MARK OSBORNE SR., PAST CONVENTION OFFICER DIES

ORANGEBURG --- Mark Rayburn Osborne Sr., vice president of

the South Carolina Baptist Convention in 1955, died Feb. 1 in

a Columbia hospital after a long illness. He was 76.

Osborne had lived here for the past 20 years, moving to

Orangeburg in 1946 after 25 years as pastor of Ebenezer

Church, Florence. He served churches here until retiring in

1955.

He was a 1917 graduate of Furman University and in 1960

received an honorary degree from that institution.

Survivors include the widow, a daughter and two sons,

both Baptist ministers. They are Mark R. Osborne Jr. of

Columbia and Millard H. Osborne of Camden.

THE BAPTIST COURIER, February 10, 1966.

Page: 3:3

250/B22co

HISTORY OF LITTLE RIVER BAPTIST CHURCH, 1838-1984 (286.175693/H62)

J. CLINGMON CAPPS

J. Clingman (Cling) Capps was a long-time member at Little River. Ile was a deacon of the church and a licensed minister. He often served as moderator or clerk pro tern at church conferences.

A daughter, Mariah Capps, married Marsh Gosnell, remembered as a faithful church member who sang in the choir and as a good citizen. One of Mariah and Marsh's daughters, Grace G. Patterson, is a member at Little River as are grandsons Howard and Bruce Gosnell and Ernest Patterson. Another daughter Ethel Gosnell lives in South Carolina. Their son, the late Vernon Gosnell, was a deacon at Little River.

After the death of his first wife, nee Mary Moore, J. Capps married Mary Mccrary Heath, widow of Charles Heath, daughter Sue Heath Shipman at ninety years of age is the active member of Little River Church.

c . whose

oldest

NORMAN LUNDY PONDER, Sr.

Norman Lundy Ponder married Mary Elizabeth Franklin, a former student Both were natives of Madison County. They had three daughters and a son. Daughter Lillian P. George Merrill is presently a member at Little River as well as a granddaughter, Margaret G. Kilstroo, and her son Eric.

N. L. Ponder served as ·sunday School superintendent and BYPU president at Little River Church. He was called on to to act as clerk and moderator for business sessions, assist in the ordination of deacons.

The Ponders moved to Enon Community and joined Enon Norman L. Ponder died in April 27, 1951, and is buried at Mary F. Ponder died in 1967 and is also buried at Enon.

N. L. served as supply pastor in churches in Transylvania County and pastored Zion in Rosman one sumn1er. He was active. in associational work (serving as historian, as a member of committees, and as clerk from 1937 through 1946).

Educated at Mars Hill College and Wake Forest University), he taught school in Transylvania, Rockingham Counties ..

preach, and to

Church. Enon.

College (now and Yancey,

~ARK RAYBURN OSBORNE, Sr.

Mark R. Osborne was born and reared in Little River. He lived most of his boyhood years in the farnily home on Everett Road (presently owned by Harold and Earlene Merrill Byers). His father, Henry C. Osborne, died when Mark was thirteen years old. His mother, Louise (Lou) Young Gudger from Buncombe County. was a widow with several children when she oarried Henry Osborne.

Mark Osborne was licensed to the ministry by Little River Church January 2, 1909, and ordained by the church April 14, 1912. He was pastor of Ht. Moriah and Zion Churches 1912-1913, East Fork in 1913, and Glady Branch in 1914. He also taught school in Transylvania County.

93

HISTORY OF LITTLE RIVER BAPTIST CHURCH, 1838-1984 (286 .175693/H62)

A graduate of Fruitland, Mark also attended Asheville Farm School (now Warren Wilson College). He graduated from Furman University in 1917 and was, years later after his retireLlent, awarded an honorary D.D. Degree by Furman.

He married Dora Bishop of Cedar Mountain. children. The daughter Mary Louise is deceased. ministers) are Mark, Jr. who lives in Columbia, and Millard of Charleston, South Carolina.

Mark Osborne, Sr .. worked with the Home Mission Board for a while and was associate pastor of Greenville (South Carolina) First Baptist Church for four years. He was pastor of Ebenezer and Lake Swamp Churches in Florence, South Carolina for over twenty years. His last pastorate was at two churches, Ebenezer and Edisto, in Orangeburg County, South Carolina.

Rev. Osborne was in demand as a musician. He was a humorist

and sought after as a speaker. Little River Church minutes of April 11, 1962, record that a

resolution was adopted showing appreciation for Mark Osborne and his wife. Rev. Osborne preached at the evening services. The day marked his fiftieth year in the ministry. Mark Osborne died

January 28, 1966.

They had three The sons (both

South Carolina,

Elmer Adolph Kilstrom

Rev. Elmer A. Kilstrom joined Little River Church in 1944 and was a member until his death in 1966. During this time he served as interim and supply pastor at various churches and, until his retirement, workeJ at Olin. At Little River he preached when the pastor was away, helped with the ordination of deacons, moderated business sessions, and served as interim

pastor on two occasions. P. L. McMahon had resigned December 1,1946, effective

December 29. Elmer Kilstrom consented to do so when contacted " a b o u t f i 11 i n g t he pa s t o r 1 s p 1 a c e u n t i 1 '~ e s e c u r e an o t h e r . " An interesting note in the minutes of January 5, 1947, is no preaching Sunday morning; Sunday evening sermon by Rev. Kilstrom." (Does anyone remember if the reason for no sermon on that winter morning was due to the dawn of an icy Sunday or a brief snowstorm?) F. M. Barnes pastored the church May 1947, through June 1952, with, upon the leaving of Rev. Barnes, "Rev. E. A. Kilstrom filling the pulpit until a new preacher uas secured." (John T. Neal was called as pastor July 23, 1952.)

Elmer Kilstrom was born in Chicago, Illinois; graduiated from Moody Bible Institute (Chicago); and was a Congregationalist evangelist. He met his wife, nee Reba Orr, of Henderson County, when he was preaching and she playing the piano for revival services at the schoolhouse in the Pink Beds (now part of Pisgah National Forest). They were married in Chicago and lived in Chicago andd Detroit before moving to Henderson County, after the births of their first two children, Grace K. Grubb and Fred Earl Kilstrom. In Chicago and Detroit, Elmer worked for Harry Holland, a chemical broker. Harry and Katherine Holland remained close friends of the Kilstroms and visted them in North Carolina.

94

HISTORY OF LITTLE RIVER BAPTIST CHURCH, 1838-1984 (286.175693/H62)

Adam J. Corn Preached often at Little River

Vernon Gosnell (1909-1981)

Deacon, served in many church office7

Joe Sanders Pastors in Hawaii

126

Louise A. Henderson Missionary to India for several years

Mike McGee Ordained at Little River

Joe Pressley Ordained at Little River

Howell Medford (1908-1982)

Deacon, Sunday School teacher, active member

Mark Osborne Ordained at Little River

Tim Kilstrom Pastors in Louisiana