Serakides, Jack (d. 1963)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1964 Jan 2 p. 5

Birth date:

text of obituary:

A Bible-Reader

Former Interpreter For Paxmen Dies in Greece

Arida Greece (MCC) — Jack Serakides, interpreter for MCC Paxmen in Tsakones from 1956-1960, died of cancer on Nov. 12.

Upon learning of Jack's serious illness and his plea for spiritual help, MCC village worker, Orpha Zimmerly, hurried to Salonika to bring comfort to the dying man. This is what she said about his passing:

'JACK HAD NEVER read the Bible until he was with Pax. There he discovered New Testament Christianity in practice and wished it in his own life. He had continued Bible reading on his own. When he was too weak to read alone, he wanted someone to read and pray with him; and so the last four weeks I was there most of the time. It wasn't until about ten days before his death that he was fully at peace with God and all fellow men.

“AT FIRST MY BEING there to read was a puzzle to the people in the apartment building and to the many visitors. I was a Protestant, a woman, and not even a Greek. They were skeptical. Little by little their fears vanished and some didn't even frown upon the visits by the Evangelical minister.

“Jack's life, his patience in suffering, and his peaceful death have been a strong witness to the love and grace of God. The last Thursday he said, 'Christ is waiting for me. I would like to receive communion.' The priest came and administered it. During the next days he asked for special prayer for his family and prayed much alone.

“Early Tuesday morning when his last hour had come he looked up and in Greek asked, 'Who is it? Who is it?' Then he said, 'Get up. Get up.' After a pause he asked in Greek, 'Now? Now?' His last words were: 'Father, Father, Father.' And soon he peacefully passed away.

“I THANKED GOD over and over that prayer had been answered, that the seed which Pax fellows had sown had borne fruit which was now harvested, God had blessed, and the whole experience has been a glory to Him.

“Even the priest said, 'What a good Christian he must have been.' Through his life and experience I am sure more seed has been sown and we have further opportunity and responsibility.

“The rest of the week I stayed with the family of the deceased to be of any possible help and comfort. They need our continued prayers and encouragement.”

While efforts are being made to find regular employment for the widow, MCC will be providing her with an allowance of fifty dollars for each of the next five months.