by Robert Earl Houston
One of the legends of Albuquerque, New Mexico has been called home to be with the Lord. Below is the obituary provided by the Daniels Funeral Home:
Alonzo Twitty, Sr., age eighty-five (85) was born February 29, 1929 to the late Mr. Albert Twitty and Mrs. Viola Dixon-Twitty on the Ward Morn farm in Brazos County, better known as Brazos Bottom located ten miles outside of Bryan and College Station, Texas, one of eleven children. He departed this life at a local hospital on Saturday, January 3, 2015. He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers Albert, John D, Napoleon, Grant; sisters Annie Mae, Frances, Estelle, Othell, Loraine, and Jewel Lee; daughter Linda Kay Hopkins-Twitty; son John Jeff Twitty I, and granddaughter Shavon Earl Twitty.
Reverend Twitty accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of the Salem Baptist church. Although called to the ministry at the age of five, he did not accept the call until the age of thirty-one and was ordained at the age of forty at the Antioch Baptist Church by the late Dr. James A. Hopkins, former pastor of the Antioch Baptist Church, the late Dr. W.W Williams, former pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church, the late Reverend Walter Green, former pastor of St. Luke Baptist Church and the late Dr. C. Trotter, former pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist Church. He focused on a dream that became a reality and in 1970 he organized the Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he pastored faithfully for 44 years. He was a member of the National Baptist Conference of America, USA Inc., the Baptist Ministers Union, Ministers Fellowship Alliance, the Progressive Missionary Baptist State Convention of Central Arizona and New Mexico and the Saint Luke District Association.
He received his early school education from Salem Elementary and attended High School at Fair View High School. After moving to Albuquerque he completed his education and received his High School Diploma from Albuquerque High. At the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the Unites States Army, where he served for two years, with his basic training in Camp Rucker Alabama he then went to Germany and stayed 18 months. After relief from the army he met and married his sweetheart of 62 years, Edna Earl Walton. He then spent twenty-two years in the Army Reserve, which allowed him an opportunity to travel the world.
He became a certified Pastoral Counselor by the Institute of Pastoral Counselor Division of Universal bible institute in 1977; earned a Bachelor’s, Master of Arts Degree in Religious Education from the World Institute of Religious Education, Farmington, New Mexico in 1983. In 2012 he received his Doctorate in Religious Education, from the World Institute of Religious Education.
Rev. Twitty loved to sing and in 1968 he formed his own singing group known as the Twitty Family, who sung all over the state of New Mexico, Texas, Arizona and Virginia. During their singing tour he and his family recorded two records, which include My Life Is in God’s Hand, Old Ship of Zion, Somewhere Around God’s Throne, and Any How My Lord. Where ever you would see Rev. Twitty he had a smile on his face and a song in his heart. His theme song that he carried with him for many years is “I know my life is in God’s hand”, of which he was able to place his life stories in the book that he Authored called Free Grace, “My Life in God’s Hand in 2009.
Reverend Twitty received numerous accolades in appreciation for his distinguished and invaluable service, support and contributions to the communities of Albuquerque, Belen, and Rio rancho, New Mexico. He received special honors from Kirtland Air Force Base, Lacy Kirk Williams Institution, Dallas Texas, Albuquerque Black Economic League, National Baptist Congress of Christian Workers, and Baptist Ministers in appreciation for outstanding service and community development. He was a recipient of the Living Legend Award in 2008 and the Community Service award from the Grant Chapel AME Church Lay Organization-Dr. Martin Luther King.
On the 23rd day of May, 1953, he married Edna Earl Walton and to this union they were blessed with eleven children. He is survived as follows wife, daughters Vivian Jean, Edna Jewel Whitaker (husband Fredrick), Annie Marie Miller, Sheniqua Shanae, daughter-in-law JoAnn Lackey; sons Alonzo, Jr. (wife Diane), Donald Ray, Sr. (wife Sandra D.), Jeremiah Guy (wife Roberta), Isaiah Matthews., and Brian Moses all of Albuquerque. Sixty-eight grand, great-grand and great-great grandchildren and now in the fifth generation; grandchildren include, Veronica, Dee Ann, Louis, Adrian, Tasha, Ariel, Jordan, Chrystal, Briana, Jackie, Don Jr, Tiffany, Moniqua (husband Kenneth), Henry (wife Patricia), Jeannette (Jason), Queannette, Apollonia,(husband Kharia), Allonnia (husband Marcus), Leanne, Amanda (husband , John Jeff II, Lamar, Jeremiah Jr, Tierre; and a host of loving cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
He was a pastor, daddy, husband, grandpa, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. Rev. Twitty was well known and loved throughout the various Communities of Albuquerque and Vicinity and across the nation. Pastor Twitty was loved by all who came in contact with him and never met a stranger. He was always dedicated to assisting those in need, reaching the unchurched, and enlightening believers to receive all God has promised, including healing, deliverance, and the fullness of God’s spirit. He was devoted to community service, brotherly love and a “friend” to all who knew him. He was a man called, anointed and appointed by God, he trusted in the Lord and never wavered in his faith. He will be missed by many for years to come, but his spirit will live within each and every person whose lives he touched with his selfless giving, compassion and strong faith and spirit. The family would like to thank the hardworking staff at the New Mexico VA Health Care Services for their compassionate love and care, the Ministers Fellowship, and a special to Bishop Shelby and God’s House and Rev. Darnell Smith and the Macedonia Baptist Church.
The services will be as follows, there will be a private family viewing on Friday, January 9, 2015 from 10-12 at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, 315 53rd Street, Albuquerque, NM 87105, following this there will be a visitation from 12 p.m.-7:30 p.m., with a service immediately following the viewing from 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Funeral services will be Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at God’s House, with internment to follow at Fairview Cemetery. Pallbearers: Kharia Jordan, Robert Jordan, Adrian Twitty, Marcus Cook II, Jordan Johns, Jason Hobbs, Jason Quiniones, Donald Twitty, Jr., Honorary Pallbearers: Alonzo Twitty, Jr., Donald Twitty, Sr., Jeremiah Guy Twitty, Sr., Isaiah Twitty, Alonzo Lamar, Fredrick Whitaker, Brian Twitty, Jeremiah Twitty, Jr., John Jeff II, Jaylen Quiniones, Christopher Romero.
Filed under: Homegoing of a Saint
