Category: Death Notice(s)

Sunday

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

~Psalm 55:22 (NIV)~

 

Koltyn Gafford

Last Saturday morning

Just wanted to update all our Prayer Warriors. Koltyn is stable now. He has a slight temp. O2 has been dropped from 100% to 70% so he is breathing a lil on his own. A second chest x-ray was taken abt 3:30 this morning and they said it looks as though there is a very slight positive change but not much. We’ll take any kind of positive change!! He is resting much easier now. Thank you all for prayers. We are extremely blessed to have such an awesome community & social media family to think of us during such a difficult time. I’m just so ready to hear that sweet lil voice call out to me.

Late last night

Koltyn is continues to slowly improve. They are slowly weaning his ventilator. His blood pressure and pulse remain stable and has not required any increase in medications. He continues to run a low grade temp which is expected under these circumstances. His pupils react to light which is wonderful. He does have some spontaneous movements. We will update you all again in the morning after his doctor makes rounds. Again we appreciate your love, calls, and prayers. Your prayers are working! …the Gaffords, Russell’s and Newman family.

Kai Harris Relan was born Christmas Eve and has needed some special attention.  His parents are Jordan and Mechelle Relan.

The baby spent Christmas in NICU at North Oaks.  He has an infection and will spend about ten days in the hospital getting antibiotics.  He has had a spinal tap to check on the infection possibly moving to the brain, but that was clear.  Now, he has been moved to intermediate care.  The parents thank those who have been praying.  It looks like Kai doesn’t have any big problems.

“RETIRED FORMER JUDGE WILL BE LAID TO REST MONDAY IN FRANKLINTON” (Judge James)

http://www.actionnews17.com/Home/retired-former-judge-will-be-laid-to-rest-monday-in-franklinton-218392

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering – “Grateful for Collective Giving” – http://www.imb.org/main/lottie-moon/lmcoatworkview.asp?PageNavID=111&StoryID=13341&LanguageID=1709#.VJ_vtcAAs

Devotional, Scripture, and a Song

  • “A Piece of the Puzzle” – http://odb.org/2013/11/13/a-piece-of-the-puzzle/
  • God has set the members,                                                                                        each one of them,                                                                                                          in the body just as He pleased.                                                                                               ~1 Corinthians 12:18~
  • “Count Your Blessings” –  http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/c/o/u/countyou.htm 

Today, as I count my blessings for another year, I am blessed in many ways.  One is extra special today!  I’m so excited.  The Hatchel family arrived mid afternoon yesterday and Boyd and Jennie will be speaking at FBC, K at 10:30 this morning.  That makes me especially blessed today!

Anna Lee

Obituary for Mr. Joe

Joseph J. Williams, Jr.
Born: October 18, 1919
Died: December 25, 2014

Joseph J. Williams, Jr., a faithful servant of our Lord Jesus, passed away on December 25, 2014. He was born October 18, 1919 to Joe Williams, Sr. and Frankie Fortenberry Williams in Kentwood, La. He was a WWII Veteran having served from June 10, 1942 to November 3, 1945. Before entering the service, he went to Southeastern Louisiana University for 2 years and later married Othell Stewart on December 21, 1941 and this week celebrated their 73rd anniversary. After the war, he worked at Baugh Chemical in Baltimore, MD before coming to Baton Rouge where he worked for Lily Creamery. He and his wife opened Williams Florist and worked it for about 5 years. He then went to work for Kleinpeter’s Farm Dairy as an accountant and retired in January 1980 and returned to Kentwood. He started teaching young boys in Sunday School at Fairfields Baptist Church in 1954. He later taught men’s classes at Oakcrest Baptist and when he returned to Kentwood, he started teaching the men’s class at First Baptist Church of Kentwood, holding classes in the later years in the old courthouse across the street from the church until about 2003. In addition to his wife, Othell, he is survived by 3 sons, Johnny Williams, Loren Williams and Darryl Williams and wife, Barbara; sister, Helen Sumrall; 8 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Stanley Williams and sister, Eleanor Ledoux. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 10 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 27, 2014. Services conducted by Rev. Joey Miller and Bro. Charles Thompson. Interment will follow in Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
http://www.mckneelys.com/home/index.cfm/obituaries/view/fh_id/10545/id/2881047

Christmas Death

Mr. Joe Williams, 95, went to Heaven.  I’ll post his obituary after arrangements are made this afternoon.  God blessed all those who knew him!  Mr. Joe  and “Miss” Othelle were married 73 years!  They have three sons who have been faithful to be with their parents these last few years.

