Richard Alfred Wakefield

At sunrise on Monday, Nov. 5, 2007, the Rev. Richard Alfred Wakefield, 90, beloved husband, father, grandfather, missionary, pastor and teacher, went to be with the Lord he loved and served. The Rev. Wakefield was born in London, England, on Jan. 8, 1917. He was educated in British public schools and accepted the Lord as his Savior at age 16. He served in the London Fire Brigade as a Luftwaffe spotter during the London Blitz. After World War II, the Rev. Wakefield traveled to Chicago, Ill., to attend Moody Bible Institute to prepare for his life' s calling of Christian Foreign Missions. The Rev. Wakefield married Virginia Wall on Christmas Eve 1947 and left for missions assignment in Brazil in 1948. Richard and Virginia served as career missionaries to Brazil for 40 years, first with South American Indian Mission and later with Baptist Mid-Missions. On retirement, the Rev. Wakefield taught at Piedmont Baptist College. Teaching God' s word was his great passion. Survivors include wife Virginia; seven children, the Rev. Alfred Wakefield (Ely); Dr. Philip Wakefield (Sherrie); Virginia Hinson (Wayne); Rebecca McKnight (Gene); the Rev. Paul Wakefield (Kathy); John Wakefield (Gloria); and David Wakefield (Blanca); 17 grandchildren; and a host of sons and daughters in the Lord. A celebration of life service will be conducted at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, at Union Grove Baptist Church, with Pastor Ken Harris and Dr. Harold Fletcher officiating. A committal service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, in Union Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Nov. 6, at Davidson Funeral Home, Hickory Tree Chapel, and from 5 to 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, before the service at Union Grove Baptist Church 2295 Union Grove Church Road, Lexington. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Baptist Mid-Missions, P.O. Box 308011, Cleveland, OH 44130-8011, or Union Grove Baptist Church Building Fund, 2295 Union Grove Church Road, Lexington, NC 27295.