Mary Browning

Mary Beth Browning of McAllen, Texas, was born Oct. 26, 1958, in Cape Girardeau.

She went home to be with her Lord Oct. 3, 2006, in McAllen.

Her parents were Robert Clifton Wood and Eula Anne Hitt Wood, originally from Delta, both deceased.

Beth was raised in Delta and graduated from Delta High School in 1977. Later she attended Hannibal-LaGrange College in Hannibal, Mo., where she met her husband.

Beth and Morgan James Browning have been married for 30 years. They have served together in the ministry at First Baptist Church of Ellington, Mo., First Baptist Church of Old Ocean, Texas, First Baptist Church of Grants, N.M., and currently at First Baptist Church of McAllen.

Beth accepted Christ as her savior at the age of nine, at First Baptist Church of Delta during a revival meeting.

She had a special love and talent for music and truly used her voice for the glory of God. Her main goal in life was very simple: to serve God by helping her husband and raising her sons.

Beth is survived by her husband, Dr. Morgan James Browning of McAllen; two sons and their wives, Morgan and Bethany Browning of Franklin, Tenn., Robert and Martha Browning of Fort Worth, Texas; a sister and brother-in-law, Abby and Sam Bundick of Sweeny, Texas; an uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Al Hitt of Cape Girardeau; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fires, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:2,3.

Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. today at First Baptist Church in McAllen.

The funeral will be at 6 p.m. following the visitation. Kreidler Funeral Home of McAllen is in charge of arrangements.

A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Hitt Cemetery near Arbor. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Chaffee, Mo., is in charge of local arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable donations be made to Mary Beth Browning Scholarship Fund, C/O Texas State Bank, P.O. Box 4797, McAllen, Texas, 78502.