Alfords honored at family dinner for 50th jubilee

YOUNGSTOWN -- The Rev. and Mrs. Jay Alford of 18 Lakewood Circle were honored June 28 at a family dinner at Tippecanoe Country Club in Canfield in observance of their golden wedding anniversary.
Hosts for the celebration were the couple's children, Justin Alford of Marion, Iowa; Jason Alford of Boardman; Jayetta Brookhart of Canfield; and Janna Alford of Jackson, Tenn. Eight grandchildren complete their family.
The Rev. Alford and the former Shirley Hurt were married June 26, 1952, at Central Assembly of God Church in Little Rock, Ark. He served as pastor of churches in Nashville, Tenn., and Springfield, Ill., before becoming senior pastor of Highway Tabernacle Assembly of God, where he served for 28 years until retiring in February. He is pastor emeritus of the church where he continues to work as a missionary to the city of Youngstown through the Hope for Youngstown ministry. He also is active with other ministries, including Eagle Heights Academy, Grace Place Medical Services and Jubilee Urban Renewal Corp.
His wife served as choir director at the church for many years.