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GEORGE CALVERT; GOSPEL PREACHER He was born on Lincoln´s birthday, February 12, 1912, but he was named George Washington by his parents, Archie and Mattie Calvert, who lived at White Flat, Texas. George was raised on the family farm four miles from Afton. He was converted under the preaching of Alva Johnson and baptized by him when he was about 15 years of age. He began immediately to lead singing and read scripture in the church assemblies in Afton.
When he married Jewell Marie Offield, on his 17th birthday (she was not quite 15) in 1929, they farmed for a short period near Afton, then moved to Spur, where they attended the Steel Hill congregation. Soon they moved to Littlefield and worshipped with the old Ninth Street Church. During the World War II years they moved to Amarillo and worshipped with the West McMasters congregation while working at Pantex.
In 1943, the family (which by this time included Georgia, Dennis and Gene) moved to Lubbock and affiliated with the 17th and N congregation. George operated an auto repair shop for a number of years. In 1945, George was asked by the 17th & N congregation to take the lead in beginning a new church at 4th & D in Lubbock. George was ordained as an elder in this church and in 1951 he was set apart to the gospel ministry. When this church moved to a new location on Memphis Avenue, George continued to serve as elder and preached from time to time.
When the 78th and University Church was established in 1963, George served as its first preaching minister. After six years in this role, he moved to Midland, to serve the Main St. Church there, where he continued for five years. He and Marie then moved to Summer Shade, Kentucky where George continued in full time work until 1977, when he moved to Dallas, giving up the full time ministry but continuing to preach for smaller area churches.
In 1994, George and Marie moved back to Lubbock and associated with the Quaker Avenue Church (the 4th and D/ Memphis Avenue Church at a new location). In poor health the last two years of his life, George was nevertheless an inspiration and encouragement to others. He died in 1996.
This is the bare outline of the life of a gospel preacher and his wife; it does not tell of the many hardships and triumphs. George was a common man´s preacher, not learned by this world´s standards, but rich in the knowledge of the Word. He was always eager to do what he could to further the cause of Christ, to go wherever his Savior called to assist the saints and reclaim sinners. In character, George was open and honest; you never had to wonder where he stood or what he thought. He was never happier than when preaching the good news or assisting people in gospel obedience. He was a great encourager and many were the young Christians who received training and encouragement at his hand. One of George´s greatest assets was his wife. Few men have had more loyal helpers or more steadfast supporters.
Marie has endowed a book fund in George´s memory to help young preachers purchase the study aids they need. She feels this would have pleased George and she knows it will provide blessing to those who, like her husband in his youthful days, have to struggle to secure the books they need.
Written by Tom Langford, Quaker Avenue Church of Christ
Memorial services for George Washington Calvert, 84, of Lubbock, were held to celebrate this faithful servant of the Lord at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 5, 1996 at the Quaker Avenue Church of Christ with Elmore Johnson officiating, and Clark Johnson assisting. Following the memorial services the interment was at 2:30 in the Afton Cemetery, Afton, Texas, under the direction of White Funeral Home of Lubbock.
George Washington Calvert was born in White Flat, Texas in Motley County on February 12, 1912, to the parents of Archie Roe Chellar Calvert, and Mattie Pearl Cain, and passed from this world October 1, 1996 at Saint Mary´s Hospital in Lubbock. George was raised on the family farm near Afton, and was baptized into Christ´s church by Alva Johnson of Turkey, Texas. He married Jewell Marie Offield February 12, 1929, and in the early 1940´s and 50´s owned and operated the George Calvert Garage in Lubbock. He was one of the original families in 1945 which helped to establish the 4th and Avenue D Church of Christ. This congregation later moved to 22nd Street and Memphis Avenue, and then to the present location of 17th and Quaker Avenue.
He was ordained a minister of the Church of Christ by E. E. Cowen and George Hughes in 1951. He served as an elder at 22nd and Memphis. In 1963, he became the full time minister for the newly established 78th and College Avenue church of Christ congregation, and in 1970 was the minister to the N. Main and Parker Avenue Church of Christ in Midland. He also served the Willow Shade Church of Christ in Willow Shade, Kentucky for two years until his retirement as a full time pulpit minister in 1977. He moved to Farmers Branch, Texas and was a member of the Valley View Lane Church of Christ. He continued to preach the gospel of Christ to area congregations until his health began to fail and he moved back to Lubbock in August of 1994.
Survivors include his devoted and beloved wife of 67 years, Marie; his daughter and son-in-law, Georgia and James Biggs of Lubbock; a son, Dennis Lee Calvert and daughter-in-law Patricia Stephenson, of Memphis, TN and a son Alva Gene Calvert, Sr., of Waxahachie, TX; six grandchildren, Ronnie Briggs of Lubbock, Jan Biggs of Mesquite, Tricia Calvert of Memphis, TN, Dee Calvert of Laguna Hill, CA, Gene Calvert, Jr. of Fayetteville, AR, and Jennifer Calvert McCanlies, of Lubbock; 8 great grandchildren, Calvert Brouthers, Chrissy Brouthers, Chase McCanlies, Haleigh Marie McCanlies, Morgan Calvert, Luke Calvert, Kelsey Calvert, Kevin Calvert; and one cousin, Alma (Calvert) Purdy, of Midland.
Pallbearers were Ronnie Biggs, Gene Calvert, Jr, Dee Calvert, Johnny McCanlies, Max Hoover, and Loy Pinkerton.
Memorials may be made to Quaker Avenue Church of Christ, Building Fund and Berean Children´s Home in Albany, MS.
©The Floyd County Hesperian Beacon - Thursday, October 10, 1996, Page 12
Jewell Marie Offield Calvert, of Lubbock departed this life on July 9, 2009 at the age of 95 years. She was born May 31, 1914 to Henry Lee and Lucy Viola (Milliken) Offield in Afton. Marie attended school in Afton and later married George W. Calvert in February 12, 1929 in Afton. Marie and George served various churches from 1951 until George's passing on October 1, 1996. They owned and operated George Calvert Garage in Lubbock where Marie was a bookkeeper. Marie endowed a book fund for the George Calvert Scholarship Fund to assist beginning ministers and teachers. Marie was also an avid Texas Rangers fan.
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Georgia Larie Biggs of Lubbock; son, Dennis Lee Calvert of Memphis, Tenn.; six grandchildren, Ronnie Biggs, Jan Biggs, Trish Ring, Dee Calvert and wife Suzann, Jennifer Sears, Gene Calvert, Jr. and wife Suzanne; 11 great-grandchildren, Truett Calvert, Haleigh McCanlies, Emma Sears, Judd Sears, Morgan Calvert, Luke Calvert, Drew Calvert, Jay Brouthers, Chrissy Brouthers, Kelsey Calvert, and Kevin Calvert; and sister, Eva McCain of Lamesa. Marie is also survived by many friends and young people whom she loved and cherished.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, George; son, Gene Calvert; four brothers and one sister. A formal visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 from 6 to 8 p.m. at White Funeral Home in Lubbock. Burial will be on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 10 a.m. at the Afton Cemetery. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 7 p.m. at the Quaker Ave. Church of Christ with Elmore Johnson, Clark Johnson and David Langford officiating.
The family would like to request memorial donations be made to the George Calvert Scholarship Book Fund c/o Quaker Ave. Church of Christ at 1701 Quaker Ave., Lubbock, TX 79410; or to the Berean Children's Home at P.O. Box 880, Albany, LA 70711.
Arrangements are under the personal care of White Funeral Home in Lubbock.
©Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Monday, July 13, 2009
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