Naomi Ward Randall, a former leader in the LDS Church's Primary organization who penned the lyrics to the popular hymn "I Am a Child of God," died May 17, 2001, from causes incident to age.
She was 92 and living at her daughter's home in La Mesa, Calif.
Mrs. Randall's daughter, Phyllis R. Oakes, issued a statement Saturday saying her mother was a leader, writer, and teacher of those who work with children.
Mrs. Randall served 27 years on the Primary General Board of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Six of those years she served as a counselor to the Primary president.
She wrote hymns, lesson manuals and Bible picture stories. Her writings were also published in The Friend magazine, an LDS Church publication for children.
But it was the hymn "I Am a Child of God" that was Mrs. Randall's most enduring work, having been translated into more than 140 languages and sung by LDS Church members throughout the world.
The lyrics of the noted song came to her as an answer to prayer, the statement said, after receiving an assignment from her church leaders to write a new song for a Primary General Conference
Mrs. Randall was born Oct. 5, 1908, to Lorenzo and Mary Barker Ward. She grew up on a dairy and cattle farm in rural North Ogden, Utah, the third of six children. Her husband, the late Earl A. Randall, was prominent in food processing and banking.
Funeral is scheduled for Tuesday, May 22, at 11 a.m. at El Cajon Stake Center in El Cajon, Calif. Burial will be in the Ben Lomond-North Ogden, Utah, cemetery.
A memorial service will be Thursday, May 24, at 1 p.m. at North Ogden Utah Coldwater Stake Center, 770 E. 2100 North, North Ogden.