When Dr. Gilbert Callaway was born on January 25, 1926, the doctors told his mother he wouldn’t survive his first year because of a serious heart defect. On Saturday, March 6, 2004, Dr. Callaway’s heart finally stopped beating. The miraculous seventy-eight years of life he wasn’t “supposed” to have included great joy and Christian service. Dr. Callaway is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Nora Brooks Callaway, and his three daughters, Connie Atkins, Carla Falkner, and Kelly Callaway. He also leaves behind his three sons-in-law, Donald Atkins, Pat Falkner, and Matt Malcolm; four grandchildren, Andy Atkins and his wife, Jennifer, Mark Atkins, Rebekah Falkner, and Anna Falkner; one great-grandchild; his brother and sister-in-law, Melvin and Geraldine Callaway; and 2 sisters, Dorothy Boen and Vera Bell Anderson. Dr. Callaway will also be missed by the thousands of people he served as a Christian leader. Dr. Callaway was first introduced to Christianity at age 13 by his best friend, Glenn Malone. At 19 he began pastoring his first church. Since that time, Dr. Callaway has been pastor of several Texas churches, including the First Baptist Church of Wylie and the First Baptist Church of Lewisville. In 1963 he earned his Doctorate of Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 1979, he became Director of Missions for Collin Baptist Association, a position he held until retirement in 1993. Since that time, Dr. Callaway has continued to serve in many ways, including as Sunday School teacher, Bible class instructor of Collin County Jail, and Meals-on-Wheels volunteer. In 2001, Dr. Callaway was honored by Governor Rick Perry and the State of Texas with the Paul and Silas Award for his volunteer work at the jail. In 2003, Collin Baptist Association honored Dr. Callaway for his sixty years of Christian service and the example he has set in his ministry and family life by establishing the annual Gilbert Callaway Love Offering, which will benefit new and existing Baptist ministries. Perhaps even more important than his formal Christian service is the example Dr. Callaway set in his life as a thoughtful, educated, and loving Christian. To family and friends, colleagues, other community leaders, and even strangers, Dr. Callaway has been and will continue to be an inspiration. A memorial service honoring and celebrating Dr. Callaway’s life will be held Monday, March 8, 2003 at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church, McKinney. Family and friends are also invited to a visitation time at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home Sunday evening from 6:30 to 8:30. In lieu of flowers, a gift to the Gilbert Callaway Collin Baptist Associational Mission Offering can be made by sending and envelope marked “Gilbert Callaway Mission Offering” to the Collin Baptist Association at 970 South Highway 5, McKinney, TX 75069.