"A HISTORY OF THE DAVIESS-McLEAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION IN KENTUCKY, 
1844-1943" by Wendell H. Rone.  Probably published in 1944 by 
Messenger Job Printing Co., Inc., Owensboro, Kentucky, pp. 445-447.
Used by permission.  [McLean]

DEACON BERNICE J. COKE:  B. J. Coke was an outstanding lay evangelist 
in the Daviess-McLean Baptist Association for several years.  He was 
born at Livia, McLean County, Kentucky, on January 7, 1878, and was 
the son of John T. and Alice Howell Coke.  He attended the common 
schools at Livia and at Island, in McLean County.
	He was converted at the age of fourteen and was baptized into 
the fellowship of the Island Baptist Church by Rev. L. P. Drake, 
being the first person to be baptized by this brother.  In the years 
1924-1931 he served as the clerk of the Church.  For several years he 
served in the office of deacon and as Moderator of the Church.  He 
taught the Men's Bible Class for a considerable length of time and 
saw the class outgrow its class room to such an extent that it began 
to meet in the theater in the town of Island.  A picture of this large 
class is included in the history.
	Brother Coke served as a faithful lay evangelist for several 
years and conducted a number of successful revival meetings in this 
territory.  He was instrumental in the year 1931 in leading over 600 
persons to an acknowledgment of Christ as Saviour.  As far as is 
known he is the first and only lay evangelist to labor within the 
bounds of this Association.  Men in other Churches have been 
outstanding as soul winners but have never gone to other Churches and 
communities and preached.
	Our subject was united in marriage to Miss Susan Drake in the 
year 1897.  Two sons and three daughters blessed this union She died 
in the year 1927 and Brother Coke married Miss Eunice Coke in 1928.  
There were no children born to the second union.  He died on June 25.  
1939, and was laid to rest in the Island Cemetery.
	For a number of years he followed the occupations of farming 
and working in a hardware store.  For twenty-six years he was a 
partner with Mr. H. K. Kirtley in the lumber business.  We conclude 
our sketch of this oustanding [sic] laymen [sic] and deacon by giving 
a poem which he carried in his Bible and often quoted.  It is as 
follows:
"Carve your name high over shifting sand,
Where the steadfast rocks defy decay, 
All you can hold in your cold dead hand
Is what you have given away.

Build your pyramid skyward and stand,
Gazed at by millions, cultured they say,
All you can hold in your cold dead hand
Is what you have given away.

Count your wide conquests of sea and land,
Heap up the gold, and hoard as you may,
All you can hold in your cold dead hand
Is what you have given away."
Anonymous.

Coke Howell Drake Kirtley
=
None


http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/mclean/coke.bj.txt