Don was a role model, example, and mentor to me as I grew up in South Bibb County attending Avondale Baptist Church. He helped Rev. E. M. Clapp, the pastor, and for a time lived with his family. He was friends with my sister, Jane, and a number of other young adults at that time, all of which exerted a strong positive influence on me. He was an important part of those world-class Vacation Bible Schools we were privileged to attend back then which often included the talented and winsome Ray and Darlene Brubaker who traveled all over North America preaching, teaching, and performing “Gospel Magic” tricks from the back platform of their Airstream RV. But after a week or two they would leave to go to the next town. Don didn’t leave.He was there Sunday after Sunday, always teaching, preaching, and challenging us to put Christ first in our lives. He presented an example of the Christian life which always resonated with me. When I was in a small class of junior-age boys, being led by Don, he quite practically told us one day that we needed to stretch a little, if possible, and obtain a good leather Bible, not the cheapest one we could find, but one that made a statement about the importance and significance of this unordinary book, and also one that would stand up to all the reading and studying that we, as serious Christians, would need to do. That struck me as a sensible idea, and since then I’ve always had a weakness for beautiful leather Bibles. It wasn’t the binding of the Bible, however, that Don was most interested in or that he talked to us about. He taught us to read it, to memorize it, and to walk in its teachings. When I was a junior and senior in high school, Don allowed me to help with a kids Club he had formed for the kids around High Point Church. The once-a-week after school meetings had a great format and was very well-attended. I remember a large jar of candy which was used in some way to provide rewards for memorizing verses or answering Bible questions. Don would hold it up high above his head so everyone could see it, and it was so colorful as was the whole pageant which unfolded before my eyes. These neighborhood kids were learning, so much about the truths of God’s Word, but also about being loved and cared about. Here was a man who could have been doing anything he wanted to do with this time but who chose to do this, to be here with them, knowing them, talking to them, listening to them, teaching them the ways of the Lord, and taking them seriously. Though there to help and teach, I, too, was learning so much. The Whispering Pines Day Camp started by Don and Pastor Clapp around this time was also a part of this vision that Don had for reaching out to young people and influencing them for Christ. I, too, was very privileged to be a part of this project for a couple of years. I’m sure it was because of the influence of Don and others like him that I chose the Christian College, Tennessee Temple. Before going to College I had taken piano lessons from Don, so I even started out majoring in piano, though Don wisely advised me to move more in the direction of the ministry of the Word.The first night I was back in Macon after my freshman year at Tennessee Temple in Chattanooga, was a Wednesday, so I went to prayer meeting at High Point. Don introduced me to Hazel Bostick, who was being nurtured and discipled by High Point Church. She quickly became the love of my life, and in less than six months we were married by Don after a Sunday morning service at High Point. I will always associate that wonderful gift from God with Don and High Point Church. Though we were not official members of High Point Church, Don continued to minister to us as a pastor in many ways. He has prayed for us, counseled with us, and was there for us through sickness,bereavement , and other problems. I am so privileged to have known him and to have experienced his influence in my life as well as the life of others in my family.He was one of God's wonderful gifts to his Church, and as Philippians 1:3 says, "I thank God upon every remembrance" of him.