Keeney, Estella "Stella" Champion
Estella "Stella" Champion Keeney (1898-1930) was one of the original 12 students to enroll the first term of the Bible Training School, now Lee University.
Stella Champion [Keeney] was six days shy of her twentieth birthday on her first day of class at Bible Training School. From the local area, Stella was an office worker at the Evangel Publishing Company (later known as the Church of God Publishing House), in which building the school’s classes were held. Stella and two other workers at the Publishing House (Maud Ellis and Willie Mae Barrett) enrolled at the Bible School at the same time, and each left the school after the seventh day of class, but continued to work at the publishing house. Although it is unknown why they did not complete the first term of the Bible school, it is possible they found it difficult to balance the responsibilities of work and study. The reason remains unknown at present.
Interestingly, Champion, Ellis, and Barrett had ministered together at a revival in Hiwassee, Tennessee, in August 1917 prior to enrolling at the Bible school. At that time, Willie Mae Barrett’s father, Isom C. Barrett, was pastor of the Hiwassee Church. A report of that meeting noted, “We have just closed a two weeks meeting here. Brother Charlie Grisam was in charge, assisted by Brother and Sister White, Maud Ellis and Stella Champion. We appreciated their presence. The Lord greatly blessed them. People came to the services from miles around. Several were saved, some were sanctified and four were added to the church. The meeting closed with many hungry souls at the altar. There are many looking this way.”
Stella was employed at the publishing house when she married Sherman O. Keeney in 1928 after the death of his wife Mary, who had been a friend to Stella. Sherman and Stella lived on a farm at what is now the corner of 25th and Ocoee, where Walgreen’s is located. Together they had a son who served in World War Two and became well-known for his ability in playing the bugle.
Stella died of tuberculosis in 1930 and is buried at Fort Hill Cemetery in Cleveland, Tennessee. After her death, Sherman married again and had a daughter, who married into the local Calfee family.
/ L.F. Morgan
Stella Champion [Keeney] was six days shy of her twentieth birthday on her first day of class at Bible Training School. From the local area, Stella was an office worker at the Evangel Publishing Company (later known as the Church of God Publishing House), in which building the school’s classes were held. Stella and two other workers at the Publishing House (Maud Ellis and Willie Mae Barrett) enrolled at the Bible School at the same time, and each left the school after the seventh day of class, but continued to work at the publishing house. Although it is unknown why they did not complete the first term of the Bible school, it is possible they found it difficult to balance the responsibilities of work and study. The reason remains unknown at present.
Interestingly, Champion, Ellis, and Barrett had ministered together at a revival in Hiwassee, Tennessee, in August 1917 prior to enrolling at the Bible school. At that time, Willie Mae Barrett’s father, Isom C. Barrett, was pastor of the Hiwassee Church. A report of that meeting noted, “We have just closed a two weeks meeting here. Brother Charlie Grisam was in charge, assisted by Brother and Sister White, Maud Ellis and Stella Champion. We appreciated their presence. The Lord greatly blessed them. People came to the services from miles around. Several were saved, some were sanctified and four were added to the church. The meeting closed with many hungry souls at the altar. There are many looking this way.”
Stella was employed at the publishing house when she married Sherman O. Keeney in 1928 after the death of his wife Mary, who had been a friend to Stella. Sherman and Stella lived on a farm at what is now the corner of 25th and Ocoee, where Walgreen’s is located. Together they had a son who served in World War Two and became well-known for his ability in playing the bugle.
Stella died of tuberculosis in 1930 and is buried at Fort Hill Cemetery in Cleveland, Tennessee. After her death, Sherman married again and had a daughter, who married into the local Calfee family.
/ L.F. Morgan