Deaths Of HAC Students

[sword]

Pastor Jack Dee Hilliard, Jr. (79)​

Husband of Shavonne Hilliard


Born: June 24, 1947
Died March 14, 2026


Bro. Hilliard was a Miami Military Academy grad and a Vietnam Vet who served in the Navy.
He also attended Hyles Anderson College

He was a full-time pastor, continuing to faithfully serve God until his passing.

 

[sword]

STEVEN J. McCRACKEN (32)
Husband of Kendra Miller McCracken

Born: Oct. 13, 1954
Died: Jun 7, 1986

Steve graduated from Hyles-Anderson College in 1979

 

[sword]

Pastor Al Janney (95)​

Husband of Elinor (Brantley) Janney

Born: January 26, 1928
Died: March 17, 2023

Bro. Janney held degrees from at Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri and Cincinnati Bible Seminary in Ohio and Barry College in Miami, Florida.

Bro. Al served as assistant pastor to John Rawlings Landmark Baptist Temple in Cincinnati before Pstoring for for many years.

Pastor Janney was given an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Bob Jones University and a honorary Doctor of Letter degree from Hyles-Anderson College.

He help found the Baptis Bible Fellowship international and served as its president for 3 terms in the 1960's

In 1970, Janney began the American Association of Christian Schools, which represents over 1,200 schools across the nation with over 100,000 students.

He served in the Army during World War II

 

[sword]

David Michael DelGallo, (58)


Born: April 25, 1967
Died: March 5, 2026
David served his country in the United States Army
David attended Hyles-Anderson College, Crown Point, IN.

 

[Justice1976]

STEVEN J. McCRACKEN (39)
Husband of Kendra Miller McCracken

Born: Oct. 13, 1954
Died: Jun 7, 1986

Steve graduated from Hyles-Anderson College in 1979

Is there a particular reason that you posted this? I knew him from my time at HAC. I mean, his death was 40 years ago and he's listed in the very first post on this thread. Just wondering?

 

[4everfsu]

Is there a particular reason that you posted this? I knew him from my time at HAC. I mean, his death was 40 years ago and he's listed in the very first post on this thread. Just wondering?

Would not his age be 32?

 

[sword]

Is there a particular reason that you posted this? I knew him from my time at HAC. I mean, his death was 40 years ago and he's listed in the very first post on this thread. Just wondering?

My algorithm identifies new listings (Obits) that have not been posted previously. Somehow I missed McCracken on my original list.

 

[Sherryh]

Is there a particular reason that you posted this? I knew him from my time at HAC. I mean, his death was 40 years ago and he's listed in the very first post on this thread. Just wondering?

Steve died of cancer. I worked with him on the bus routes. He was a great person. Praying for his family.

 

[Least of These]

I don't think she went to HAC, but the person I think was "Still There" here on the FFF passed away last month.

 

[tobytyler]

I don't think she went to HAC, but the person I think was "Still There" here on the FFF passed away last month.

I attended FBC from '67 through '92 and so many that were the leaders are now gone. The pastor, the assistant pastors, my Sunday school teachers, my Sunday school superintendents, the choir members, the nursery workers, etc. When seeing old videos of Bro Hyles preaching, most of the time you would see 12 lady choir members sitting behind him in the choir, most of whom are now in Heaven. Those ladies were so faithful, but now are gone. The ones I can remember sitting behind the pastor but in view of the camera frame now in Heaven are: Mrs. Hyles, Mrs. McKinney, Mrs. Stephens, Mrs. Graves, Mrs. Frizzell, Mrs. Barnes, Mrs. Newton and Mrs. Mullins....

FBC wasn't a perfect church, FBC didn't have perfect members, but FBC did have very faithful members who have made a huge influence in my life. Just feeling a bit nostalgic this evening.

 

[Least of These]

I attended FBC from '67 through '92 and so many that were the leaders are now gone. The pastor, the assistant pastors, my Sunday school teachers, my Sunday school superintendents, the choir members, the nursery workers, etc. When seeing old videos of Bro Hyles preaching, most of the time you would see 12 lady choir members sitting behind him in the choir, most of whom are now in Heaven. Those ladies were so faithful, but now are gone. The ones I can remember sitting behind the pastor but in view of the camera frame now in Heaven are: Mrs. Hyles, Mrs. McKinney, Mrs. Stephens, Mrs. Graves, Mrs. Frizzell, Mrs. Barnes, Mrs. Newton and Mrs. Mullins....

