Obituaries

Mervin H. Watford died March 7 in his home in Americus. He was 79.

Born in Columbus, Watford served with the Army during World War II. He attended Georgetown College in Kentucky, and graduated from Columbus College in Columbus.

Watford served as a Southern Baptist pastor for 40 years in churches in Kentucky, Alabama, and Georgia, with most of those years in Georgia. He pastored in Columbus at Northside Baptist Church, Britt David Baptist Church, and North Columbus Baptist Church. In addition, he also pastored Tharpe Memorial Baptist Church and Chamlee Memorial Baptist Church in Fort Valley. Watford retired from active ministry in December 1989.

Survivors include his wife, Doris Holbrook Watford; a daughter, Lettie J. Watford of Americus; a son John M. Watford of Americus; and three grandchildren.

Phillips “Ky” Keopinsavang, the first and only pastor of the Laotian mission at First Baptist Church of Jonesboro, died June 24 from liver cancer. A native of Laos, he had served in his position for 22 years. At the time of his death, he was the longest active-serving member of the First Jonesboro staff. He is survived by his wife, Chanthachone, and sons Joseph and James.

Mary McEachern, longtime benefactor of Crossview Baptist Church, died at her home in Lilburn on June 29. She was 100.

A retired teacher from Bethesda Elementary School in Lawrenceville and Gwinnett County’s Central High School, she was a member of the Lilburn church who became known for her giving to missions and ministries.

Approximately 50 years ago, McEachern and her husband, John Otis, spent their life savings to buy 1,000 shares of Pepsi-Cola stock. The investment would result in her becoming a millionaire.

McEachern went on to divide more than $700,000 between the Georgia Baptist Foundation and the church to retire debt and create an escrow account.

John Bloye, pastor of care at West Ridge Church in Paulding County, died June 25 in a rafting accident on the Nantahala River in Bryson City, N.C. He was 59.

A native of Michigan, Bloye sold a successful business after receiving Christ in 1976 to pursue a Bible degree at Arlington Baptist College in Texas. After serving churches in Florida and Michigan, he moved to Hiram to serve on staff with his son, Brian, at West Ridge Church.

Just more than a week before his death, Bloye collaborated with his son on Father’s day in delivering his final sermon. The message was titled “A Father’s Blessing.”

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Time to Build Fund, West Ridge Church, 1817 Hiram-Douglasville Highway, Suite 104, Hiram, 30141.

Bloye is survived by his wife of 40 years, Judy; sons Brian and Jonathan of Hiram and Kevin of Dallas; a brother, Frederick Bloye of Mt. Morris, Mich.; sisters Donna Tinder of Waterford, Mich. and Linda MacKay of Novi, Mich. and four grandchildren.