Guinell Freeman

Guinell Freeman, October 15, 1928 to December 19, 2011. On December 19th, 2011, Miss. Guinell Freeman went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Known as “The First Lady of Sunday School”, Miss. Freeman was the Educational Director of the First Baptist Church downtown Jacksonville from 1954 until her retirement in 1999. A graduate of Bob Jones University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a 1999 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Miss Freeman was called to FBC by Dr. Homer G. Lindsay, Sr. after graduation. Miss Freeman never married. She literally gave her life to the Lord and His work. God used her to build one of the largest Sunday Schools and Christian discipleship ministries in the nation. She said upon her retirement, “The common denominator in church growth is work. I disagree with the movement toward ‘computerized’ ministry. A computer never built a church; that takes visitation, witnessing, relating one-on-one. Loving people is the key.”

Born in Hickory, N.C. to Jesse and Ocie Freeman, Guinell was the third of four girls, Bernice Seymour, Betty Herman and Sandra Askew. She is survived by nephews, Bill Herman, Jesse (Kathy) Askew, Paul (Julie) Askew, David Askew; nieces, Jessica Dixon, Tricia (Greg) Cherry, Iris Seymour, Sue (Richard) Steffan and brother-in-law Elton Askew; plus numerous great nieces and nephews, throughout Florida and North Carolina.

Funeral will be held Tuesday, December 27th in the Ruth Lindsay Auditorium located at First Baptist Church downtown. Visitation 9:00-11:00 a.m., home-going celebration service will follow at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow the service at Oaklawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Homer G. Lindsay, Jr. Scholarship Fund. Arrangements are under the care of Hardage-Giddens Edgewood Funeral Home, 729 S. Edgewood Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32205.