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Becky & Charles Wallace
Camille Anding
“I do not want to marry a
She was a sophomore like Charles,
too nervous to ask her out on a
of 1977. After their second date,
minister!” It was Becky Flowers,
enrolled in Mississippi College.
date. “I was afraid she would turn
Charles knew he had found the
the daughter of the minister at
He was pursuing a ministry
me down,” he said.
one he wanted to be his bride. He
First Baptist Church Senatobia,
degree to answer God’s call to be
On one occasion, Becky was
still remembers praying about his
that made that hardline statement
a minister of music. Becky was a
walking into the Aven Music
feelings for Becky and asking God
during her dad’s thirty-three-year
gifted pianist and vocalist, so she
Building on campus, headed for
permission to marry her if they
ministry. Perhaps it was the
was headed toward a music degree.
practice with the musical group,
were still dating in October.
preachers’ kids living in a fishbowl
Their futures appeared to be
“The Naturals.” She was wearing
They weren’t only still dating;
for all the church members to
aligning.
a shorter performing costume
they were talking about marriage.
observe. Or it could have been the
Toward the end of their college
than the dress length of that day,
It was during a family gathering
24/7 on-call hours that she saw her
days, they double dated but not
and Charles shouted through the
at Thanksgiving that Charles
dad manage. There could have
with each other. Charles remem-
crowd to Becky, “Hey, swing it!”
dropped to one knee and
been multiple, sound reasons for
bers sitting across from Becky on
Becky was shocked at his attention-
proposed. Becky said, “Yes,” and
Becky’s elimination of ministers as
one of those dates to get pizza and
getting cheer, but Charles said that
ran squealing through the house,
a future spouse, but God had other
wondering what it would be like to
he couldn’t resist because she had
showing off her ring. In June of
plans.
date Becky. Her merry laughter
the prettiest legs on campus!
1978 they were married.
It was in a music theory class
and that sparkle in her eyes made
It wasn’t until Charles was
Becky’s dad escorted her down
when Charles Wallace first
an impression that stayed with
enrolled in seminary in New
the church aisle in the First Baptist
noticed Becky turning the corner
him for the next months. There
Orleans that he asked Becky for a
Church of Senatobia. Charles
as she entered the same class.
was only one problem. Charles was
date. She agreed. That was in June
nearly rubbed the creases out of
10 • JANUARY 2024