Brother Dion Ainsworth, 61, of Beaumont, died Saturday, May 18, 2013, at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, Beaumont. He was born on September 20, 1951, to Virginia Sygalas Ainsworth and William Claiborne Ainsworth, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and had been a resident of the Beaumont area since 1979. Brother Dion was the Director of Ministry Evangelism for the Golden Triangle Baptist Association/Network.
Brother Dion graduated from LSU in 1973 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology and was a lifelong LSU fan. He earned a Master’s of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Brother Dion passionately delivered God’s love to the needy as he spent most of his life serving the homeless, abused, and neglected of Southeast Texas. For more than thirty years he worked with at-risk youth at Opportunity Camp. He served the homeless at Calvary House Emergency Homeless Shelter and family members of inmates at Shepherds Inn Gaspard Center.
Survivors include his wife, Jody Ainsworth of Beaumont; sons, Caleb Claiborne Ainsworth of Alexandria, Louisiana; Jared Meredith Ainsworth of Beaumont; and Benjamin Lee Ainsworth and his wife, Kayla Michelle, of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey; mother, Virginia S. Ainsworth; and brother, Clay Ainsworth and his wife, Cheryl, all of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; his best friend and dog, Sugarfoot II; and numerous other family and friends.
A gathering of Brother Dion’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 22, 2013, at North End Baptist Church, 5115 Eastex Freeway, Beaumont, with interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.
Memorial contributions may be made to Christian Life Crisis Intervention Inc. (Shepherd’s Inn Gaspard Center or Calvary House Emergency Homeless Shelter), P.O. Box 20618, Beaumont, Texas 77720; Opportunity Camp, P.O. Box 7728, Beaumont, Texas 77726; or to any other Baptist Network ministry of your choice.
