Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
NameRev. James Lee FLORENCE Sr. 
20,374,3, Leonard David “Buck” Hall Sr.,3, Benjamin “Ben” Michael Florence,470, Rev James L “Buster” Florence, Sr-
20,374,3, Leonard David “Buck” Hall Sr.,3, Benjamin “Ben” Michael Florence,470, Rev James L “Buster” Florence, Sr-BirthFeb 7, 1925, North Carolina20,470, Rev James L “Buster” Florence, Sr-
DeathNov 10, 2011, Alamance County, North Carolina3, The Rev. James L. Florence Sr.,470, Rev James L “Buster” Florence, Sr-
BurialMount Zion Christian Church, 3210 Mt. Zion Church Road, Cedar Grove Twp, Orange County, North Carolina3, The Rev. James L. Florence Sr.,470, Rev James L “Buster” Florence, Sr-,470
FatherJohn Pinnix FLORENCE (1894-1984)
MotherEffie BOSWELL (1896-1992)
Obituary Online notes for Rev. James Lee FLORENCE Sr.
11/12/2011
The Rev. James L. Florence Sr.
On Thursday, Nov. 10 at 4:04 a.m., the Rev. James L. Florence Sr. received the greatest promotion of his life. At that moment he met Jesus Christ face to face.
"Preacher Florence" or "Buster," as many of his friends called him, had been ill for quite some time but continued to preach at Florence Memorial Baptist Church as often as he was able to.
Many who read this may not know the story of this great man, but it began on Feb. 7, 1925. Buster was born to John and Effie Florence and was the second oldest of nine children.
He grew up in the depression era and quickly learned the meaning of hard work. As our country entered World War II, Buster joined the United States Navy and was promptly sent to the Pacific theater. He served aboard the U.S.S. Towaliga and several other smaller transport vessels in the South Pacific. During a routine trip between the mainland and his duty station, the vessel that he was aboard capsized because of a typhoon. Of the 77 men aboard that transport vessel, only 17 survived. As he floated in the ocean awaiting rescue, Buster made a promise to God that if He would only save him, he would change his life and live for God. Buster's rescue came in the form of an aborigine fisherman that pulled him from the ocean and brought him safely to shore.
On March 16, 1946, Buster married his sweetheart, Margaret Hall, and they set out to begin a family. Buster worked as a mechanic to supply for his family during the 1950s, but his entire life changed one Monday evening in 1959. A young preacher named Carl Gibbs had come by the family's home to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. That night Buster was reminded of the promises that he made to God while lost at sea in the Pacific. Buster gave his life to Jesus Christ that night and was miraculously changed forever. From that day forth he became a new man.
Because of the grace that God had shown to him, Buster decided that he needed to serve God as a minister of the gospel. Armed with a heart full of faith and a 6th grade education, Buster took his family to Greenville, South Carolina to Bob Jones University to attend Bible College. With the help of many teachers, and by the grace of God, he earned a Bible degree.
Once the family returned to Mebane he started a church in a small log cabin beside his home and Florence Memorial Baptist Church was started in 1969. For 42 years Buster served as the pastor there and continually preached the good news that God's grace is all sufficient for our every need.
Buster preached his last sermon on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, but his legacy will live on through those that knew him. Some will remember him as a champion for the cause of Christ; some will remember him as a helping hand that gave in their time of need; some will remember him as a loving husband, a gracious father and a wonderful grandfather; but all who knew him loved him.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret; sons, Jim and Bruce; daughter, Melody; brothers, Jack, Willard, Robert and Aubrey; and by his sister, Frances.
Buster was preceded in death by his some, Michael; and by his brothers, Billy, John Henry and Bobby Jo.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the nurses and caregivers from Hospice of Alamance-Caswell.
Visitation will be held at Florence Memorial Baptist Church on Saturday, Nov. 12 from 6 until 8 p.m.
The funeral service will be conducted at Florence Baptist Church on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Carl Gibbs officiating, and a graveside service will follow at Mt. Zion Christian Church.
II Timothy 4:7 says "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
Pastor Florence's body will remain at the McClure Funeral Home in Mebane until taken to the Florence Memorial Baptist Church on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcclurefuneralservice.net
Published in TheTimesNews.com from November 11 to November 12, 2011 3, The Rev. James L. Florence Sr.
The Rev. James L. Florence Sr.
On Thursday, Nov. 10 at 4:04 a.m., the Rev. James L. Florence Sr. received the greatest promotion of his life. At that moment he met Jesus Christ face to face.
"Preacher Florence" or "Buster," as many of his friends called him, had been ill for quite some time but continued to preach at Florence Memorial Baptist Church as often as he was able to.
Many who read this may not know the story of this great man, but it began on Feb. 7, 1925. Buster was born to John and Effie Florence and was the second oldest of nine children.
He grew up in the depression era and quickly learned the meaning of hard work. As our country entered World War II, Buster joined the United States Navy and was promptly sent to the Pacific theater. He served aboard the U.S.S. Towaliga and several other smaller transport vessels in the South Pacific. During a routine trip between the mainland and his duty station, the vessel that he was aboard capsized because of a typhoon. Of the 77 men aboard that transport vessel, only 17 survived. As he floated in the ocean awaiting rescue, Buster made a promise to God that if He would only save him, he would change his life and live for God. Buster's rescue came in the form of an aborigine fisherman that pulled him from the ocean and brought him safely to shore.
On March 16, 1946, Buster married his sweetheart, Margaret Hall, and they set out to begin a family. Buster worked as a mechanic to supply for his family during the 1950s, but his entire life changed one Monday evening in 1959. A young preacher named Carl Gibbs had come by the family's home to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. That night Buster was reminded of the promises that he made to God while lost at sea in the Pacific. Buster gave his life to Jesus Christ that night and was miraculously changed forever. From that day forth he became a new man.
Because of the grace that God had shown to him, Buster decided that he needed to serve God as a minister of the gospel. Armed with a heart full of faith and a 6th grade education, Buster took his family to Greenville, South Carolina to Bob Jones University to attend Bible College. With the help of many teachers, and by the grace of God, he earned a Bible degree.
Once the family returned to Mebane he started a church in a small log cabin beside his home and Florence Memorial Baptist Church was started in 1969. For 42 years Buster served as the pastor there and continually preached the good news that God's grace is all sufficient for our every need.
Buster preached his last sermon on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, but his legacy will live on through those that knew him. Some will remember him as a champion for the cause of Christ; some will remember him as a helping hand that gave in their time of need; some will remember him as a loving husband, a gracious father and a wonderful grandfather; but all who knew him loved him.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret; sons, Jim and Bruce; daughter, Melody; brothers, Jack, Willard, Robert and Aubrey; and by his sister, Frances.
Buster was preceded in death by his some, Michael; and by his brothers, Billy, John Henry and Bobby Jo.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the nurses and caregivers from Hospice of Alamance-Caswell.
Visitation will be held at Florence Memorial Baptist Church on Saturday, Nov. 12 from 6 until 8 p.m.
The funeral service will be conducted at Florence Baptist Church on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Carl Gibbs officiating, and a graveside service will follow at Mt. Zion Christian Church.
II Timothy 4:7 says "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
Pastor Florence's body will remain at the McClure Funeral Home in Mebane until taken to the Florence Memorial Baptist Church on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcclurefuneralservice.net
Published in TheTimesNews.com from November 11 to November 12, 2011 3, The Rev. James L. Florence Sr.