Leona Self

Leona E. Blair was born in Pontiac, Michigan on October 21, 1925, as the last member of a family of seven children. She was about 18 months old when the family fell apart and the children were cared for in an orphanage in the Pontiac area.

Her uncle, Mr. Alex Bigger, was able to get custody of the family and for awhile combined them with his family of seven. He was a wonderful sanctified Free Methodist who had a tremendous impact on her life. Subsequently, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Bigger of Flint, Michigan volunteered to care for her. She lived with them for about a year until they were able to adopt her on September 26, 1928 as their very own. Dad and Mom Bigger provided her with a stable, loving, Christ centered environment. Leona lovingly reciprocated their kindness and care all the day of their lives. Their commitment to home and foreign missions, the local church, Sunday school and camp meetings had a lasting impact on Leona’s entire life.

Leona attended the public schools in the Flint, Michigan area but later enrolled in January of 1943 as a student in Bible Holiness Seminary, a Pilgrim Holiness School, located in Owosso, Michigan. She soon caught the eye of Erwin but they never dated until April of 1945 when he was home on leave from the United States Navy. They fell in love from which they never recovered. They were engaged on June 9, 1945 and were married August 25, the same year. The day after the wedding they traveled by train to Waukegan, Illinois where Erwin worked nearby at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center as a Pharmacist Mate in the U.S.N. Hospital Corps. Upon his discharge in May, 1946 they moved to Owosso where they resided and worked until he enrolled at Greenville College in Southern Illinois.

They eventually settled on two acres, located on Highway 21 west of Flint where they built their first home. Erwin made their livelihood as a store manager and carpenter foreman until they answered the call of God to full time ministry. They moved to their first pastorate on August 1, 1952. Over the years they served the Church of the Nazarene in West Branch, Perry, Grand Ledge, St. Johns, Midland Nease Memorial, Sturgis, then Muskegon First, Lansing Woodview and Bluffton, Indiana First plus one year on a district assignment and for 9 months at Mt. Pleasant First as Building Project Manager and associate.

Leona never quibbled about the transition from the security of her own home to a Nazarene parsonage. She “burned the bridges behind her”, even tho’ her own sister thought she had really “lost” it.

She faithfully served in the local church as a Sunday school teacher, pianist, organist, band director, missionary society president and later as a chair member. Leona had a heart for missions and served on the Michigan District Nazarene World Missionary Council for many years. She served as a Zone Chairman, District Secretary, Secretary of Box Work, (now Links), Council Secretary, Vice-President and later as District President. She represented the district four times as delegate to the General N.W.M.S. quadrennial convention. Her commitment to World evangelism was exhibited by a chorus she wrote one day as she was traveling alone on the way to a meeting. It goes like this:

Obeying your call Lord,

obeying your call.

Lord, help me to show your love to all,

The world is in darkness,

but how will they see?

Unless I’m obedient to

your will for me.

Leona’s love and efforts extended for beyond the district level. She accompanied her husband on 12 extended work and witness trips. Being a skilled seamstress she could not travel to a place of need without two of her sewing machines. During a three month period at the Casa Robles Nazarene Missionary Retirement Center in Temple City, California she altered 145 articles for the missionaries.

Her leadership skills lead her to the presidency, for three years, of the Women’s Commission of the Christian Holiness Association. As part of that task she represented the women of nineteen denominations on the Board of Administration.

Though she loved the church her love for the Lord and her family took precedence. Leona was the proud mother of four sons, the Rev. Edwin E. Self of Athens, Alabama, Dr. E. Arthur Self of Seattle, Washington, Mr. Eldon C. Self of Grand Haven, Michigan and Mr. Elliot R. Self of Kent, Washington. Leona always wanted a daughter but wound up with four, Charlotte, Carol, Dianne and Melanie. Her daughter-in-laws were not rivals nor accepted grudgingly as the wives of her sons but as her own girls. She loved, respected and honored them. Her goal was to be a non-meddling booster.

These four couples presented her with nine grand children. She lovingly reached out to Meredith, Matthew, Adam, Eric, Kevin, Michael, Phillip, Andrew and Victoria. Then in the process of time she opened her heart to Shaun, Lisa, Tiffany, Jennifer and Liz. The end of the cycle of love was not yet for then came Elizabeth Anne, Madeline, Zachary, Alayna, Adrienne and Greylon. She thought it was more than great to be a great grand mother! Her cup of joy was full and even running over!

Leona’s health took a sudden downward turn during the late afternoon of July 5, 2004 when she sustained the first of twenty one T.I.A’s (Transitory Ischemic Attack). The ensuing period, since then, had been marked by two major surgeries and complications galore. In fact the day of her “deliverance” was the 214th day to be a patient in a medical facility in less than a year.

Through it all she maintained a positive attitude. Her faith remained strong nor did she complain with her lot. At times she reached out and ministered to her caregivers. Though her testings were sore and numerous she did not betray her faith she once expressed in a song she composed. It was entitled,

“One Moment with Jesus”

The end result will be worth every problem that we bear.

A moment with Jesus will blot out every care.

Don’t worry-bout the pressures that the present does present.

Look forward to the moment that in His glory we shall spend.

Chorus:

One Moment with Jesus will be worth it all.

One moment with Jesus no problem will recall.

The moment when I His face shall see.

One moment with Jesus what glory that shall be.

One day I thought I could not stand the pressures brought on me.

Then I looked up and saw Christ hanging on the tree.

He said “I did it all for you and for a world in sin.

Look forward to the moment that in my glory you will spend”.

Leona was born into the family of God during the 1940’s and bourne unto life eternal on February 23, 2008 at the Rose Arbor Hospice Residence in Kalamazoo, MI. She is survived by her husband, the Rev. Erwin A. Self, her sons and their wives, nine grand children, six great grand children and two birth sisters, Mildred Lyttaker of Midland and Adeline Van Ever of Gladwin, nieces and nephews and a host of friends both far and near.

The worship service will be held at the Chapman Memorial Church of the Nazarene, 7520 East U Avenue; Vicksburg, MI at 10:30 a.m. February 27, 2008. Leona’s temporary resting place will be in the Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan. The committal service is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Her permanent address is the New Jerusalem, “The city not made with human hands eternal in the heavens”.

“She rests from her labor but her works follow her”.