Abner Anglin Hyden

A.A. Hyden December 11, 1919 January 19, 2014 Abner Anglin A.A. Hyden passed away at his home on Sunday, January 19, 2014. A memorial service will be 1:00 p.m., Friday, January 24, at Seventh & James Baptist Church. Visitation will be 6:00 8:00 p.m., Thursday, January 23, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. He was born on December 11, 1919, in Groesbeck, Texas, to John Jackson Hyden and Sarah Elizabeth D'Hart Hyden. He graduated from Groesbeck High School and went to the University of Texas to play basketball for the Longhorns. After two years, he was drafted into the Army and was a part of the Signal Corps. He worked in the Pentagon when it first opened and was then transferred to London to continue his work with the Signal Corps. He was in London when some of the most severe bombing occurred and was in Paris the night it was liberated from the German Army. Honorably discharged on his birthday in 1945, A.A. returned to pursue his call to ministry at Baylor University. He transferred to Wayland Baptist University to pastor a church in west Texas while he earned his Bachelors degree in Speech and Religion in 1949. He went on to Southwestern Theological Seminary and received his B.D. in Theology, Masters in Christian Education and his E.D. During that time, he met the love of his life, Marjorie Lee Barnett, and the two married in 1947, beginning their 59 years of love and life together. A.A. worked for Buckner Children's Home, the University of Mary Hardin Baylor, and for Baylor University from 1968 until his retirement in 1990, primarily as the Dean of Students. The Hydens spent their life blessing, loving, feeding, and pouring their lives into all of the children and students around them. A devoted member of Seventh & James Baptist Church since 1968, A.A. served in numerous capacities in the church and in 2011 was honored as the first Deacon Emeritus of the congregation. A.A. was preceded in death by his beloved Marjorie and his brothers and sisters. He is survived and will be deeply missed by numerous nieces and nephews and their extended families; by his long-time caregiver and friend, JayLynn Bisson and her daughters, JayLynn and Jacqueline Knowles; as well as many colleagues and dear friends. In lieu of flowers, A.A. requested that donations be made to the Jacqueline W. Knowles College Savings Fund with Community Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 2303, Waco, Texas 76703. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.