THE “MISS DORTHY” MEMORIAL FUND

Name: KENNETH GRIFFITH
Position: PASTOR
Church Name: CHAPELWOOD MBC
City, State, Zip: HUNTSVILLE, TX 77340-6860
Email: THEBIGREV58@AOL.COM
Phone: 936-295-7876
Else:
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Gift of Song
Dedicated to Dorthy Ann Williams Griffith

She married a preacher
A man called by God
Left the comfort of home
To be by his side
He went to TBI
To get his degree
They ate from, and then restocked
The student pantry.

She taught the children
Of 5 churches and 2 missions
And the MBSF students loved
Visiting "Miss Dorthy's" kitchen
Her spirit was heard
Through her voice and her music
God gave her a gift,
And she loved to use it.

Songs like "Jesus loves me"
Sung to children sat on her hips
"I love to tell the story"
Was always on her lips
She sang of Jesus' love
To children, family, and friends
Knowing God, and God alone,
Could wash away their sin.

Dorthy and Kenneth touched our lives,
That is without question
To follow their example
Is a God-sent cherishable lesson
They built a life,
With love and work so strong
One that will live on forever through this.
Her shared gift of song.

Written in Memory of and Dedicated in Love by her family
October 25, 2007

TO: Anyone and everyone who is interested
FROM: Kenneth Griffith and the Girls
SUBJECT: The Memorial Fund for Dorthy Ann Williams Griffith

December 25, 2007 was forty-four months since Dorthy passed away, April 25, 2004. At the time of her death a Memorial Fund was set-up in her memory at First State Bank in Carthage, Texas. The family says, "THANK YOU" to all who have contributed to this fund thus far. After much prayer and discussion concerning the use of this fund, we have decided on something which we think would please Dorthy by bringing glory to her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We have talked to Bro. Ray Brooks and Bro. Steve Butler at Texas Baptist Institute and are excited to announce the planned establishment of a music ministry for those who work with children. The primary emphasis is on music for those who are working in missions and smaller churches where there are only a few children; however, this will include larger groups as well. This letter is our appeal for your help to make this project as great as it possibly can be!!!

TO THE FAMILY:
All of you know how much Dorthy loved music. From childhood until her death, music was the love of her life. She enjoyed listening to many types of music, but hymns and gospel music were her favorite. She was thrilled at the opportunity to sing. In fact, she sung or hummed constantly!!! We did not need a radio or TV to be entertained because she was an ongoing concert. And, if someone else was present, they were encouraged to join with her in singing. Her mission in life seemed to be to get others to acquire and share the gift of song. As a young person she sang with her twin sister, Dora, and an older sister, Trudy; their parents took them all over East Texas to attend singings. Our children and grandchildren grew up singing with her at home, in church, in the car, and so on.

TO THE CHURCHES WHERE I HAVE PASTORED:
On July 31, 1958, I surrendered to preach and was called to pastor a church in August of that year. On June 22, 1959, I married my childhood sweet heart. We had been girlfriend and boyfriend since I was in the fifth grade and she was in the fourth grade. Over these forty-nine plus years, I have only pastored six churches. The primary reason I have been able to stay at each of these churches as long as I have was Dorthy. I have been told frequently that I could leave any time I wanted to, but I had to leave "Miss Dorthy!" The reason for this was her singing and attachment to children. From the time we married, she would take the new born babies of the church and tend to them during Sunday School. Her method of keeping them quite was to sing or hum to them and teach them about Jesus. She was emphatically opposed to a church nursery for children. Parents were encouraged to let their children sit on the bench with her during preaching services. Seldom did she have any problem
with them and even if she did, it was solved without disturbing the services. She often said that she got as much enjoyment out of hearing a child say "Jesus" for the first time and getting them to stand before the church and sing "Jesus Loves Me" as I got out of preaching. All of you know that meant she got a thrill from it!!! In fact, the children are the ones who lovingly gave her the name by which she would be known for the rest of her life and until this day: "MISS DORTHY".

TO THE MBSF'ers:
Miss Dorthy and I started the second MBSF in Texas in 1965-66. This work was one of the most rewarding parts of my ministry. The meetings usually consisted of three parts: (1) I taught a scripture lesson; (2) Miss Dorthy would gather everyone around the piano and we would sing; (3) And then we would fellowship together and enjoy refreshments which usually was something that she had prepared (more often than not this was a full-fledged meal). She opened our home to you and you felt free to come and go as you pleased and at all hours of the day and night. Our home was almost always full of college students. One time Mickey Brooks (the wife of Bro. Ray Brooks) was visiting in our home and she jokingly said, "Dorthy, how do you put up with all these kids constantly coming into your home and raiding the refrigerator, watching TV programs they want to watch and listening to the music of their choice?" Her response was "I enjoy them and want them to feel like our home is their home
away from home." I think she succeeded in that desire!!! There is no counting the number of students (from over one hundred countries) that came into and through our home over our time at TAMU and SHSU. In fact, two of them stayed in our home for more than six months while they were solving problems in their lives.

TO HER MANY FRIENDS:
The epitaph on her headstone reads, "Known by many, loved by them all." She was easy to get to know and it was a pleasure to be in her presence. She loved and enjoyed people! We attended all the local, state and national associational meetings. All of the church revivals in our area, youth rallies, Fifth-Saturday meetings, mission rallies, third-Saturday youth fellowships, summer camps, retreats, and 'eatin-meetins', were anticipated with joy. She knew that she would get to see people she loved. For many years, she would gather up young people from the other churches in our local association and take them to Bogg Springs and Pine Springs with us. We had a sixteen bench seat bus which she would fill to capacity with kids. There were two underpasses, on the way to Bogg Springs, which were thirteen feet high and we would have to ease under them as someone watched to make sure we would not hang the luggage on top of the bus. There were no radios, tape players, etc. allowed - the
ten hour trip (one way) was continuous singing. Those were really good times for her.

TO THOSE WHO DID NOT KNOW "MISS DORTHY":
You missed a blessing. You would have loved her as much as we do. Even though you did not know her, the girls and I invite you to help us do something which would thrill her and glorify her Lord. We pray this project will also help those who have an interest in children's music as a necessary part of the Lord's work.

WHAT ARE WE ASKING YOU TO DO?
Make a donation to the "Miss Dorthy" memorial fund so that a children's music department can be established at TBI. We would like to receive enough money that the interest alone could be used for such things as: books, tuition, instructor fees, supplies, etc. We welcome your desire to give donations - one time, monthly, quarterly, annually, as you can. The initial dedication of this fund to TBI will be some time during the week of April 25, 2008. We ask that you begin praying earnestly for this ministry and monetarily support as you can. All checks should be made to:

The "Miss Dorthy" Memorial Fund
C/o Kenneth Griffith
818 IH 45 S.
Huntsville, Tx 77340-6860

Should you have any questions, please feel free to call me at
936-295-7876
or contact Bro. Ray Brooks or Steve Butler at 903-657-6543