Church of God Couple Celebrates 70+ Years of Ministry and Marriage
The year was 1944 and the United States was at war on two fronts. In this atmosphere decisions were made quickly. Nineteen year old Baswell Smith had met his love, Cornelia Groover, and she had agreed to become his wife. Baswell went to her home and asked her father for permission to marry her. He agreed and since she was only 16, her father agreed to go with them to the courthouse in Orlando the following day to sign for the marriage. The jubilant groom then went back to see his own father to see if he could also go to Orlando the following day to sign for Baswell, who was also under age. With both fathers in agreement the couple went the following day, November 28, 1944 to see the judge and sign the papers to get a marriage license. Upon granting the license, the judge then said, “Since you are already here, do you want to go ahead and get married today?” The youngsters looked at each other and said, “That will be fine.” And with no fanfare, no family except their fathers, no photographer, no flowers and wearing no special clothes, the couple exchanged their vows.
One would think that such a beginning to marriage would not bode well for this couple, but they had great love for each other and for God. This began a love story that has continued for 70 years.
Within three months Baswell had gone to the Army Air Corps to join the war effort and Cornelia found herself awaiting the birth of their first child. By the time their daughter was born, the war had ended and the couple was ready to really embark on their life together.
Baswell felt the called by God to ministry and the couple began to prepare themselves. They attended the Bible School at Wimauma, Florida where Baswell learned the basics necessary to be a minister of Jesus Christ. On September 23, 1950, they began to pastor their first church. By this time they had three children, with a fourth soon to be born. Many churches and three more children would follow with this couple who determined to serve their Lord with all the energy they had while Rev. Smith worked at a variety of jobs to help with the care of his large family.
Rev. Smith continued in ministry, serving as an exhorter, a licensed minister and an ordained bishop in the Church of God. After pastoring churches throughout the state of Florida, he became the campground superintendent at the Convention center at Wimauma, Florida. He served in this capacity until his retirement in 1989.
The years have been kind to this couple who on November 29, 2014, gathered with family and friends to celebrate their life, their love and their years of ministry. This was a very different day from the wedding day 70 years earlier. There were lace-covered tables and crystal serving pieces. There was a beautiful cake and beautiful flowers. There was a bountiful feast and they were dressed in garments befitting the occasion. The sound of laughter and conversation filled the building and the joy and pride of their children was evident in every detail of the reception they had lovingly provided.
Later this month the Smiths will celebrate their 71st anniversary. Their lives have touched more people than they will ever know until they reach Heaven. Their love is still a vibrant thing and all who know them can witness that circumstances do not have to dictate the outcome. What a blessing and what a lesson they have taught all of us.
