Pauline Skinn Harthern, Suzanne’s precious mother, went home to glory on November 2. During her 90 years, not only did she impact me immeasurably in the years I knew her, but she also touched so many others.

And what a life she lived!

Pauline Harthern was born in England, on August 31, 1930. Her parents pastored a London church for more than twenty years, then moved to the United States, where they continued ministering. 

After serving in the British Army, Roy Harthern moved to the United States in 1949. He and Pauline later married in January 1951. Roy was a talented pianist and accordionist who played as a boy at services for his preacher father, and later traveled with Smith Wigglesworth, a prominent Pentecostal evangelist. Roy and Pauline ministered as evangelists themselves throughout the United States and Europe. They served as pastors in Florida and Texas before moving to Orlando in 1970, where they began leading Calvary Assembly. During this time, Calvary Assembly grew from a few hundred members to one of America’s first megachurches. Pauline was a stalwart leader throughout these years, known for her Bible classes, which upwards of a thousand people attended each week.

As the Harthern’s ministry expanded, Pauline’s influence and prestige grew with her popular “From My Diary” columns in Charisma magazine, which she and Roy helped found. This was followed by her bestselling books, which included Miracles From My Diary, From Tragedy to Triumph, Speaking Creative Words, and The Blessings of Forgiving.

I heard a lot about Roy and Pauline Harthern when I first began traveling as a young evangelist. Little did I know how much they would impact my life, especially when Suzanne and I fell in love and later married on August 4, 1979.

It has been forty-one years since then, but in the ensuing decades, my mother-in-law’s faith stood the test of time. She watched her family expand greatly, even as she saw her new son-in-law’s ministry grow into a worldwide outreach.

She was one of the most passionate, fervent prayer warriors I’ve ever known and had an immeasurable impact through prayer for our family, our partners, the people who attended our crusades, watched our television broadcasts, and our ministry outreaches.

Only heaven will know the full extent of her life!

Psalm 116:15 proclaims, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Certainly, this is true for Pauline Harthern.

While Suzanne and I join our loved ones and ministry family in mourning the loss of this remarkable woman, we celebrate her reunion in heaven with Roy, who went to be in heaven in 2013. And we especially celebrate her being with the Lord Jesus, whom she served so faithfully.

What an extraordinary legacy she has left for each of us to follow!

She is survived by three daughters—Suzanne, Leanne, and Elizabeth, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, as well as a host of family members and ministry followers.

I can say without a shadow of a doubt, she was ready for her own passing. During many of our conversations over the years, she often spoke of going home to heaven. And now she is with the Lord as part of the “cloud of witnesses,” stated in Hebrews 12:1.

I cherish the moments I spent with Pauline here on earth, and I especially look forward to someday spending eternity with her and Roy, rejoicing around the throne in heaven!

A service honoring the remarkable life of Pauline Harthern will be held at Calvary Assembly in Winter Park, Florida, on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, at 11 a.m., with viewing beforehand from 10-11 a.m.