Laypeople honored at celebration

A Laredo woman and a Mission couple were honored as Bishop’s Exemplar Award winners at the district laity celebrations Feb. 18 and 19.
Bishop Joel N. Martinez gives the awards to laypeople selected by each district board of laity “for witness, commitment and service after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Viola Hortense Offerle, First UMC, Laredo, received the 2006 Bishop’s Exemplar Award for the northern portion of the McAllen District.
Lowell and Marla Luce, First UMC, Mission, received the award for the southern part of the district.
Superintendent Kim Cape honored a woman from Kingsville and another from Harlingen for service to the district “above and beyond the call of duty.”
Millie Goode, First UMC, Kings-ville, took home the award in “McNorth.”
Mary Catherine Edwards, Wesley UMC, Harlingen, won the award in “McSouth.”
Laypeople of the year were:
n First UMC, Alice—Kati Downes.
n First UMC, Brownsville—Lecia Chaney, William Turbeville.
n Bruni UMC—David Jones.
n First UMC, Donna—Bob and Donna Brown, Eloise Love.
n First UMC, Edinburg—Ana Verley.
n First UMC, Falfurrias—Betty Long.
n First UMC, Freer—Oris Hard-castle (posthumous).
n First UMC, Harlingen—Charlie Davis, Emma Forrest.
n Wesley UMC, Harlingen—Art Gee.
n First UMC, Hebbronville—Marian Holbein, Angie Martinez.
n Christ UMC, Kingsville—Carl Korges.
n First UMC, Kingsville—Jim Patten.
n First UMC, La Feria—Lloyd Betts, Elise Horkman.
n El Mesias UMC, Laredo—Carlos Martinez.
n First UMC, Laredo—Doris Sparenburg.
n Los Fresnos UMC—Lytle and Janet Kistler, Rosemary Wagner.
n First UMC, Lyford—Jim and Margaret Lucas, Jim Mungerson.
n First UMC, McAllen—Roger and Debbra Stolley.
n St. Mark UMC, McAllen—Jim and Lee Bourg, John Trimble.
n Trinity UMC, McAllen—Bubba Dean, Bill Nicol.
n First UMC, Mercedes—Karen Seiver.
n First UMC, Mission—JoAnn Gibson.
n Pharr UMC—Howard Glover.
n First UMC, Port Isabel—David Helms, Sadie Palmer.
n First UMC, Premont—Tommy Teague.
n First UMC, Raymondville—Brenda Kirman, Gene “Scooter” McGee.
n St. John UMC, Rio Grande City—Jeannie Anderson, Linda Chapa, Jenny Liljegren, Margarita Garza.
n Riviera UMC—Congregation.
n First UMC, San Benito—Dalton Hobbs.
n San Juan UMC—Donna Clark, Jaci Willhite.
n First UMC, Weslaco—Rod and Pam Schwartz, Sandi Sparrow.
n Zapata UMC—Violet Denham.