Christmas Eve

While they were there,  

the time came for the baby to be born,

and she gave birth to her firstborn,

a son.

She wrapped him in cloths

and placed him in a manger,

because there was no room for them in the inn.

~Luke 2:6-7~

 

Tornado Damage

I’m thanking God for the lives spared when the tornado hit the area of highway 16 and Chicken Farm Road just east of Amite.  These families will have much to thank God for this year.  At the same time, I pray for the families of those lost in Columbia, MS.

Aubrey Stokes’ Obituary

December 14, 1925 – December 20, 2014

http://www.crainfh.com/mobile/obituaries-details.cfm?o_id=2879304&fh_id=13316&forcelayout=mobile#obituaries

Christmas Eve Services

  • Pine Ridge United Methodist Church – 5:00 P.M.
  • Hillsdale Baptist Church – 6:30 P.M.
  • Osyka Baptist Church – 6:00 P.M.

Christmas Service

Spring Creek Baptist Church

  • 6:00 Thursday in new church facilities
  • Silent Lord’s Supper

Baptist Press – bpnews.net

Great articles for the Christmas season!

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Give so this family and other families like them can stay on the field another year to share the gospel message.

http://www.commissionstories.com/africa/videos/view/missionaries-celebrate-christmas-in-west-africa

Devotionals, Scriptures, and a Song

  • http://odb.org/2014/12/23/what-really-matters-4                                                                  ~2 Corinthians 9:15~
  • Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!                                                                                                                                              ~2 Corinthians 9:15~

 

  • http://odb.org/2014/12/24/lasting-peace/
  • He Himself is our peace,                                                                                                                                       who has made both one,                                                                                                                                 and has broken down the middle wall of separation.                                                                                                                                                      ~Ephesians 2:14~

Be sure to invite Jesus into your family time this special day!

Anna Lee

Sunday

Shout for joy, O heavens;

rejoice, O earth;

burst into song, O mountains!

For the LORD comforts his people

and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

Isaiah 49:13 (NIV)

Church News for Today
  • Line Creek
    • Santa Claus in the Fellowship Hall @ 4:30 p.m
    • Christmas Candlelight Service @ 6:00 p.m.
  • New Zion
    • Christmas Lunch following morning worship
    • No P.M. services
  • FBC, Kentwood
    • Missions March and Lord’s Supper at 10:30
    • Family Supper at 5:00
    • Candlelight caroling at 6:00
Ethel Nettles Hyde

Born: December 09, 1936
Died: December 20, 2014

http://www.mckneelys.com/home/index.cfm/obituaries/view/fh_id/10545/id/2877718

Good Reading 

Devotional, Scripture, and a Song

  • “Just the Right Time” – http://odb.org/
  • Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come.                                                                                                                                                        ~Hebrews 9:11~                                                                    And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,                                                        keeping watch over their flocks at night.                                                                                              An angel of the Lord appeared to them,                                                                                              and the glory of the Lord shone around them,                                                                            and they were terrified.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       ~Luke 2:8-9 NIV~
  • “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” – http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/t/itcameup.htm

This season is about Jesus.  Please go to Sunday School and church at the church of your choice.  Attend some special Christmas events.  Thank God for the greatest gift ever given, Jesus.

Anna Lee

Thursday

In that day they will say,

“Surely this is our God;

we trusted in him, and he saved us.

This is the LORD, we trusted in him;

let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

~Isaiah 25:9~

 

Mrs. Alice Faye Lee fell Tuesday night and broke her shoulder.  She saw a specialist in Baton Rouge yesterday.  Pray for her as she heals.
Clinton H. “Bud” Callihan, Sr.

Born: May 19, 1929
Died: December 16, 2014

http://www.mckneelys.com/home/index.cfm?action=public:obituaries.view&o_id=2865611&fh_id=10545

Shared by my friend, Carol Bennett Sealey, who worked processing “shoeboxes” in Atlanta last week:

Just learned that yesterday the Atlanta Processing Center finished processing 1,445,117 boxes for 2014. Wow!!! That’s a lot of souls that will be touched and witnessed to. I am so excited that I was able to be a part of a group from our church that went and participated in this awesome event.