FBC wasn't a perfect church, FBC didn't have perfect members, but FBC did have very faithful members who have made a huge influence in my life. Just feeling a bit nostalgic this evening.

This sums up my feelings about my family's years at FBC., as well You mentioned my mother in your post - she sat next to Mrs. Hyles and, I believe, Sue Faber in the choir. Mom died just over a year ago - she was 93. But yes, it was possible to attend FBC for decades and not be part of any cult or groupthink. We were taught to respect authority but never to worship it, and NEVER to check your own conscience at the door & let someone make decisions for you. Bro. H was our pastor, not our leader, not our boss, not the head of our family. I accept that the mindset changed in later years. but we were never 100%-ers, even though my parents and some other relatives stayed in the church years after I left. As an adult, I've always felt grateful that I grew up there & even more grateful I had the parents I did - and never, ever judgmental of the others who made (and still make) FBC their church home.

 

[tobytyler]

This sums up my feelings about my family's years at FBC., as well You mentioned my mother in your post - she sat next to Mrs. Hyles and, I believe, Sue Faber in the choir. Mom died just over a year ago - sje was 93. But yes, it was possible to attend FBC for decades and not be part of any cult or groupthink. We were taught to respect authority but never to worship it, and NEVER to check your own conscience at the door & let someone make decisions for you. Bro. H was our pastor, not our leader, not our boss, not the head of our family. I accept that the mindset changed in later years. but we were never 100%-ers, even though my parents and some other relatives stayed in the church years after I left. As an adult, I've always felt grateful that I grew up there & even more grateful I had the parents I did - and never, ever judgmental of the others who made (and still make) FBC their church home.

 

[tobytyler]

This sums up my feelings about my family's years at FBC., as well You mentioned my mother in your post - she sat next to Mrs. Hyles and, I believe, Sue Faber in the choir. Mom died just over a year ago - sje was 93. But yes, it was possible to attend FBC for decades and not be part of any cult or groupthink. We were taught to respect authority but never to worship it, and NEVER to check your own conscience at the door & let someone make decisions for you. Bro. H was our pastor, not our leader, not our boss, not the head of our family. I accept that the mindset changed in later years. but we were never 100%-ers, even though my parents and some other relatives stayed in the church years after I left. As an adult, I've always felt grateful that I grew up there & even more grateful I had the parents I did - and never, ever judgmental of the others who made (and still make) FBC their church home.

Above is a pic of some of the ladies previously mentioned now in Heaven.

Before there was an HB or HAC, the primary focus of FBC was on the Sunday School. The Sunday School was far too large to personally keep a grip on every aspect, so the pastor had a strong quality of delegating duties to his SS Superintendents. These ladies were the “cream of the crop” and Hall of Famers, in my opinion. These ladies would pray, protect, hover and love you not only for the year you’d be in their department, but for years and even decades following. They didn’t preach or even teach, but they made certain that their attendees were loved and spiritually & Biblically taught while under their care.

These were my SS superintendents beginning with the youngest age groups: Mrs. Lanoue, Mrs. Newton, Mrs. Barr, Mrs. Rice, Mrs. McKinney, Mrs. Frantz, Mrs. Simpson, Mrs. Shoaf, Mrs. Plopper, Mrs. Fisk, Mrs. Ruskowski, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Coomes & Mrs. Colsten. These ladies loved us, prayed for us, provided influence & showed faithfulness to their Lord for my first 18 years of my life, for which I am truly blessed & thankful. Sadly, the majority of these ladies are now in Heaven and those remaining are in their 80's.

Bro. Hyles would also use most of these ladies as "hostesses" for Pastor's Schools. Hostesses probably wouldn't be the best word given for this position, but these ladies were the first impression for the visiting delegates. These women would greet and inform the delegates of what to expect and where to go...Bro Hyles had great trust & respect for these women.

 

[Least of These]

Oh no, faulty memory on my part! My mom sat behind Mrs. Hyles!

And sorry to have hijacked the Death thread!!

 

[Sherryh]

My husband Danny Hester loved Mrs Plopper and her girls. When he worked at the church they would make him lunch etc. That meant so much to him. He guarded Bro Hyles for many years along with our doberman Duke.