist Protestant where I received my credentials," the preacher explained. Mrs. Keith had no formal training in the ministry although she took "all of the required study courses."
When I left my last congregation, there were three women preachers in the Altus district. The poor district supervisor certainly had his hands full," she laughed.
"I enjoy working with young people more than anything," she
opined. "They are the staff of my life."
One of her most rewarding memories concerns Glen (Red) Miller, basketball coach at Cameron College in Lawton. "Red was just a youngster then," she related. "He was coaching a high school basketball team where I was living. I saw Red across the gymnasium one night at a basketball game, so I went over to talk to him. His boys were all gathered around him, waiting for the game to start. When he saw me he said, "Boys , This is the best teacher I ever had.
She taught me the rewarding life of being a Christian."
"I've had so many rewarding experiences since I began. It would be impossible to remember them all," she exclaimed. "I tell my friends that my job is to preach, teach, marry, and bury," she laughed.
*****************************************
The Secret Wedding
Flora Belle married another Methodist minister in 1950, the Rev. Joseph Fletcher Keith, a widower with seven living adult children and their families. Flora Belle and Brother Keith had known each other since 1912. This was a "surprise wedding". She told her Fay, Oklahoma congregation at the morning service to be sure to come to the evening service because it was going to be special. There would be a guest speaker, refreshments, and surprises. She wanted a really big turnout.
To the surprise of all, the guest speaker was a fellow minister to perform the wedding ceremony for Flora Belle and Brother Keith. Flora Belle had a terrific sense of humor and was delighted to intrigue and shock her congregation. "Now." she said, "I can sleep late on Sunday morning and let Brother Keith get up early.I'll do the evening service."
She did so love a good joke, a good story, and lively conversation. They were in Fay for seven years, then moved to New Liberty, Oklahoma.
Brother Keith died in 1957 and is buried with his first wife, Lillie Virginia (Senn) Keith in Norman, Oklahoma.
****************************************
OBITUARY:
Flora Belle Keith
Services for Mrs. Flora Belle Keith, 75-year-old retired Methodistminister and school teacher , were in the First United Methodist Church of Clinton on Thursday of last week.
Mrs. Keith, who had been living in the Methodist Home in
Clinton died March 15, 1976.
She was a native of Texas , born in Sulphur Springs, and coming to Washita County, Oklahoma as a small child. Both she and her husband, the late Rev. J. F. Keith, were Methodist ministers, Mrs. Keith having originally preached in the Methodist Protestant church.
Among the churches she pastored were those at Roosevelt and
Gotebo in Kiowa County, Chapel Hill east of Clinton, and also Fay, Reydon and Elmer, Oklahoma. She taught school at Cooperton in Kiowa County.
Surviving are her sister, Nell (Nellie Maude Jennings) Beane, of La Habra, California; and a brother, Almer Dee Jennings, Sister-in-law -Mrs. John Howell (Clara Emma Hatchett) Jennings, of 308 North Washington, Hobart. Many nieces and nephews also survive her.
*******************************
