Weldon, Robert L.
12/17/1940
August 28, 1876 - December 17, 1940 |
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| Robert Lemon Weldon was born August 28, 1876, at Anacoco, Louisiana. He was the son of a Baptist minister, Rev. Abraham Jackson Weldon, and Frances Marion Rayburn Weldon. He passed to his eternal home December 17, 1940, in the parsonage at Welsh, where he was pastor, surrounded by his family and friends. Funeral services were attended by many friends and others from Louisiana and Texas. Rev. B. H. Andrews, District Superintendent of Lake Charles District, was in charge. Rev. Don Harwell of New Orleans delivered the sermon. He was laid to rest in the Welsh cemetery with Masonic ceremonies. He spent his early life in Vernon Parish and attended public school near Leesville. Later be graduated from a business college in Galveston, Texas. In 1902 he entered a ministerial college at Greenville, Texas. After finishing his work at Greenville, he became a preacher on trial in the Gulf Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Within five years he completed the courses of study and was ordained Elder by Bishop Thomas B. Neely, during Annual Conference at Welsh, in 1910. As an itinerant preacher he covered the full scope of his calling. Beginning with a small appointment at Raymond, La., he advanced rapidly and was soon recognized as a leader in the councils of the Conference. Among the appointments he served are First Church, Marshall, Texas; Crowley, Welsh, DeQuincy, Eighth Street, New Orleans, and he served as District Superintendent of the Houston District, trustee of Port Arthur College and Southwestern University of Texas. He was a member of the General Conference in 1936 that was the last General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, prior to unification. He was married January 6, 1901, to Miss Elizabeth Walker, at the Walker home near Lake Arthur. The bride’s father being a Methodist preacher officiated. They were blessed with four children; two died in childhood. He is survived by his wife, two married daughters and two grandchildren. To this writer he was well known. Throughout his entire ministry it was our privilege to be associated with him. He was of evangelistic temperament and conducted revival meetings in a number of states. As a pastor he had few equals. His faithful genius made him a good soldier of Jesus Christ. He fought in a good fight and finished his course in keeping with the dignity of his calling. We are lonesome for his fellowship. A voice is missing and it seems odd to be without him, but braced by the doctrine of immortality, thrilled with the promises in God’s Book, we hope to meet this familiar friend again. |
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| Source: Journal of the Louisiana Conference of the Methodist Church, Pages 88-89, 1941 by Russell T. Pynes. | |
