Opal Lankford

LANKFORD, OPAL N. -- Opal N. Lankford went to her Heavenly Home on June 21, 2007 after living a very active and rewarding life of service. Her Memorial service will be at 11:00 AM, Thursday, June 28, 2007 at First Baptist Church. Robert Holcomb of the First Baptist Church, and Rev. Richard Grisham of Bethel Baptist Church will conduct the service. The family will receive friends at LaGrone Funeral Chapel from 5 until 7 PM, on Wednesday, June 27, 2007.

Opal was born November 15, 1916 in Vernon, TX to John Carson Hicks and Flora Mae Veal Hicks. Following her mothers death in 1919, her father married Helen Anstead. Opal was preceded in death by her parents, her step-mother, four older brothers, one younger sister, and a daughter, Nancy E. Breeden.

The family lived in several West Texas communities before moving from Spade, TX to Roswell in 1933 and to Hagerman where she attended 1 years of high school. Opal married Everett C. Lankford in Roswell on January 30, 1935, and she graduated from Roswell High School in May, 1935.

Opal and Everett became members of First Baptist Church, Roswell in 1935 and were faithful members until 2005 when they transferred their membership to Bethel Baptist Church. Opals ministry in the Church included teaching Sunday School, taking leadership roles in the womens missions ministry Past W.M.U. Director of The Pecos Valley Baptist Association, working to establish the First Baptist Church library, serving on the prayer chain, and assisting in many activities involving young people during her childrens younger years.

Opal enjoyed her years as a homemaker. When her youngest child was in elementary school. Opal worked as an assistant to the librarian in the junior high school of the Roswell Independent School District. Years later she worked as a library aide in elementary school libraries. She was the Childrens Librarian of the Roswell Public Library, and she retired in 1981 as the cataloger of the N.M.M.I. Library. Opal also assisted her husband in his insurancereal estate businesses through the years.

Areas of service in the community include P.T.A. Past President of Area Council Boy Scout and Girl Scout Brownie Leader, Eastern Star, Social Order of the Beauceant Past Worthy President Rainbow Board Member, recipient of the Grand Cross of Color of the International Order of Rainbow for Girls, Altrusa International local and district offices and District Ten 2nd Vice-Governor, 1st Vice-Governor, Governor Elect, and Governor, and A.A.R.P. Past Assistant State Director of Southeastern New Mexico.

She will be lovingly remembered by Everett C. Lankford, husband of 72 years; son John Lankford and wife Jan of Roswell, daughter, Barbara Bubbles Carlson and her husband Stan of Alto, NM, grandchildren Sean Lankford of Roswell, Shannon Lankford and wife Ann of Bogota, Colombia, Meredith Lankford of Phoenix, AZ, Michael Breeden and wife Nanette of Rowlett, TX, Rick Breeden and wife Tami of Sammamish, WA, Colette Whitlock and husband Lee of Houston, TX and Chris Carlson and wife Amy of Houston, TX; fourteen great-grandchildren , two half-sisters, Tempa Bell House of Broadus, TX and Juil Lee Read of San Juan Capistrano, CA, two sisters-in-law, Floreen Menefee of Roswell and Velma Lankford of Norman, OK, numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of other dear family members and friends.
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