Celeste Wemp's Obituary
Celeste Magee Zimmerman Wemp, “Angel” Age 85, went to be with Lord on July 9, 2010. Celeste was home surrounded by her family when she peacefully entered the arms of her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Celeste was born on July 13, 1924 to Chester and Jenny (Foster) Magee, who both died while she was a child. She was raised by her Aunt Ruby Wooten for a time, and later by her Aunt and Uncle, Lucia and Roy Zimmerman in Dallas, Texas. She attended Ursuline Academy, Robert E. Lee Elementary, Long Jr. High and Woodrow Wilson High School. She then received a scholarship to the YMCA Secretarial School. Celeste was actively involved in Young Life ministries as a young adult. Through the ministry of George Hilgeman, Celeste trusted Christ as her personal Saviour after a club meeting one night. Before she knew all the facts about Christ and that He died for the world, but now she realized He died for her. Celeste felt the Lord wanted her in full-time Christian ministry. Celeste graduated from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois in 1945 and later, Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1975 with a degree in Christian Ministries. Celeste met her husband, Dr. C. Sumner Wemp, at Ross Avenue Baptist Church in 1946, while he was a student at Dallas Theological Seminary. Sumner and Celeste were married the following year in Dallas with plans for missionary service in Brazil. The Lord had other plans and they entered the pastorate with a heart for missions. They served in churches in Alabama, Florida and Illinois. Sumner was then asked to join Celeste’s alma mater, Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois to help train young people for Christian service. They spent 8 years there during which time Celste began her Christian Women’s Retreats. In 1972, he got the call from Jerry Falwell asking him to come to Lynchburg, Virginia to help him build a world-class Christian university – Liberty University. Celeste joined the faculty there as well and taught and mentored women for Christian service for many years. Celeste was known as a prominent Bible teacher. She pioneered the concept of Christian Women’s Retreats through which she ministered to over 1,000 women several times each year for over 30 years in Illinois, Alabama and Virginia. Together, Celeste and Sumner have ministered in churches all over the country and mentored missionaries and pastors all over the world. Celeste was a member of First Baptist Church, Dallas. She is survived by her husband, Sumner, sons Cliff Wemp, Chuck Wemp and his wife Donna, Daughters Elaine Grill, Carolyn Wemp, Jean Medley, Janet Herlyck and her husband Jack, grandchildren, Christopher, Lindsey and Evan Wemp and sister, Leona Wooten Day. Funeral services were held on her 86th Birthday. Memorials for Celeste Wemp In Lieu of Flowers, please consider making a donation to: East West Ministries P.O. Box 868050 Plano, TX 75086-8050 This is a Church Planting Ministry Celeste and Sumner have been involved with for years. See Celeste’s video at: www.RestlandFuneralHome.com Place of birth: Dallas, TX Place of death: Dallas, TX
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