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Solomon, Elosie Meyers (Mrs. Joe)

7/1/1986

September 19, 1930 - July 1986
Born in Winnsboro, Louisiana on September 19, 1930, “Bunchie” Solomon was one of eight sons and daughters in the family of Jesse Hardin Meyers and his wife, Ida Belle Meyers. She attended and graduated from the Crowville High School, and achieved her degree in Education from Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe. An accomplished elementary teacher, Bunchie was married to Joe D. Solomon, a leading salesman for H. Mickel Sporting Goods in Monroe. The two established a happy home in Monroe and produced three children, Jerry Kyle, Pamela Jo and Lori Sue while pursuing their respective responsibilities in employment. The successes of the Solomon family in the personal and economic areas were under girded by their Christian faith and active membership in the Southside Methodist Church. Spiritual growth was experienced under the ministry and guidance of their pastor, the late Dr. Lea Joyner. In 1973, after 28 years in the business world, Joe Solomon answered the call of God and moved into full-time service as a minister. Such a change in mid-life is not lightly made by one called, but the trauma experienced by the spouse must be many times more difficult to accept. Bunchie accepted the call with Joe and made the transition with all of the grace and joy of one wholly committed to Christ and the Church. As a parsonage wife in Kilbourne, Ringgold, Amite and Monroe she was loved and appreciated by parishioners. As a teacher in local schools, a worker in local churches, a wife, mother, a lovely hostess in her home and a friend who had the time and inclination to share joys and trials with all who approached her, her life and ministry as a parsonage wife prompted her husband to say: “Every minister should be blessed with a wife like Bunchie.” Sudden and untimely death claimed Bunchie at the age of 56. Her memorial service was conducted in the sanctuary of the Lea Joyner United Methodist Church in Monroe on July 8, 1986, where she and Joe had served in ministry since the death of the founding pastor, Dr. Lea Joyner. Many questions surface in the wake of a sudden death at a comparatively young age. Why would Bunchie be removed from so great an arena of need and opportunity? How does one justify God in this and similar instances? It was observed in her memorial service that Bunchie would not likely feel any need to justify God, but to praise Him. Her life was a hymn of praise and a prayer of thanksgiving for life itself, for a wondrous world in which to live it, and for the love and joy she had known and shared with her family and friends. She would and would now have us praise God for the gift of the Christ and the hope of immortality in which we shall all be reunited in the presence of the Father forever. It is devoutly hoped that our lives will be our memorial to Bunchie Solomon as we move toward that eternal heritage with her degree of dedication to and fellowship with the Living Lord Christ.
Source: Journal Louisiana Conference 1987, p. 326-327; By Douglas L. McGuire

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