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21APRIL 2016BODY OF CHRIST NEWS OBITUARIES Wilbur Theodore Billingsley died peacefully in Denver Colorado on March 11th 2016 at the age of 83. Wilbur begin his earthly jour- ney on August 25 1932 in Omaha Nebraska born to Wayman and Daisy Billingsley. He was one of seven siblings and started playing piano before he started elementary school. He loved playing music and could play most any instrument. While on his paper route as a young boy customers would regularly ask him to come in and play piano. Wilburs mother Daisy would often be upset when he didnt return home after completing his paper route. Wilbur left home at an early with just his clothes on his back. He trav- eled and lived in Chicago Milwaukee Salt Lake City and Cleveland. He made his living as a professional musician enjoying playing piano in all those cities mention. He loved to travel and to make others happy with his music. Wilbur married Betty J. Billingsley in Omaha and they were blessed with ten children five boys and five girls. He later worked at the hospital with his brother Big Jim then moved to Denver in 1954. At that time he established a five piece band in Denver called Wee Willie The Richmonds. He was proud they could play all the newest jukebox hits. He often said they practiced six hours each day to make sure the music was exactly like to original. Soon after Wilbur relocated to Denver he became a born again Christian. He loved the Lord with all of his heart. He taught his children how to pray and encouraged them to always live a life pleasing to God. He was devoted to early morning prayer and inspired to begin his ministry. Deliverance Revival Crusades where he traveled the United States preach- ing the gospel. He received an honor- ary doctorate degree at Aspen Bible College. His focus was to witness and to share the love of Christ. Ordained as a Prophet he spoke hope healing and salvation into the lives of many people around the world. Wibur loved dressing up and always looking nice. He loved his family and had a great sense of humor. Wilbur was fond of giving personalized nick-names to all of his kids some of which are still carried today. Wilbur Billingsley Wilbur Theodore Billingsley August 25 1932 March 11 2016 God called Robert Earl Allen Jr. from labor to reward he unex- pectedly passed away at his home on February 23 2016. In Colorado Springs CO.. He was born into the union of Robert Earl Allen Sr. and Annie Jewell Allen in Junction City Kansas. He attended Fountain Fort Carson High School in Fountain CO. He served in the United States. Army. He was employed at the Air Force Academy for many years. He spent his early years in Lawton Oklahoma. He was a longtime Colorado resident. Robert enjoyed fishing and spend- ing time with his sister and family. He was an avid bowler. From the age of 12. He bowled on a league every Saturday. Robert was a young man with an old soul states his sister Carolyn Johnson. Robert was preceded in death by both parents and his older brother Ronald Mason. Robert is survived by his daughter Latoyra Edwards brother Richard Allen sister Carolyn Joseph Johnson and two Grand Children Chauntinique Monroe and Nyana Ross. Four nieces Trenesha Armarh Ashietey Tametra Kenneth Copeland and Latasha Christopher Jessie Lawton OK. Two Great Nieces Jada Zaria. Five Great Nephews Cameron Jalen Kelson Quinton and Xavier. Also survived by a host of other relatives and friends. He will be miss but never forgotten. Rober Earl Allen Jr. Robert Earl Allen Jr. Sept 26 1963 Feb 23 2016 Marlene Pauletra Dickey passed away peacefully on March 15 2016 after a long illness. She was surrounded by her family. Marlene Pauletra Blake was born September 13 1939 in Memphis Tennessee to Simon and Geraldine Lyghts. The family later moved to San Diego California where Marlene accepted Christ at the age of seven and was baptized in Bethel Baptist Church. The family relocated to Oxnard California where she met and mar- ried the love of her life George Earl Dickey while he was stationed at Oxnard Air Force Base. Marlene and George - or Dickey as she always called him - were married June 8 1958 at St. Paul Baptist Church in Oxnard. As a military wife Marlene travelled to France and other parts of Europe spent three years in Michigan and settled with her family in Colorado Springs in 1969. She always loved children and discovered her passion and talent in working with them. She began a 27-year career at John Adams Elementary School where she worked her way from a volunteer to a Para-Professional and eventually was appointed Head Secretary. It seemed as if Marlene couldnt go anywhere in Colorado Springs with- out running into a young person who fondly remembered Mrs. Dickey or Miss Marlene from their days at John Adams. She was so loved at John Adams that when she retired the Marlene Dickey Nature Park was established on the school grounds. God and church fellowship were always an important part of her life. She became a member of Friendship Baptist Church in 1969 and served her church family as a Deaconess and also as Announcement Clerk for over 30 years. Marlene was also a member of the Senior Mission and loved to sing. She sang in the Angelic Choir the Mission Choir and served on numerous committees until her health failed. Even though she could not attend church as she used to she still continued designing and making corsages for all special church events. She learned this skill from her mother she loved making corsages and was incred- ibly talented. She was a strong and courageous woman in faith spirit heart and mind. She battled bravely through kidney failure and dialysis for almost 11 years. Marlene Pauletra Dickey is pre- ceded in death by her son Reginald Lee Dickey her mother Geraldine Sylvia Lyghts and her father Simon Lee Lyghts. She is survived by her husband George Earl Dickey her daughter Rochelle Tynette Mason and only grandchild Donovan Lee Dickey-Banmally. She also leaves to celebrate her life her sister Claudette Marie McFarlane Noel niece Jeanya Jenee Young nephews Eugene Hester Rachel Gerald Lee Hester brothers-in-law several other nieces nephews and a host of relatives and special friends. Visitation and services were held on Friday March 18 2016 at Friendship Baptist Church 633 E. Dale St. in Colorado Springs. Marlene Dickey Marlene Dickey September 13 1939 March 15 2016 Denominational events mission trips and so forth and 2. Develop guidelines and train- ing processes for use by church leaders who carry responsibility for prevention of child abuse in local churches. Both sets of poli- cies can be developed by a task force appointed by the cabinet in cooperation with appropri- ate Denominational agencies. These policies shall be approved by the annual conference and assigned to a conference agency for implementation. It is suggest- ed that the policies be circulated in Denominational publications and shared with lay profession- als and clergy at official semi- nars. A growing body of clinical experience and research reveals that domestic violence and child abuse occur in the same families and are highly associ- ated with similar social and economic risk factors. Data also show that chil- dren growing up in violent families are more likely to engage in youth violence. Furthermore the social and economic risk factors for youth vio- lence correspond to the risk factors for domestic violence and child abuse. Given these findings an effective strat- egy to combat child abuse domestic violence and youth violence would be a collaborative community-based pre- ventionearly intervention effort that aims to reduce the social and eco- nomic risk factors for at-risk families. Family Violence Prevention Fund April was first declared Child Abuse Prevention Month by presidential proc- lamation in 1983. Since then April has been a time to acknowledge the importance of families and communi- ties working together to prevent child abuse. ESCAPE Everyone Sharing Child Abuse Prevention Education was birthed 26 years ago in my heart to bring this awareness to communi- ties that historically failed to acknowl- edge child abuse as a problem. The Body of Christ is welcomed to support partner with these ongoing projects. Our vision for 2016 is to recog- nize and highlight this tragic issue through the Arts. Art therapy is a visual and sensory modality that can help access traumatic material stored in implicit memory a sensory body- based form of memory that is not the same as conscious narrative memory. httpwww.arttherapyblog.com. We CHILD ABUSE ... continued from page 7 Continued on Page 23