The following is a written tribute that I gave for Dorothy at the Celebration Service following her funeral on Wednesday 14th December 2011. It was a wonderful service with a large attendance. I have also included the programme at the end of this tribute. There were three tributes given during the service and further tributes were given by Liz Jones who read the tribute given by Sandra O'Grady, who was unable to attend (which is also included later on), my pastor Richard Woods, Paul Dalton, a lifelong friend who was the best man at our wedding, who gave the reading, Kath Yates who sang both at this service and also at our wedding, and Paul Epton who led the service and preached the message. I have also given a selection of other tributes given from various sources such as Facebook, e-mails, and sympathy cards. I have included a number of photos of Dorothy from the past, being those included in the tribute and some others which I have added. As time goes on I may add other photos.

"Dorothy was born in Wigan in January 1941, the only child of Charles and Esther Swift. The early years of her life were spent in the house belonging to her grandmother Swift with whom Dorothy lived with her parents until she died in 1960. She had a very good upbringing and her grandmother, born in 1872 was certainly somebody who saw many changes in her life, having lived though the reign of six Monarchs and sixteen Prime Ministers, including Gladstone and Disraeli. Dorothy went to school in Wigan and at the age of 16 years left Grammar school in order to commence employment in a library where she worked for the next 18 years or so.

As with many children in those days she was involved in her local church, St Marks C of E and was for quite a while a Sunday school teacher. At the age of 18 years, however, she went on holiday to Llandudno and whilst there came across a group of young people ministering on the beach from the United Beach Missions and she was greatly challenged by the Gospel message that they preached. When she got home she went to see her friend Anne (who is giving a testimonial today) and persuaded her to go with her to see the Curate of the church in order to get themselves right with God and they were both "born again" that night. Dorothy went on that same beach team a few years later and during the years of our married life she would often ask me to take her to Llandudno during August in order that she could testify of how her life had been so wonderfully changed by the ministry of that team, all those years previously.

In 1975, by which time Dorothy was attending the Assembly of God Church in Golborne, near Wigan, I met her briefly whilst she was visiting my church in Birkenhead, and a couple of months later I met her again at a convention in Golborne where Sandra O'Grady, her pastor's wife, became instrumental in bringing us together and we were married the following year.

For the first six months of our married life we lived above a shop in Church Road, near St Catherine's Hospital, before moving to a house in the Tranmere Hall Estate. The church that we attended was the Assembly of God in Willmer Road (now Hillside Christian Centre), until it closed for a period of time, at which time we moved to Wirral Christian Centre. Just prior to that, however, somebody spoke to Dorothy to the effect that God was leading her into seeking Him in prayer and that as she devoted herself to that He would use her and cause her to become a joy to many people in her life. I can honestly say that Dorothy was faithful to that calling and as many people will know, prayer became an important part of her life and ministry. I can well remember when she once went out to be prayed for at a Marilyn Harry meeting that one of her co-workers who didn't know Dorothy declared before the congregation that here was a prayer warrior, and she was so right. I have no doubt that Dorothy will be greeted with the words "well done, good and faithful servant." In a tribute that I gave to Dorothy on Facebook many people made comments in response but one of those that stood out for me was one which said that "she was always full of joy, and left a lasting impression on everyone she met" and that, I believe, summed up her life so well. Many people would also comment on her lovely smile and even when she was so ill during the last few weeks of her life in hospital she still managed to smile at all who came into contact with her.

After we had been married for some years Dorothy's mum came to live with us and we moved to a larger house in Cavendish Drive, where she looked after her for many years and also helped to look after my own mum in our house during the last few years of her life. She did for quite a while help in the Luncheon Club at WCC and later on at the Language School at the City Church in Liverpool, and both of these ministries were ones that she really loved and gave her real fulfilment in her life. Dorothy always had a keen interest in missionary work and especially had a great heart for the suffering church in other lands, and she also for many years fervently prayed that there would be a revival of the Christian faith in our land.

I do count it a privilege and honour that God entrusted me to be the husband of such a beautiful and lovely person for 35 years. She enriched the lives of so many people, not least my own. There were times when she had great difficulties in her life, but she had such a strong faith in God that enabled her to come through those difficult times. She was a totally unselfish person and would so often put other people before herself. Only a couple of months ago whilst in the reception at the hospital, having waited quite a while for a porter to take her to the Dialysis Ward, when he eventually arrived she asked him to take another lady first who had come after her, because she felt that her need was greater than her own. That was so typical of Dorothy and was in direct contrast to the selfish attitude that we see in so many people in these days.

This last year hasn't been an easy one for both of us, but she never complained and she knew that she might not survive with all that was wrong with her. Though I will miss her terribly I can now rejoice with her, knowing that she is now with the Lord whom she loved so much, where there will be no more pain or suffering. To be with Christ, which is far better (1 Philippians 1:23). Our loss though is Heaven's gain. Dorothy has gone ahead of us, but I do believe that the day will not be far hence when those of us who have trusted in Christ, will all meet up again when the trumpet will sound and we shall be caught up to be together and forever be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)."

My dear sister in Christ and fellow labourer in the Lord.

My late husband and I had the great pleasure of knowing Dorothy for approximately 47 years, long before we became her pastors in Golborne, near Wigan. So although everyone in church was important to us and became an extended family, Dorothy was the long standing one in our lives, in all those years we knew most things about each other. I don't suppose that most of our members knew that Dorothy and I for some time spent an hour or two mid-week before services commenced, in fellowship and prayer.

Her life was an open book for all to read of her love and devotion to her Master, her conversation was testimony to this also. A loving, compassionate, giving life that emulated Christ's likeness - wherever she went and whoever she came in contact with, there was a light that shone from within her, that many people could see on her face and in fact made mention of through the years, the light and life of Jesus shining through a human being.

I was in a way instrumental in Dorothy and Geoff coming together. I never did much matchmaking in my life but was so glad to have been a part in their union. Surely a match made in Heaven.

I remember well the day they got married. My husband officiated, I was Matron of Honour and our daughter Sharon was bridesmaid. Dorothy walked down the isle, her face radiant, singing aloud "Praise my soul the King of Heaven"; it was something very special that I have never forgotten, having attended many Christian weddings over the years, I have never heard another bride ever do the same…What a unique Christian bride….. and her main priority on that special day was to praise and worship her Master. One of the verses of that beautiful hymn goes like this, "Angels help us to adore Him, ye behold Him face to face". Dorothy is now experiencing what she sang so joyously on her wedding day, she is now seeing her Master face to face.

As a young woman she asked the Lord Jesus Christ to save her soul and received His forgiveness, peace and presence with her in life. Money and no-one could ever have brought this peace, joy, and contentment into her life, but Him.

Dorothy's desire and prayer was that everyone would have this same experience and know her Saviour.

I salute you in Christ Jesus, Dorothy, for you were steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the service of your Master.

You will be greatly missed because your seat will be empty (1 Samuel 20:18).

Others (a selection)

Today I believe that her twinkling smile has broken into full radiance. Earth is the poorer. Not many people could pray like Dorothy prayed. We who remain must press forward in prayer for our missionaries, for the suffering church and for our desperate need of revival.

                                             7th January 1941 - 14th December 2011

                                                               Aged 70 years

                                                                Service at:

                                              Wirral Christian Centre, Woodchurch Road

                                                                Birkenhead

Prayer - Rev. Richard Woods

Anne Vell

Sandra O'Grady - read by Liz Jones

Tribute - Mary Smith

Musical Tribute - The Lord's my shepherd - sung by Kath Yates.

Ministry of the Word - Rev. Paul Epton

Closing prayer