news-record.com

There's a saying: "When God opens a door, he not only opens the door, he
helps us through the door — if we are ready to follow his lead in our
lives."

Helen and Roy Thornberry have laid their talents at God's feet, and amazing
things have happened throughout their 67 years of marriage. Many friends and
relatives gathered recently for a special tribute to Helen Thornberry at her
surprise 86th birthday celebration, given by members of Rankin Baptist Church.

Roy Thornberry was honored for his years of devoted service to the church and
also serving as a missionary and Navy chaplain.

Church member Natalie Barber's tribute was moving. She described their life
in a devotional. She said the Thornberry family has made an indelible mark upon
her walk with Christ.

From the moment Helen and Roy Thornberry met, more than 80 years ago, it
seemed they were meant for each other. She was 6 and he was 7, and they lived
across the street from each other. From then on, they were sweethearts.

They were married in 1941 by Roy's brother-in-law, the Rev. Charles
Cross.

Eventually, they would touch and transform the lives of thousands of people
throughout the United States and Southeast Asia.

Born in 1922, Helen Thornberry was the daughter of Nellie Jane and Samuel
Alvis of Greensboro. Samuel Alvis had an auto-repair shop at Lees Chapel and
Pisgah Church roads and another one at his home on Church Street.

Amazingly, for 80 years, Alvis coached Pony League softball in Greensboro. At
the age of 98, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Hagerstown, Md., the
Thornberry family said.

Before he died at age 101, he donated some of his sports memorabilia to the
Greensboro Historical Museum.

Roy Thornberry entered the Army Air Corp in 1942 and served during World War
II.

Helen Thornberry's daughter, Chris Roe, said her mother learned many things
during the war years. "She had never written a check, balanced a check book or
run a house with children to care for by herself," Roe said. "But with God's
help, she was able to do a lot of things she had never done before." After the
war, the Thornberrys returned to Greensboro. Roy Thornberry worked for the
Greensboro Fire Department for a while, but he responded to a call to the
ministry.

After graduating from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Thornberry
entered the Navy Chaplain Corps in 1956 and achieved the rank of captain.

Helen Thornberry followed her husband from Greensboro to California and said
goodbye to him many times as he shipped out, leaving Helen to busy herself
raising their children.

There were challenges. Their first child died; their son, Richard, was born
deaf; and in later years, their daughter, Chris Roe, was diagnosed with multiple
sclerosis at age 38.

Roe said her mother has great compassion and love for others in facing life's
challenges.

"She prays daily for many concerns and feels God will answer the prayers of
others, just as he has answered many prayers for her and our family," Roe said.

In the Navy, Roy Thornberry served in DaNang, Vietnam, aboard the USS
Cleveland in 1971 and again with the Marines in DaNang in 1972.

During this time, Helen Thornberry was a member of the Chaplain Wives
Organization. Her role was to look after wives whose husbands were at sea. Many
women needed her comfort when they felt lonely and sad with their husbands far
away.

The Thornberrys returned to Greensboro after his retirement from the Navy in
1973, and he became the pastor at Rankin Baptist Church.

Helen Thornberry was a Sunday School teacher, Girls' Auxiliary teacher and
flower arranger. She made so many contributions to Rankin that a Woman's
Missionary Union circle was named in her honor in 1987. It is still active.

Later, the Thornberrys went to Okinawa, Japan, to serve as missionaries
through the International Mission Board. Approved by the Japanese government,
they served twice at the same church between 1979 and 1986.

While in Japan, Helen Thornberry prayed for God to give her a specific
ministry. A Japanese Christian told her, "I am a baby Christian. Will you help
me to grow?" Thornberry learned that this woman's family had disowned her
because of her faith.

She began to teach the woman and other Japanese women how to speak English
and to do many other things they had never done before. As they studied the
Bible and prayed together, Helen Thornberry used her faith to help many Japanese
women.

"I have always considered Roy and Helen my Billy and Ruth Graham," church
member Clara Holt said. "I don't know anyone who doesn't love this special
couple. I feel very humble in their presence."

"It's been a major difference in my life to have two parents that everyone
wishes were their parents," Roe said.

To nominate a person who has made a difference in the lives of others in
Guilford County, contact Peggy Longmire at 288-9040 or send e-mail to rlongmire@triad.rr.com.