Paul Hedrick Epps, 88, died June 14 in a Dallas nursing center. He was born in Booneville, Ark., March 20, 1914 to Robert and Leola Hicks Epps. He attended West Texas State College and graduated from the Hartford School of Music in Arkansas. Epps served as the pulpit minister at Northside church, Temple, Texas, from 1964-67 and later served as the associate minister from 1982-88. He lived in Temple for 19 years before moving to Lewisville, Texas, in 2001. He served as a minister or song director for several Oklahoma and Louisiana congregations and conducted singing schools nationwide. He taught for the Haskell, Texas, singing school 30 years and the Camp Hensel Music School at Travis Peak, Texas, for more than 25 years. He published more than 20 songs. Survivors include his wife, Josephine, Lewisville, Texas; three sons, all of Texas: Barry, Lake Dallas; Robert, Fort Stockton; and Joel, Bedford; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Memorials may be sent to the music department of Lubbock Christian University, Lubbock, Texas, or Temple Christian School, Temple, Texas. -- Christian Chronicle, July 2002.

His hymnal lyrics included, "God's Mercy and Love" and "Jesus Knows and Cares." He wrote the music to "I Want To See Heaven."

"Paul H. Epps was born March 20, 1914 in Booneville, Arkansas. He lived in Muskogee, Oklahoma from 1923 to 1945. He attended West Texas University in Canyon, Texas. He was marred in 1937 to Josephine Rachel Osburn of Muskogee. They have three sons: Barry Paul of Dallas, Texas; Roger Clint of Ft. Stockton, Texas; and Joel Lynn, who is attending Court Reporting School in Abilene, Texas. He was baptized into Christ in Muskogee in November 1942. In 1945, he began full-time local work in Waxahachie, Texas as associate minister, educational director and song leader. He served in these duties from three congregation for nine years. He served as local preacher for twenty-three and one-half years in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. He moved to Lake Charles from Shawnee, Oklahoma, where he had worked with the Tenth and Bell congregation for three years. His deep interest in music goes back many years. He studied rudiments and harmony in summer singing schools. He studied voice under W.W. Combs. He has been associated with L. O. Sanderson in Music Normals since 1945. He has taught in music camps at Lubbock Christian College and the Firm Foundation Music Camp. He has directed singing in meetings with many gospel preachers including Jimmy Allen, Mack Lyon, George Benson, John Bannister, and Willard Collins. He is author and composer of gospel songs. Several songs have been published in several books and hymnals. His song "Jesus Knows and Cares" will be treasured for time to come. Brother Epps would like to say to all of us, 'To God be the glory as we work together for the advancement of the kingdom of God.'"-- Our Garden of Song, Edited by Gene C. Finley, 1980.

Paul Hedrick Epps, 88, died June 14 in a Dallas nursing center. He was born in Booneville, Ark., March 20, 1914 to Robert and Leola Hicks Epps. He attended West Texas State College and graduated from the Hartford School of Music in Arkansas. Epps served as the pulpit minister at Northside church, Temple, Texas, from 1964-67 and later served as the associate minister from 1982-88. He lived in Temple for 19 years before moving to Lewisville, Texas, in 2001. He served as a minister or song director for several Oklahoma and Louisiana congregations and conducted singing schools nationwide. He taught for the Haskell, Texas, singing school 30 years and the Camp Hensel Music School at Travis Peak, Texas, for more than 25 years. He published more than 20 songs. Survivors include his wife, Josephine, Lewisville, Texas; three sons, all of Texas: Barry, Lake Dallas; Robert, Fort Stockton; and Joel, Bedford; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Memorials may be sent to the music department of Lubbock Christian University, Lubbock, Texas, or Temple Christian School, Temple, Texas. -- Christian Chronicle, July 2002.

His hymnal lyrics included, "God's Mercy and Love" and "Jesus Knows and Cares." He wrote the music to "I Want To See Heaven."

"Paul H. Epps was born March 20, 1914 in Booneville, Arkansas. He lived in Muskogee, Oklahoma from 1923 to 1945. He attended West Texas University in Canyon, Texas. He was marred in 1937 to Josephine Rachel Osburn of Muskogee. They have three sons: Barry Paul of Dallas, Texas; Roger Clint of Ft. Stockton, Texas; and Joel Lynn, who is attending Court Reporting School in Abilene, Texas. He was baptized into Christ in Muskogee in November 1942. In 1945, he began full-time local work in Waxahachie, Texas as associate minister, educational director and song leader. He served in these duties from three congregation for nine years. He served as local preacher for twenty-three and one-half years in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. He moved to Lake Charles from Shawnee, Oklahoma, where he had worked with the Tenth and Bell congregation for three years. His deep interest in music goes back many years. He studied rudiments and harmony in summer singing schools. He studied voice under W.W. Combs. He has been associated with L. O. Sanderson in Music Normals since 1945. He has taught in music camps at Lubbock Christian College and the Firm Foundation Music Camp. He has directed singing in meetings with many gospel preachers including Jimmy Allen, Mack Lyon, George Benson, John Bannister, and Willard Collins. He is author and composer of gospel songs. Several songs have been published in several books and hymnals. His song "Jesus Knows and Cares" will be treasured for time to come. Brother Epps would like to say to all of us, 'To God be the glory as we work together for the advancement of the kingdom of God.'"-- Our Garden of Song, Edited by Gene C. Finley, 1980.