A Tribute to the Banner Ministry 1992-2024

In 1994, two special ladies in our church, Maye Gentry and Laura Studstill, began a beautiful tradition with the creation of banners for All Saints Sunday. These banners, each a piece of art and history, honored the lives of our beloved members who had passed away, providing comfort to their families. For 30 years, these banners were a visible expression of love and remembrance in our church.

Eight years ago, Miss Maye and Miss Laura retired from the ministry they had so lovingly nurtured, and we were asked to continue the tradition. We had helped on occasion over the years, and they trusted us to continue their work. At that time, we agreed with the unspoken understanding that we would continue this ministry until both ladies were rightfully honored with their own banners.

Sadly, Miss Laura passed away in 2022, and Miss Maye followed in 2024. Their absence has been deeply felt by all who knew them and by those whose lives they touched through this ministry. Each banner, measuring 4 feet by 6 feet, requires many hours of work. The process begins with conceptualizing the design, which is often influenced by the number of names to be included. Materials are purchased, and then the creation begins. The banners are sewn together, and names, verses, and pictures are cut—some by hand, some by machine. Within two weeks of All Saints Sunday, the newest banner is measured, assembled, and hung in the sanctuary, alongside the older banners, which are carefully brought out of storage, refreshed, and displayed once again. In recent years, however, we have encountered two challenges: the growing number of banners has made it difficult to find enough space in the sanctuary to display them all, and the size of the banners has made storage increasingly difficult. After much prayerful consideration, we have decided that the time has come to bring this particular ministry to a close and begin a new tradition for All Saints Sunday.

The banners have been carefully photographed and are now available for viewing on our website, so that the history and love they represent can continue to be shared. We will always honor our dearly departed members on All Saints Sunday, but this ministry—created with so much love by Miss Maye and Miss Laura—will now live on in the memories of those who have been touched by it. We are deeply grateful to Miss Maye and Miss Laura for their tireless devotion and the beauty they brought to our church through this ministry. It has been an honor for us to be a small part of their legacy.

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Laurie Obert-Thorn and Kara Turk