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Apr 17, 2013

Billy Graham and Me Part 2 ~ George Beverly Shea ~ Now in the Presence of GOD



George Beverly Shea, Long-Time Billy Graham Associate, Dies at 104
Beloved Gospel Singer Teamed with Evangelist for More than 60 Years


George Beverly Shea singing at
a Billy Graham Crusade














By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries 

ASSIST News Service (ANS) - 
PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit web site at: www.assistnews.net

E-mail: assistnews@aol.com

George Beverly Shea, 104, of Montreat, North Carolina, the beloved soloist of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), died this evening (Tuesday, April 16, 2013) following a brief illness.

Since George Beverly Shea first sang for Graham in 1943 on the Chicago radio hymn program, “Songs in the Night,” Shea has faithfully carried the Gospel in song to every continent and every state in the Union. Graham’s senior by ten years, Shea devotedly preceded the evangelist in song in nearly every Crusade over the span of more than one-half century.


Cliff Barrows, Billy Graham and George Beverly Shea singing together














According to a news release, Shea was the recipient of ten Grammy nominations, a Grammy Award in 1965, and was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Grammy organization in 2011. He was also a member of the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame (1978), and was inducted into the Religious Broadcasting Hall of Fame in February 1996. Shea was also inducted into the inaugural class of the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists’ “Hall of Faith” in 2008. 


“I first met Bev Shea while in Chicago when he was on Moody Radio,” said Billy Graham. “As a young man starting my ministry, I asked Bev if he would join me. He said yes and for over 60 years we had the privilege of ministering together across the country and around the world. Bev was one of the most humble, gracious men I have ever known and one of my closest friends. I loved him as a brother. My prayer for his wife, Karlene, and his children, Ron and Elaine, is that God will strengthen them during this time.” 

George Beverly Shea with his wife, Karlene














Born in Winchester, Ontario, Canada, where his father was a Wesleyan Methodist minister, Shea’s first public singing was in the choir of his father’s church. Between Crusade, radio, and television dates in many countries, he sang at hundreds of concerts and recorded more than 70 albums of sacred music. At age 23 he composed the music to one of his best known solos, “I’d Rather Have Jesus.” 

“Even though Bev was 10 years older than my father, he never acted his age,” said Franklin Graham. “He was absolute fun to be with. Bev was one of the most gracious and unassuming men I have known. He was always encouraging and supportive, a man of deep faith and strong commitment to Jesus Christ.” 

Shea is survived by his wife, Karlene, and his children from his first marriage, Ronald and Elaine. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Erma, who died in 1976.
Ron, born in 1948 in Chicago, graduated from Trinity International University in Deerfield, Ill., in 1971. For more than 30 years, Ron has been an associate in Crusade ministry through the BGEA, assisting in preparatory work for evangelistic crusades involving Mr. Graham and more recently for Franklin Graham’s ministry. He is married to the former Cathy Ford. 

Details on the funeral service for Shea will be forthcoming. 

Visit www.billygraham.org  for additional information.  

If you would like to hear Dan's most recent radio interview with Bev Shea on Front Page Radio... please click here  

Thanks Dan for permission to republish this write up...and the mp3 radio interview. Precious to hear his voice again...and again.

posted by patrina


 


7 comments:

  1. Celebration of life to me! 104! WOW!
    His soul rest in the bosoom of our Lord.
    He was gifted just as GOD blessed Daniel.
    GOD will comfort the bereaved.Amen.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have so many wonderful memories of the whole Billy Graham group, and especially Bev Shea and Cliff Barrows. One more saint meets Jesus face to face. Thanks for your sharing about them patrina.

    ReplyDelete
  3. he was precious and gave us so much joy.
    now he's singing with the angels with his
    new heavenly voice.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I don't know anything of this man, but what a lovely person he sounds and what a wonderful life he has had. It makes me wonder whether his longevity is partially due to his ministry and his singing about the Lord. Sixty years of joy singing about the love of his life. God bless you for this tribute.

    ReplyDelete
  5. "Blessed the dead who die in the Lord ..." Rev 14: 13.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Patrina, thank you for commenting on my blog. You really encouraged me. I prayed for my husband to run fast. And he did!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you for your recent visits at my place Patrina...it's lovely to hear from you. May the LORD bless you this day.

    In HIM,
    Camille

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for picking up the pencil...

May the grace
of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit ...
be with you all.


Patrina
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