Spring Creek Baptist Church Drama Team

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEoX9X46W0k&sns=fb

Devotional, Scripture, and a Song

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

  •  Sunday, at FBC, Kentwood, we will have a missions march to show support for missionaries.  Gifts can be received at that time or later.
  • Quotes from Lottie’s time in China
    • “What we need in China is more workers. The harvest is very great, the laborers, oh! So few. Why does the Southern Baptist church lag behind in this great work?”
      Nov. 1, 1873, Tungchow
    •  “How many there are … who imagine that because Jesus paid it all, they need pay nothing, forgetting that the prime object of their salvation was that they should follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ in bringing back a lost world to God.”
      Sept. 15, 1887, Tungchow
    • “Why should we not … instead of the paltry offerings we make, do something that will prove that we are really in earnest in claiming to be followers of him who, though he was rich, for our sake became poor?”
      Sept. 15, 1887, Tungchow

Third Thursday (TONIGHT) – Tonight at 6:30 at the Alford cabin

Friday Morning Bible Study

  • Tomorrow at 10:00
  • Studying Lois and Eunice
  • Acts 16:1-3 &  2 Timothy 1:1-8

Pregnancy Testing, Questions Answered, Information Shared 

  • Friday (9:00-4:00)
  • The vehicle will be parked at Hope Center on Highway 51 in Roseland.

Baptist Press –  bpnews.net

Share the spirit of Christmas and the true reason for Christmas with someone today.

Anna Lee

Saturday

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign:

The virgin will be with child

and will give birth to a son,

and will call him Immanuel.  

~Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)~

 

Ora Lee Wilson said her sister and both nephews who were so sick last week are all home and hopefully continuing to improve.  She and her family are thankful of your prayers.  Please continue to pray for them.

Bobby Lawson was able to come home from North Oaks midday yesterday.  The family thanks you for praying.  Please continue to do so.

Martha Traylor seems to have had a reaction to medication and an infection.  More tests are being done.  Please pray for her and her family.

Porgie Scarle has completed the 4th round of chemo.  He’s weak, but hanging in there thanks.  His family is very supportive.  Please pray for Porgie and his family as they endure these difficult days.

Billy Hawkins

Born: December 22, 1934
Died: December 12, 2014                                                                 http://www.mckneelys.com/home/index.cfm/obituaries/view/fh_id/10545/id/2859953

Baptist Press –  bpnews.net

The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering helps to support the Lane family and many others around the world.  After watching the video and reading the story, consider supporting their missionary endeavor in Sudan.  You can do this through any Southern Baptist Church. 

http://www.commissionstories.com/africa/videos/view/its-risky-business-for-missionaries-serving-in-africa

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,                                       that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.                                                                                                                                                         ~John 3:16~

Devotional, Scripture, and a Song

  • “Another Hero of Christmas” – http://odb.org/2014/12/13/another-hero-of-christmas/
  • Joseph her husband,                                                                                                   being a just man,                                                                                                       and not wanting to make her a public example,                                               was minded to put her away secretly.                                                                                                                                  ~Matthew 1:19~
  • “Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine” – http://www.oldielyrics.com/christmas/joseph_dearest_joseph_mine.html

I do not know the Christmas carol, but found it this morning after reading the devotional for today.  As you look and listen to it, notice the many stanzas, quite different from the current style of writing.  Joseph was surely a special man to have been chose to be the earthy father of Jesus.

Looking ahead to tomorrow.

  • Line Creek will have their Christmas musical tomorrow morning.
  • FBC, Kentwood will have their musical, “Joy, Joy, Joy”, at 6:00 P.M. tomorrow.
  • New Zion Baptist Church will do their musical tomorrow morning.
  • I’m sure there are others, but I don’t know of then.  Let me know this morning and I’ll post them later today.

May God by richly blessed by all the church musicals this year, especially those involving children because they teach the “only reason for the season” which children often miss or consider secondary to the jolly man in the red suit.

Anna Lee

Friday

“The shepherds returned,

glorifying and praising God

for all they had seen and heard,

just as they had been told.”

