Dr. Everett L. Britton

Another soldier has gone Home. Dad (Grandpop) always said that he wanted to die with his boots on and on April 10th, he was face to face with his Commander and Savior. How do you fit 101 years of faithfulness into just a few paragraphs? We are rejoicing at all the wonders and sights that he is now beholding…the place that he preached and sang about all these many, many years. We can't begin to imagine the countless number of souls that he has led to the Lord that were waiting to welcome him at the pearly gates. His life of 101 years has been one of service to his Lord. He started as a lumberjack in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. God dramatically changed his life when he was saved through the faithful witness of Claude Smith. This led him to wanting to serve his Savior full time, so off the family moved to Delaware where he attended King’s College. While there he began preaching. He and his wife Jane saw a need in their neighborhood to start a Vacation Bible School for the children. This eventually grew to having regular church services for both children and adults in his garage and the rooms in his house. Thus, Fairwinds Community Church was born in 1953, later to be known as Fairwinds Baptist Church. 70 years of faithful service and a hunger to win more and more souls, he along with his wife of 57 years, Mary Jane, who passed in 2000, served with all their hearts to see souls saved. His testimony has always been focused on winning as many people to the Lord as he possibly could. Even on his death bed he said that he wanted to win someone to Christ. His life exemplified his faithfulness and zeal to spread the gospel to as many places he could and to as many people as he could. He viewed every life situation as an opportunity to try to lead someone to Christ. So many people were touched by his testimony. Through the years he has used TV and Radio, and “He Keeps Me Singing” is still on the radio even today, as a way to spread the gospel. Through his concern of children not being taught to love and serve God, Fairwinds Christian School was born in 1972. Countless students have passed through these halls all having heard about Jesus and His saving grace and many made the decision to “follow Jesus.” Many preachers have risen up in our family and many churches have been birthed and thrive because of his testimony. Many students have gone on to pastor churches, become missionaries, and godly businessmen and women. And so, the legacy keeps growing. In 2007 he met and married Joyce. She has been such a joy to dad and has loved and cared for him for 15 years and she has become a much-loved member of the Britton family. There is not enough paper to write all the lives that his life has influenced and touched. We can almost hear, Matthew 25:23, “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Then the triumphant declaration of Dad’s favorite verse, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21 Heaven has truly gained an amazing witness and testimony and a faithful soldier of the cross. He is predeceased by his first wife, Mary Jane and his son, Gary Thomas Britton. He leaves a very large family. His wife Joyce, his children: Everett Wayne Britton and wife Janet, Velina Britton (husband Gary Britton deceased), Trudy Britton Wilkerson (husband Frank deceased), Debby Britton DeStefano and husband Pastor Carlo DeStefano, Pastor Tim Britton and wife Janet, Becky Britton Weight and husband Jack, stepdaughter Danelle Mangini and husband Tony, stepdaughter Stephanie Gamble and husband Tom. 37 grandchildren and their spouses, 43 great grandchildren and their spouses, and 2 great-great grandchildren. Dr. Britton’s Celebration Service will be held on Friday, April 14th at Fairwinds Baptist Church. There will be a visitation for the public between 10 and 12 noon. His Celebration Service will be at 12 noon and will be streamed live on our church website www.fairwindsbaptist.com. Go to the media tab at the top of the page. Because of the great number of those who will be attending, the family will not be standing at the front so that we can allow as many people to pay their respects to Dr. Britton as possible. The family will be happy to greet everyone after the committal in the school gym for a luncheon. Dr. Britton was passionate about raising money for the FCS gym renovation so we ask that no flowers be sent but instead a gift towards the new gym floor would be the best way to honor him. Please give using this link or baskets will be provided in the lobby at his Celebration Service. https://gofan.co/app/events/971457?schoolId=DE67401 For directions or to send an online condolence, visit www.stranofeeley.com

Dr. Everett L. Britton

April 10, 2023

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