Freed-Hardeman Connections
Researching the Restoration Movement in Mississippi and West Tennessee
A. C. Dreaden
A. C. Dreaden was born June 22, 1904. He died October 29, 1974. He preached the gospel forty-three years. He was a faithful and able minister of the word. It was this editor's pleasure to know him for more than twenty-five years. In the early 1950's he preached for the Broadway congregation in Paducah, Kentucky while I preached for the Murrell Boulevard (now Central) church in Paducah. Our association was very cordial and pleasant.
Besides the Broadway church in Paducah, brother Dreaden served as minister for the churches in these places: Haleyville, Ala.; La Grange, Ga. (he served there 1940- 47, and again in recent years); Pulaski, Tenn.; Central in Birmingham, Ala.; Jackson Heights in Florence. Ala.: and Southside in Shelbyville, Tenn.
During his first tenure of work in La Grange, Ga. which was a seven years period, brother Dreaden was instrumental in starting six congregations in nearby towns. One of these was at Lanett, Ala. He was working with the Lanett church when he died.
Brother Dreaden married Nancy Conley who survives him. She has been a faithful helpmeet to him. He is also survived by a son, Don and a daughter, Mrs. Bruce Freeman. He has left a host of friends, but he has joined an innumerable host in a better land. To many brother Dreaden was as was Tychicus, "a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord." (Col. 4:7.). Brother Dreaden loved God; he loved God's word. He loved to preach God's word. He loved people.
Frank Lyons, an assistant to brother Dreaden at Lanett spoke at the funeral service which was conducted in the Lanett church building on October 31, 1974. A funeral service was also conducted in the building of the Nance Church of Christ near Alamo, Tenn. on November 1, 1974. Frank Young spoke at that service. Burial was in the Nance Cemetery.
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." (Psalm 'l6:l5.)
Basil Overton, - The Editor, The World Evangelist, Nov. 1974, 2.
Nance Church of Christ Cemetery, Alamo, Crockett Co., Tenn.
Cf. also Gospel Advocate, May 28, 1942, 510