In Memoriam
Former Outreach Board Chair Dr. Edwin Hurley meeting with Katherine and Dr. Alex Booth last year at their home in Stuart, Florida.
Dr. Alex E. Booth, Jr., trustee emeritus of The Outreach Foundation, died at his home in Stuart, Florida, on Thursday, August 17, 2017, with his loving wife, Katherine, at his side.
When he was a young boy, Alex’s great-grandmother prayed that the Lord would make him a pastor or send him to Africa as a missionary. Dr. Alex Booth would grow up and go to Africa many times, and the impact that Dr. Booth has had through mission work there would astonish his great-grandmother.
In a letter to African church leaders, Dr. Booth wrote, “The first trip I made to Africa was to visit the church that was built with funds left in a small legacy from my great-grandmother. While on this initial trip to Africa, I fell in love with not only Africa, but also its people.”
For many years, Dr. Booth was the primary supporter of the PC(USA)’s Evangelism and Church Growth in Africa program, which built or repaired scores of churches, manses, schools and seminaries in seventeen African countries; trained church leaders in evangelism and special ministries to enable church growth; printed church school and other Christian materials; and supported national evangelists.
This year, the Booth Leadership Initiative (BLI), a ministry of The Outreach Foundation supported by the Booths, will help African partners train church leaders and construct church buildings in ten countries. For several years, the Rev. Steve Bryant has worked with the Booths to shape this work, supporting the expansion of the church in Africa in ways that positively change people’s lives.
Dr. Booth was also a generous supporter of the Huntington Museum of Art (WV), several colleges, and scholarship programs for youths in West Virginia and nursing students in Florida.
A visitation/reception will be held at the Huntington Museum of Art on Friday, August 25, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Artwork contributed to the museum by Dr. Booth will be on display. The museum is located at 2033 McCoy Road, Huntington, West Virginia.
A service of the resurrection will be held on Saturday, August 26, at 11:00 a.m. at the Kenova Presbyterian Church, followed by a graveside service. The church is at 1116 Chestnut Street in Kenova, West Virginia.
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, says the Spirit.
They will rest from their labors, and their deeds follow them.
Revelation 14:13