Rev. L. Junior Elam (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Rev. Leaford Junior Elam, son of Pink and Bertha E. Chastain Elam, was born September 2, 1932, in Lebanon, Missouri. He departed this life Wednesday, November 19, 2014, in his home, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of eighty-two years, two months, and seventeen days.
On February 24, 1952, he was united in marriage to Rosalie R. Wright, and they shared the last sixty-two years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Jarrell Elam; and two sisters, Phyllis Elam, and Joyce Weaver Dalton.
Junior is survived by his loving wife, Rosalie, of the home; a sister, Jan Miller, and her husband, Dean, of Sandwich, Massachusetts; a brother-in-law, Jack Dalton, of Plano, Texas; a sister-in-law, Virginia Watson, and her husband, Billy Joe, of Camarillo, California; several nieces and nephews; and Jim Elam, who was raised by Junior and Rosalie, and his wife, Gail, and their son, Andrew, of Yucaipa, California; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends.
He was born and raised in the Lebanon area, and graduated from Lebanon High School in the Class of 1950. He then served his country faithfully in the United States Air Force for four years, and was in the Air Force Reserves for four more years. During his time in the military, he was an air traffic control instructor. Once he was honorably discharged from the Air Force, he and Rosalie made their home in California, and Junior worked as a professional decorator for thirty years. He then entered into the ministry and served several Baptist churches in California, then in Webb City, Missouri, and Lebanon. He was the Pastor of Antioch Baptist Church at Oakland for several years, and then served the Second Baptist Church in Lebanon for a number of years.
Junior was raised in the Assemblies of God faith and then became Baptist when he entered the ministry. He was a member of Second Baptist Church in Lebanon. Through the years in the ministry, he had received many notes of appreciation and was grateful for each one. He was always willing to help those less fortunate and was on a prayer chain with Dr. Charles Stanley and Adrian Rogers. He received word from them every Monday.
In his spare time he greatly enjoyed fishing, and liked collecting model cars. He had a pastor’s heart, and liked to preach and sing. His family was very dear to him and he especially enjoyed times with his brother, sisters and his nieces and nephews.
Junior was a loving husband, brother, uncle, and was a kind and caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and know that he will be fondly remembered as a devoted family man, a loving and dedicated pastor, and a good friend to many. He will be greatly missed.
Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation, and left at the funeral home.
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