~Luke 2:20, HCSB~

Mrs. Martha Traylor has been taken to Southwest Hospital.  Please pray for her and her family.

Continue to pray for Randy Taylor and his family.

Christopher Joseph Binder

Born: October 05, 1984
Died: December 10, 2014

http://www.mckneelys.com/home/index.cfm?action=public:obituaries.view&o_id=2859003&fh_id=10545

Woodrow “Woody” Henry Ford, Jr.

Born: January 26, 1954
Died: December 09, 2014

http://www.mckneelys.com/home/index.cfm/obituaries/view/fh_id/10545/id/2859033

Baptist Press – bpnews.net

Devotional, Scripture, and a Song

  • “Snug as a Bug in a Rug” –  http://odb.org/2009/12/03/finding-jesus/
  • He who did not spare His own Son,                                                                       but delivered Him up for us all,                                                                             how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?                                                                                                                ~Romans 8:32~
  • “Blessed Assurance” – http://www.hymnary.org/text/blessed_assurance_jesus_is_mine

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions

Who’s Lottie?

Lottie Moon – the namesake of the international missions offering – has become something of a legend to us. But in her time Lottie was anything but an untouchable hero. In fact, she was like today’s missionaries. She was a hard-working, deep-loving Southern Baptist who labored tirelessly so her people group could know Jesus.

Why was the offering named for this early missionary?

Throughout her career, Lottie Moon wrote numerous letters home, urging Southern Baptists to greater missions involvement and support. One of those letters triggered Southern Baptists’ first Christmas offering for international missions – enough to send three new missionaries to China.

There’s many events scheduled in the next few weeks.  Don’t let the business of the season take your focus from the reason we are celebrating.

Anna Lee

Thursday Afternoon

Robert Wayne Criswell

Born: July 17, 1943
Died: December 10, 2014

A resident of Hammond died at 1:05 PM on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at Hospice House in Baton Rouge. He was born July 17, 1943 in Greenville, MS and was 71 years of age. Robert and his wife, Mary lived in Kentwood for over 40 years and have lived in Hammond for the past 10 years. He was retired from Entergy Corporation with 38 years of service and U.S. Air Force Veteran of Vietnam. He is survived by wife, Mary Brent Criswell; 2 sons, Brent Wayne Criswell and wife, Cheryl and Blake Lewis Criswell and wife, Nelia; 4 grandchildren, Claire Elise Criswell, Brenna Elizabeth Criswell, Evan Blake Criswell and Ethan Lewis Criswell. Preceded in death by parents, Fred and Leona Criswell; grandson, Logan Blake Criswell; brother, Fred Criswell and sister, Carolyn Landers. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 9 AM until religious services at 11 AM Saturday, December 13, 2014. Services conducted by Rev. Scott Thompson and Rev. Joe Baugh. Interment Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Youth Ministry at Woodland Park Baptist Church, 1909 J.W. Davis Drive Hammond, LA 70403. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.

Ray Allen Booty

Born: December 01, 1930
Died: December 10, 2014

He was born December 1, 1930 and passed December 10, 2014 10:45 PM at the age of 84, at Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite, Louisiana. He was a member of Spring Creek Baptist Church. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a diary farmer for over 50 years. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Shirley Rhodus Booty; daughter, Marcia Booty Cutrer and husband, Mike (Watson); son, Talmadge Booty (Kentwood); grandchildren, Stephanie Booty Arnone and husband, Sal (Kentwood), Ashley Booty (Clinton), Adam Cutrer (Watson), Allen Booty (Metarie), Melissa Young (Baton Rouge); great grandchildren, Jenny, Cameron and Halie Arnone, Jalen Roberts, Aubree Booty, Anna, Emily, Claire and Gracie Young. He is preceded in death by one son, Thomas Ray (Tommy) Booty; parents, Wilma Roberts Booty and Fountain Booty; sisters, Alyne Betz Hebert, Estelle Booty Strickland, Mrytis Booty Dyzar and Willie Mae Booty Bordlee; brother, Homer Booty, infant brother and infant sister Cleo. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood from 9 AM until religious services at 2 PM Saturday, December 13, 2014. Interment Spring Creek Cemetery, Spring Creek. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.