Rev. Braxton Luther Combs
8/19/2019
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It is with deep sadness that we inform you that our brother, Rev. Braxton Luther Combs, died on Monday, August 19, 2019.
Braxton served Roselawn UMC in San Jose; Sunnyhills UMC in Milpitas; as minister of adult education and counseling at First UMC Palo Alto; Central San Francisco UMC; as associate pastor at Temple UMC in San Francisco; and as pastor at St. Francis UMC in San Francisco, Holy Cross UMC in Stockton, and Heavenly Grace UMC in Millbrae before retiring in 1988.
Braxton enjoyed playing the guitar and writing poetry and had a passion for studying prayer. He and his wife, Marge, met in an art class and traveled to 25 different countries during their life together. Some of the highlights were serving churches in London and Paris, as well as a three-month mission trip with the Peace Corps in Morocco and Tunisia. He also visited a Taizé prayer center in France and developed a Taizé community with the Sisters of Mercy in Burlingame, CA.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret (Marge) Anne Combs, of Stockton CA; his children, Lindy Combs of Stockton CA, Annie Combs-Brooks of Los Angeles CA, Mary Combs of Aptos CA, and Lee Combs of Stockton CA; by five grandchildren; and by one great-grandchild. Condolences may be sent to Marge Combs at 2321 Franklin Avenue, Stockton, CA 95204.
The memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 14, 2019 at 1 p.m. at Holy Cross UMC, Stockton. Rev. Gary Pope-Sears will officiate.
Gifts in memory of Braxton may be sent to the Love Fund at Holy Cross UMC, 1200 W. Hammer Lane, Stockton, CA 95209, or to The Children’s Hope Community Center School for Disabled in Uganda, via Holy Cross UMC in Stockton.
Let us continue to give God thanks for Braxton’s life and witness and hold his family close in prayer. In our living and in our dying, we belong to God! (Romans 14:8)
Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño
