Walding, Lonnie Marsail
6/5/2001
| Rev. Lonnie Marsail Walding was the fourth child of five born to Jesse and Ada Walding in Wilda, Louisiana. He grew up in Hineston, Louisiana, where he was brought up in the local United Methodist Church fellowship. He was known to his friends and family in Louisiana as Mark. Mark married Ona Lee James June 1, 1947. They had six children, Brenda, “Vickie,” “Marty,” “Bennie,” Stanley and Kathie. He worked during his early marriage as an insurance salesman. It was about 1959 that he began his ministry in the Alexandria District (Deville, MacArthur Drive). About 1963 he transferred to the Brookhaven District (Leslie/ White’s Chapel) in the Mississippi Annual Conference. He served there three years, then moved back to the Shreveport District (Hall Summit/Crossroads) in Louisiana, then went to the North Shore District (Springfield/Huff Chapel/Maurepas). He then transferredf back to the Mississippi Annual Conference where he served in the Hattiesburg (Sumrall, Fairfield and Clara/Providence), Brookhaven (Liberty/Whittington), Meridian (Lynville/Melon and Stonewall) and Seashore Districts (Big Point, MS/Robert’s Chapel, AL, Coalville/White Plains, Saucier) until he retired in June 1988 at Lyman/Beulah UMC in the Seashore District. In Mississippi he was known to his friends as Brother Lonnie. Mark and Ona Lee retired back to Otis, Louisiana. During his retirement he preached at some of the churches in the area, Melder, MacArthur Dr., Seiper, Fellowship, and Oak Grove , when he was needed. He loved the Lord and preaching was his life. At the time of his passing Mark left behind a wife of 55 years, six children, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. His funeral and burial was on Monday, July 9, 2001, at Fellowship UMC. He is missed by those who loved him. |
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| Source: Journal Louisiana Conference, 2002 | |
