Lahey, Charles William
8/14/1947
January 28, 1884 - August 14, 1947 |
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| Charles William Lahey was born in Indiana, January 28, 1884, and went to his Heavenly home from Texarkana, Texas, August 14, 1947; thus ending an earthly life of more than sixty-three years. On January the 9, 1906, he was united in marriage to Miss Grace Parris; to which union were born four children, three of whom with his wife, survive. His only son, Roger, after graduating from Centenary College; receiving his degree from S.M.U. in preparation for the ministry and, after serving two years as pastor at Oakdale, La., was called to his reward above, thus preceding his father by eight years, to the Mansions on high. The surviving children are: Mrs. A. C. Hodnett, Colfax, La.; Mrs. E. D. Anderaon of Texarkana, Texas, and Mrs. L. C. Strahan of Homer, La. He also leaves eight grandchildren, and two brothers, Henry Lahey of Indiana and Harold Lahey of Ohio. At the early age of twelve, Brother Lahey was converted and be united with the Methodist Church, and while yet in young man-hood was licensed to preach. He remained in the local ranks ten years—most of this time serving charges as a local supply pastor. His first appointment in the Louisiana Conference was at Melville, where he served four years before entering the Conference and three years after being admitted on trial at Crowley, La., November, 1924. In 1921, in Alexandria, La., he was elected and ordained dea-con by Bishop W. F. McMurry. In 1928, at Homer, La., where he peacefully rests until the resurrection morning, he was admitted into full connection into the Louisiana Conference, and at Lafayette, La., 1929, he was elected to elder’s orders, and ordained by Bishop Warren A. Candler. Altogether, Brother Lahey served nineteen years as a member of the Louisiana Conference, and his years of service as a local preacher, and the years of superannuation, constituted his life as a ministerial servant of the Master. Among the pastorates he served were Melville, Colfax, Oil City, Merryville, Donaldsonville, Boyce and Grayson. At some of these places he remained four, five and seven years, and he always did constructive work. He invariably left charges better than he found them. Brother Lahey was a true, faithful servant of the Lord. He was a good and effective preacher, and a loving, sympathetic pastor. He had the real “Shepherd Heart.” He loved his people, and they loved him. He always took a firm stand against every form of evil. He was decidedly pronounced in his convictions. He believed in, and preached, “the old time, religion.” He was a “soul-winner,” and many will rise up in “that day” and call him “BLESSED”. His last pastorate was Grayson, La., where his health failed, and it became necessary for him to take the superannuate relation. He first made his borne in Colfax, where it was my privilege to be his pastor. Although in constant declining health he was always present at the worship services, and at Sunday School. Leaving Colfax, he, for a while, made his home in Homer, then in Texarkana. Rev. Carl Lueg, and writer, conducted the services in the beautiful chapel, in the presence of the bereaved loved ones, and many sorrowing friends, some from Colfax where he had been their beloved pastor twenty years ago. His remains were tenderly placed in the new made tomb, to rest until the Master, on that resurrection morning shall say: “come forth.” His days are o’er, real life begun, A blissful abode beyond the sun, Earthly life ended, his race is run, The battles are fought, the victory won. Yes, He’s gone, shall we say: “He’s dead”? Nay, we’ll remember what Jesus said: “The Resurrection and the Life am I, He that believeth in me shall never die.” Thou shalt forever live with Him on high, We will meet thee in the “Sweet By-and-By.” |
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| Source: Journal of the Louisiana Conference of the Methodist Church, Pages 108-109, 1947 by J. M. Alford. | |
