Cassels, William Paul
1/1/1988
| A worship service honoring the memory of the Rev. William Paul Cassels was held in the Springhill United Methodist Church, January 23, 1988, 2:00 p.m. with hundreds of people in attendance. They came to pay tribute to the “Bishop of North Louisiana” as he was sometimes affectionately called. Brother Paul was born November 7, 1905, in Gloster, Mississippi. He served 42 years as a Methodist minister, pastoring churches in Webster, Claiborne and Lincoln parishes. When he entered into eternal life on January 21, 1988, he was serving the Whitehall-Colquitt-Evergreen Charge of the Ruston District, Louisiana Conference. How can anyone adequately describe the love of a father, husband and friend? How can words fully summarize a person’s life, especially when that life has ministered to so many? I can remember Brother Paul leading the singing at revivals. He always gave each hymn a little more zest than it called for. Not only did he lead singing with his hands, but also with his feet. He was an effective preacher, frequently using humorous stories to illustrate his point. He had a collection of good anecdotes. Paul Cassels will be remembered as one who loved the simple blessings of life: gardening, sharing vegetables with friends, fishing, visiting among his people, laughing, and telling funny stories. He will be remembered as a man of deep faith, a child of God, a faithful witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of his ministry, hundreds were baptized into the Christian faith. He was a special and unrepeatable combination of wit and wisdom, caring and compassion, grace and friendliness. Brother Paul found a good helper when he married Mary Lowe, or “Molly” as she is called. Paul and Molly became parents of two children, Peggy and Bill. They also have seven grandchildren. I considered it an honor to conduct Brother Paul’s funeral. I was assisted by The Reverend Charles Humphreys, The Reverend Leo Beck, and Brother Cassels’ grandson, The Reverend Dennis Merritt. Reverend Merritt, pastor of the Heflin-Brushwood Charge, closed the service at the Old Shangaloo Cemetery with these timely words for his grandfather: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept faith; Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness...” II Timothy 4:7-8 |
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| Source: Journal Louisiana Conference, 1988, p.185-186……By Henry C. Blount, Jr. | |
