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Foy E. Wallace, Jr., was born September 30, 1896, in a farm house surrounded by cotton fields, a few miles south of Belcherville, in Montague County, Texas. He often said that he was born in the middle of a cotton field. His father, Foy E. Wallace, Sr., was one of the most prominent preachers in Texas, and led the fight with many others against the missionary societies and instrumental music in the worship of the churches. His mother was Martha Anne (Mattie) Higgins, a very devout student of the Bible and the daughter of Marcus D. Lafayette Higgins, who was an elder and part-time preacher in the church, and Martha Jane Harvey, whose family numbered many members of the church.
While a student at Thorp Springs, Texas, he preached his first sermon at Stephenville, Texas, at the age of 15. He soon had all the appointments and meetings he could hold, partly because of his father's reputation, but mainly because of his precocity and innate ability. Everyone seemed to want to hear "Little Foy." Long after he was married, he was still advertised as the "boy preacher."
On one of his preaching appointments, in Belton, Texas, he met a vivacious and beautiful girl, Virgie Brightwell, to whom he gave his heart and from whom he never swerved in absolute devotion for 65 years. She was the daughter of William Henry Brightwell and Nancy Jane Edds, the youngest child, born 10 years after the family had lost their three youngest children in one month during a terrible epidemic. She had come from her home in Temple with her father to hear the "boy preacher." They were married November 29, 1914, she at age 16, he at age 18.
During these years, the question of premillennialism was plaguing the brotherhood. At first, almost single-handedly, and then with many devoted co-workers, Foy E. Wallace, Jr., waged a successful fight to keep premillennialism out of churches of Christ. First, from the pages of the Gospel Advocate, then from his own papers, the Bible Banner, the original Gospel Guardian, and Torch, he covered the brotherhood with his own effective writing and with that of the most talented men in the church in his determined fight that error "shall not pass." In this work, he depended greatly upon the pen of his brother, Cled E. Wallace. Through his writings and preaching, he also effectively championed the Christian's right to bear arms for his country. He opposed the support of colleges and schools from the treasury of the church. In his later years, he waged a relentless war against the perversions of the scriptures in the new translations and versions of the Bible.
In his meetings he literally baptized hundreds. In one meeting at Lomita, Texas, there were over 100 baptisms, the youngest being 16 years of age. There were 25 who came from the Baptist Church, including several of their deacons, and 40 from the Methodist Church. His debates were classics, and also resulted in many conversions.
Many of the large churches were closed to him in those years, partly because of the length of his sermons, which often far exceeded an hour in length. Where he did go, the listeners invariably commented that the time had passed so rapidly that they were unaware that he had spoken so long until the sermon was over. It pleased him that the young took to his preaching so enthusiastically; they, for the most part, had never heard anything like it before.
He was entirely contented and happy to go where he was wanted and needed, and he helped countless small and rural churches. When he died, there were appointments waiting to be filled in California, Texas, Tennessee, and Florida.
He was the author of more than a dozen books which have greatly influenced young preachers and members of the church. His book "God's Prophetic Word," is considered a classic in its field and is used as a textbook in colleges and schools of preaching. Among his other books are "The Book of Revelation," "Bulwarks of the Faith," "The Gospel for Today," "The Christian and Government," "The Sermon on the Mount and the Civil State," "The Story of the NorrisWallace Debate," "The Neal-Wallace Debate," "Number One Gospel Sermons," "A Review of the New Versions," "The Present Truth," and "The Instrumental Music Question."
He was devoted to his children and to his grandchildren. Two of his sons, Wilson and William (Bill) are preachers. His daughter, Martha Jane, is married to a gospel preacher, Richard E. Black. His eldest son, Taylor, and his daughter, Lee Ella, are also members of the church.
If ever a man fought a good fight, kept the faith, and finished the course, Foy E. Wallace, Jr., did. He rests from his labors and his works do follow him. Survivors included his wife, Virgie; his three sons, Wilson Wallace, William Wallace, and Taylor Wallace; two daughters, Mrs. Richard E. Black and Lee Ella.
—In Memoriam, Gussie Lambert, c.1988, Pages 277-281
