Amada Mendez de Giron, 94, of Cleveland, Tennessee, died on Sunday July 5, 2015.
Until her death, she was the Oldest Guatemalan Pentecostal alive. Born in Santa Cruz del Quiché, Guatemala on October 27, 1920 to a Roman Catholic family, she became part of the Pentecostal church in 1936, at the age of 16, under the ministry of Rev. Thomas Pullin, a pioneer of the Church of God in Guatemala. In 1942, she married Jorge Giron, who was a Church of God minister since 1939. Together they were instrumental in planting more than 400 churches for the Church of God in Guatemala. They served the Church of God for 56 years.
She is survived by her children and their families, Thelma and Hector Avendano, their daughters: Nelly and Guillermo Orihuela and their son Santiago, and Jacqueline Avendano. Liliana Minera de Giron, wife of deceased son, Hugo Giron, and their children: Linda and Abraham Sarmiento and their sons Abraham and David, and Hugo Ariel Giron. Jorge and Elisabeth Giron, their children and families: Paula and Roberto Escobar and their sons Josue and Eli; Esteban and Sean Giron Dowling, and Priscilla and Hiroshi Giron Ebina.Blanca Luty Giron, her children: Jennifer Ortiz, her daughter Yesenia Rodriguez; George and Marisol Ortiz and their children Jorge and Benjamin; and Jonathan Ortiz. Rodolfo “Rudy” and Alma Giron, their children: Rudy and Sara Giron and their children Margarita, Alma, Rudy and Jonathan; Marta Giron, Carolina Giron, and Karla Giron. Lester and Mercy Giron, his children: Anthony and Sarah Giron and their children Autumn and Kai Giron, Aaron and Joshua Tobin and Lillian Bishop; Ariel Giron, and Carina Giron.Roberto Alan and Telma Giron, their children: Alan and Caroline Giron and his daughter Ava Montenegro; Kristhal and Isaías Rubi, and Roberto Giron. John and Ana “Nannie,” their children: Nicole, Jorge, Gabriel and Alejandra.
A Remembrance of Life service will be held Tuesday July 7, at 7 p.m. in the International Worship Center on Central ave. Cleveland, with Bishop Jorge Giron and Dr. David Munguia officiating. The interment will follow at a later date in Los Cipreses Cemetery in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, July 7 from 5-7 p.m. at the church.
The North Ocoee St. Chapel of the Jim Rush Funeral Homes has charge of the arrangements.