Funeral services for Alton Lamar Callahan were held Monday, March 14, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. at Union Baptist Church in Clarke County, MS, at 159 Highway 514, Meridian, MS, with Rev. Kyle Routzahn, Rev. Dennis Coats, and Rev. Grady Crowell officiating. Burial was held in the Union Baptist Church Cemetery with Wright's Funeral Home in Quitman, MS in charge of arrangements. He was a member of Union Baptist Church, the VFW Post 79, and the American Legion Post 21, Meridian, MS.
Mr. Callahan, age 94 of Meridian, MS, passed away March 12, 2016, at his home.
Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Ann Davis Callahan; one daughter, Ruth Callahan Mason of Meridian; one son, William Lowry Callahan of Scranton, SC; four granddaughters Linda Mason Sistrunk (Jake) of Collinsville, MS, Margaret Mason Prasanna (Prasanth) of Pearl, MS, Erin Callahan Wade (Trey) of Florence, SC, Cera Callahan of Charleston, SC; three great-grandsons Jonathan Derek Griffin (Caitlin) of Camp Lejeune, NC, Justin Caleb Griffin of Meridian, MS, and James Brandon Sistrunk of Collinsville, MS; two great¬ granddaughters Carley Brooke Sistrunk of Collinsville, MS, Aleyka Gray Prasanna of Pearl, MS, and soon to be born Amelia Grace Wade of Florence, SC; and one sister Lola Ruth Rolison Galyean. He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. Charlie N. Callahan and Mrs. Allie Riley Callahan; and two brothers, Paul M. Callahan and Earl Callahan.
Mr. Callahan and his wife Ann, served 14 years in volunteer mission work. He worked with the World Changers Program for five years. He has done mission work in Montana, South Carolina, Indiana, Texas, Wyoming, and Hiroshima, Japan. After retiring from mission work, he was awarded the Mission Service Corps Emeritus Placque and pin in July 2001 by the North American Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention for Distinguished Service as a Mission Service Corps Missionary and recognized as Mission Service Corps Emeritus. He was honored by Rolling Creek Baptist Church for 47 years in church music ministry.
Mr. Callahan was a WWII veteran and served in the U.S. Coast Guard. He served in the South Pacific, going to Solomon Island, Marshall Islands, New Guinea, and several islands in the Phillipines. He saw action at Corrigador, Manila, and Batangus, earning three Bronze Stars and numerous other medals. He was head signalman on his ship.
He served as Bi-Vocational Minister of Music and Youth in churches in Clarke, Lauderdale, Jones, Newton, and Jackson counties for 47 years. He enjoyed serving in smaller churches and helping them to acquire the best quality of musical instruments. He encouraged choir members who thought they had no musical talents to become some of the best soloists in his choirs. He encouraged young musicians and carried them to different churches to accompany him at revivals, weddings, and funerals. He had a gift from God to be an Encourager. After the churches grew to a larger congregation he would move on to "plow another newground."
He also encouraged adults and youth to become active in mission work. He enjoyed sharing the beauty of our country with others by sharing his motor home with different couples and family members, especially his grandchildren.
He and Ann have traveled to all 50 states and enjoyed taking his grandchildren to 46 states in America, plus some of Mexico, British Columbia and Canada. He used his motor home to take various teams to work on mission fields. It was always hard work for 10 days but fun times from Mississippi to Montana, Wyoming, Texas, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Carlsbad Caverns, Black Hills, South Dakota, and other sights between home and our mission projects.
Mr. Callahan is a graduate of Clarkdale High School and Clarke Memorial College in Newton, MS. He attended Meridian Community College and also completed Seminary Extension Courses in Music from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He was employed for 11 years by Sanders Lumber Company.
Mr. Callahan was employed by Mississippi Music (Peavey's Melody Music) in Meridian and manager of their Clinton-Harrington Piano company store in Pascagoula, MS. He was also manager of Broussard's Music in Pascagoula for 11 years and later opened his own store, House of Music in Moss Point, MS from which he retired.
Pallbearers were deacons of the Union Baptist Church.
Visitation was held Sunday, March 13, 2016, from 5:00-7:00 PM at Wright's Funeral Home in Quitman, MS.
Online condolences my be given at www.wrightsfuneral.com.
