Champion of Bible Translation Elaine Townsend, Wife of JAARS and Wycliffe Founder, Succumbs to Illness
November 6, 1915–July 14, 2007
For more information, contact:
Arthur Lightbody
JAARS Media Relations Officer
1-704-843-6048
arthur_lightbody@sil.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WAXHAW, N.C. — July 17, 2007 — Elaine Mielke Townsend, 91, the widow of W. Cameron “Cam” Townsend, who co-founded Wycliffe Bible Translators in 1934 and founded JAARS in 1948, passed away July 14 at 7 p.m. in a Rock Hill, S.C. hospital after a brief illness. She had been in weakened health since a February 21, 2006 stroke in her Waxhaw, N.C. home.
Following her husband’s death in 1982, Mrs. Townsend was the selfless keeper of the flame for her late husband’s vision, championing the cause of those who speak minority languages, sharing her beloved husband Cam’s dream of seeing the Bible translated into every language, no matter how small the number of speakers.
A Waxhaw, N.C. resident since 1970, the state of North Carolina awarded her the prestigious “Order of the Long Leaf Pine” in August, 2000 for her local and global community service.
Jim Akovenko, president of JAARS said, “Our JAARS community deeply mourns the loss of Elaine Townsend, corporately and personally. She was such close family to us. For me it was like losing my mother. But we have peace because we know she is with the Lord she served, and that part brings us joy.”
The Townsend family invites the public to celebrate Mrs. Townsend’s promotion to glory at three remembrances.
Visitation will be held 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, July 20, at the Davis Funeral Service, 1003 E. Franklin St., Monroe, N.C.
The graveside burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning, July 21, next to the Museum of the Alphabet, at the JAARS Center in Waxhaw, N.C. A public memorial service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the Townsend Building auditorium, also at the JAARS Center.
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