Orlena Pickens

Online Obituaries for Lexington KY ORLENA PICKENS went to be with her Heavenly Father on Thursday, January 28, 2016 at 87 years of age. She was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas to the late Daniel Webster Shipley and Stella Myrtle Shipley on July 19, 1928. Orlena was the sixth of seven children in the Shipley family growing up in rural Arkansas. Orlena began teaching at 18 years of age in a one-room school house in Whitener, AK, and continued to love and instruct children throughout her years in Arkansas, Illinois, and Missouri. In the 1970's she opened a private pre-school at First Baptist Church in Moberly, MO. Her most adventurous teaching experience was in 1993 when she taught aboard the Mercy Ship ministry to Lithuania. After retiring from the classroom in 1995, Orlena continued to tutor children in her home. Orlena's formal education was at John Brown University, Arkansas; Bob Jones University, S. Carolina; Northern Illinois University; and the University of Arkansas, where she nearly finished her PhD in Education. Orlena and Donald L. Pickens met while attending Bob Jones University and married in 1951. Their family grew to four children while they moved through the states of Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois, and Missouri. Orlena's passion was to share the love that she found in Christ. She gave her heart to Him when nine years old and served him with her many talents. She had a beautiful solo soprano voice and played both the piano and organ. Orlena worked in children's ministries, taught both children's and adult Sunday School classes; and in particular organized the primary children's church at Bethany Baptist Church in DeKalb, IL. Together with Donald, she worked with the college-age ministry in DeKalb. During her years in Moberly she taught multiple Bible Study groups. Orlena was a gifted seamstress and often helped with Christmas pageants and costuming. After many years of Bible study, she fulfilled one of her life-dreams when she toured Israel with Chosen People in 1981. Always an "organizer," even in her later years, she was instrumental in the creation of a new Person-to-Person Program with the elderly at First Baptist Church in Moberly. Orlena was a member of Kingsway Assembly of God Church in Lexington. Orlena is survived by her children, Deborah (and Douglas) Cross of W. Hartford, VT; Dr. Stuart (and Kay) Pickens of Columbia, MO; Pamela (and Dexter) Speck of Lexington, KY; and her son-in-law, John (and Nancy) Weant of Moberly, MO. She was blessed with twelve grandchildren: Katie (and Matthew) Wheel, Todd Cross, Michael Allen, Matt Allen, Ryan Pickens, Andrew Pickens, Tim Allen, Marine Captain Matthew Weant, Marine Gunnery Sergeant Stephen Weant, Caleb (and Caroline) Speck, Erin (and Jay) Clifton, Nathan (and Leila) Speck; and seven great grandchildren. Funeral Information A Memorial Service celebrating Orlena's life is planned for March 5th at Kingsway Assembly of God Church, Versailles, KY. A memorial service in Moberly, MO will be announced at a later date.