Obituary of Jenny Church

“In Jesus name” she’d whisper. Whether a prayer of healing for the sick, comfort for the bereaved, direction for the perplexed, and/or a prayer for all of us the wisdom to draw closer to Christ - she would end her petitions each time with a soft whisper, “In Jesus name.”  She lived “pray without ceasing”; it was her strength, and now as she is “absent from the body” and “present with the Lord” it’s more: standing before her Lord and Savior, it’s her reward and joy.

Jenny Lynn Faulkenberry Church was born on April 2, 1937 and finished her course on January 26, 2023.  She is preceded in death by her parents: Ira Earnest and Mabel Elizabeth (Odom) Faulkenberry,  her siblings: sisters Velma Alyine Johnson, Lena Mardel Rook, Agnes Loretta Hutson, Hallie Faye Stovall, Bessie May Burnett, Geneva Jo Teel, and brothers Lucius John (Boots) Faulkenberry, Roland Curtis Faulkenberry, and Ira Lee Faulkenberry.   She is now reunited with her husband J.W. Church who passed away on February 11, 1995.  What a joyful reunion!

Jenny was a church secretary for Santa Fe Baptist Church for 50 years, she understood that, that role of service to the pastor and church was a privilege. She served first under the direction of Pastor G.E. Phipps (with his wife, her mentor Lucille) until his retirement from the church. Then, she continued her service as secretary with Pastor H.L. Jayne until his retirement with from Santa Fe Baptist Church.  Her I nnumerable responsibilities included being a part of a printing ministry (from typewriter and/or picture on the light table, to through printing solutions, then to plates strapped onto the press. Then she ran the prints, sorted, folded and mailed the handouts every week - sometimes twice a week). This process evolved over the years as technology changed, and she kept up with these changes. From press to producing bulletins on computer, she generated bulletins, letters, weekly announcements, VBS and missions flyers, invitations, baptismal or progress certificates - whatever documents that were needed. 

Also during those years, Mrs. Church  was a Sunday school teacher, bus ministry worker, choir member, financial secretay, church historian, soul winner and friend. I Corinthians 4:2 states “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” She was a steward in God’s house, in service to His pastors and church; she has taught us all what that means by her example.  What a heritage!

Jenny Church is survived by one sister Elena Wanda Threatt and one brother Chessley Wade Faulkenberry and wife Carolyn, one sister in law Pat Faulkenberry, her children Sherry Lynn Johnson and husband Mitchell, Rusty Church, Twyla Owen and her husband David, grandsons Johnathan Jonson and wife Tara, Joshua Johnson and wife Ann, great grandchildren Izzy and Teddy Johnson as well as a host of nieces and nephews, their children and grandchildren; not to be excluded, her precious church family: the Santa Fe Baptist Church in Weatherford, Texas.