Alonzo Oxendine

The life of Pastor Alonzo Oxendine is beyond mere expression of words. He was a man of action and purpose. He was born on May 2, 1937; however, his life began on June 26, 1958, when he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into his life. From that moment, his zeal for God led him to serving the Lord as a servant, pastor, and leader in the Lumber River Holiness Methodist Conference, and as a missionary working in Trinidad, Tobago. Alonzo was cherished as a pastor, son, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, father-in-law, and friend. His greatest attribute was being a child of God.

   Alonzo Oxendine was born on May 2, 1937, to Lockey and Nancy Oxendine of Pembroke. He departed this life on Wednesday, July 14, 2021. He is preceded in death by his parents, Lockey Haywood and Nancy Caroline Oxendine; one sister, Veola Locklear; seven brothers, Roosevelt Oxendine, John Hugh Oxendine, Russell Oxendine, Grady Oxendine, Rev. Grover Oxendine, Henry Ward Oxendine, and Roy Oxendine, all of Pembroke.

   He is survived by his wife, Carol Oxendine; two sons, Rev. Bryan Keith Oxendine (Barbara) of Shannon, and Allen Wayne Oxendine (Sharon) of Pembroke; one daughter, Caroline Denise Oxendine of Pembroke; 7 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. Friends may have known him as “Buck”, while family knew him as “papa”. He loved people and had a desire in his heart to lead as many as he could to the Lord.

   Alonzo served on the Pembroke Rescue Squad from 1978-1981. He retired from the Maintenance Department at Pembroke State University after more than 25 years as a painter/supervisor. He enjoyed planting a garden every year; he loved to share the harvest with others. His home church was Union Chapel Holiness Methodist church. He became an ordained minister in 1971 and remained faithful to the conference till the Lord called him home. His service with the Lumber River Holiness Methodist Conference began at Shoeheel Holiness Methodist church with Rev. Steve Locklear. From there, he served at New Bethel Holiness Methodist church. Finally, he served at Maxton Holiness Methodist church, and was abiding there when he went home to be with the Lord. As an elder in the church, he mentored several men as they embarked on their journey to become pastors including his son, Bryan Keith Oxendine, who has become a faithful pastor in the conference, and Neal Locklear, who served for many years but has gone to be with the Lord.

   In addition to pastoring, he also became a missionary serving in Trinidad, Tobago, with Rev. Ramnarine Ramjeawan. For the twenty plus years that he served in Trinidad, he served with Brothers Clester Locklear and Robert Chavis. Alonzo’s daughter, Caroline Denise Oxendine, and five of his grandchildren have experienced the joy of missionary work with him in Trinidad, as well as other friends in the conference. Many souls have been saved through his service for the Lord, and countless others have been blessed through his ministry.

   The scripture in 2 Timothy 4:7 expresses what we would hear Alonzo say, if he could: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

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