Dave Cress served as President for the Georgia-Cumberland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists since April of 2002. Beginning in 1986, Dave served as the Youth & Young Adult Ministries Director, Family Life Director and coordinated ministries for church members serving in the United States Armed Forces. He then served as Vice President for Administration and was elected to serve as President in April of 2002. Dave began his ministry as a pastor in the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Dave loved to laugh and had a wonderful sense of humor. Dave’s wife, Lynn, and seven-year-old daughter, Meredith, actively shared in his ministry.
Jim Frost served as Vice President for Administration for the Georgia-Cumberland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Jim was born and raised in England. His ministry in Georgia-Cumberland began in 1991, serving as chaplain at Emory Adventist Hospital in Smyrna, GA. He then pastored in the Albany and Gainesville, GA church districts. He most recently served in the post of Ministerial Director for the Central Region, which encompasses the greater metropolitan areas of Atlanta and Chattanooga. He was elected to serve as Vice President in April of 2002. Jim had dual citizenship in the United States and the United Kingdom. Jim’s wife, Cindy, faithfully shared in his ministry. His 17-year-old daughter, Brittany, was the pride of his life.
Jamie Arnall served as Director of Communications for the Georgia-Cumberland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Jamie began his communication internship in Georgia-Cumberland in 1999, transitioning to Assistant Director in 2001 and Associate Director in 2002. He was elected Director of Communications in 2003. His wife, Erin, of three years was an integral part of his ministry. They loved photography and travel. His twin brother, Jeremy, is a pastor in Crossville, TN.
Clay Farwell began his role as Assistant to the President for the Georgia-Cumberland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists on December 1, 2004. Elder Farwell served as president of the Indiana Conference until two years ago when he and his wife, Jo, retired to their “farm” in Tennessee. Elder Farwell is widely known and respected for his more than 35 years of service and leadership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America. He served the church as a pastor and conference Youth Director in several conferences, Youth Director for the Southern Union, Vice President for Adventist Health System, and President of the Kentucky/Tennessee and Indiana Conferences. During his retirement in Georgia-Cumberland Conference, he was in charge of development for the Cohutta Springs Conference Center. He had also been the Executive Director for Cohutta Springs in the early 1990s.
John Laswell served as a corporate pilot for several businesses in the Chattanooga area, occasionally flying for the Georgia-Cumberland Conference of SDA's. John was born in Niles, Michigan on June 20, 1968. He attended Little Creek Academy where he began flying and received his private pilot's license by the time he graduated in 1987. John graduated from Andrews University in 1991 with a BS degree in Aviation Technology as an instrument rated commercial pilot. After graduation he became a flight instructor for Andrews University and later taught in Augusta, GA. In 1995 John moved to Chattanooga and began flying as an independent contractor for Life Care, the Georgia-Cumberland Conference of SDA's and other area businesses. The only thing John loved more than flying was his best friend and love of his life Lori Myers. They were married February 23, 2003 in Chattanooga, TN.
Memorial Servics On Friday night, Dec. 3, there was a special prayer service at the Collegedale, Tenn., Seventh-day Adventist Church at 8:00 p.m.
There was a memorial service for the pilot John Laswell at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, in the Collegedale, Tennessee, Seventh-day Adventist Church.
A memorial service for Dave Cress, Jim Frost, and Jamie Arnall took place at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 7, in the Dalton Trade and Convention Center in Dalton, Georgia.
Memorial services for Clay Farwell will be held 2:00 p.m. (CT) Saturday, December 11, in the Friendship Baptist Church in Rock Island, Tennessee.
--Georgia Cumberland Conference
Dave Cress served as President for the Georgia-Cumberland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists since April of 2002. Beginning in 1986, Dave served as the Youth & Young Adult Ministries Director, Family Life Director and coordinated ministries for church members serving in the United States Armed Forces. He then served as Vice President for Administration and was elected to serve as President in April of 2002. Dave began his ministry as a pastor in the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Dave loved to laugh and had a wonderful sense of humor. Dave’s wife, Lynn, and seven-year-old daughter, Meredith, actively shared in his ministry.
Jim Frost served as Vice President for Administration for the Georgia-Cumberland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Jim was born and raised in England. His ministry in Georgia-Cumberland began in 1991, serving as chaplain at Emory Adventist Hospital in Smyrna, GA. He then pastored in the Albany and Gainesville, GA church districts. He most recently served in the post of Ministerial Director for the Central Region, which encompasses the greater metropolitan areas of Atlanta and Chattanooga. He was elected to serve as Vice President in April of 2002. Jim had dual citizenship in the United States and the United Kingdom. Jim’s wife, Cindy, faithfully shared in his ministry. His 17-year-old daughter, Brittany, was the pride of his life.
Jamie Arnall served as Director of Communications for the Georgia-Cumberland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Jamie began his communication internship in Georgia-Cumberland in 1999, transitioning to Assistant Director in 2001 and Associate Director in 2002. He was elected Director of Communications in 2003. His wife, Erin, of three years was an integral part of his ministry. They loved photography and travel. His twin brother, Jeremy, is a pastor in Crossville, TN.
Clay Farwell began his role as Assistant to the President for the Georgia-Cumberland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists on December 1, 2004. Elder Farwell served as president of the Indiana Conference until two years ago when he and his wife, Jo, retired to their “farm” in Tennessee. Elder Farwell is widely known and respected for his more than 35 years of service and leadership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America. He served the church as a pastor and conference Youth Director in several conferences, Youth Director for the Southern Union, Vice President for Adventist Health System, and President of the Kentucky/Tennessee and Indiana Conferences. During his retirement in Georgia-Cumberland Conference, he was in charge of development for the Cohutta Springs Conference Center. He had also been the Executive Director for Cohutta Springs in the early 1990s.
John Laswell served as a corporate pilot for several businesses in the Chattanooga area, occasionally flying for the Georgia-Cumberland Conference of SDA's. John was born in Niles, Michigan on June 20, 1968. He attended Little Creek Academy where he began flying and received his private pilot's license by the time he graduated in 1987. John graduated from Andrews University in 1991 with a BS degree in Aviation Technology as an instrument rated commercial pilot. After graduation he became a flight instructor for Andrews University and later taught in Augusta, GA. In 1995 John moved to Chattanooga and began flying as an independent contractor for Life Care, the Georgia-Cumberland Conference of SDA's and other area businesses. The only thing John loved more than flying was his best friend and love of his life Lori Myers. They were married February 23, 2003 in Chattanooga, TN.
