“Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead.
You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am.”
~Matthew 16:24 (The Message)~
Donna Bennett continues to fight her battle. Please continue to pray as she fights the battle on different levels.
Sharon Slaven has battles to fight to recover from her recent issues. Her signs of improvement are being celebrated by the family.
Valerie McCoy Young of Greensburg has learned she has had a heart attack. She is hospitalized and undergoing testing. Please pray for her and for her family.
Pray for Gary and Tori Havlin as she is hospitalized and awaiting the birth of their second child.
Please continue to pray for for the unnamed person who has asked for your prayers. God already knows his name and his needs.
Pray for the Huckabee family of Amite in the loss of their baby, Abigail.
The next OCC workshop is July 24th. Plan to attend so you will feel like a part of the shoeboxes we will pack later. Come. We’ll have something you can do.
It has already been a good week for OCC collections.
Bead dolls were made by a family. They were added to those already made.
Purses, stuffed with happies, were turned in to complete the 100 we needed.
Paper and notebooks were added to our collection.
One class turned in washcloths to go with soap that was already turned in.
It is a blessing to me to see others join in to help get ready for packing of shoeboxes in a few months.
Please pray for each child who will receive a shoebox and the opportunity to meet and love Jesus.
Prayer Focus for Today
Today, let’s continue to pray for VBS in the Kentwood community.
Many people read and pray each day. Thank-you to all of you! Please continue to pray.
In January, 2019, David’s doctors gave him six weeks to live. David was very ill at that time. When he got a little better, he asked for a party so he could visit with lots of his friends and family members. Our children agreed and set the date, July 6th. There were many days when I did not think he would live to see July 6th.
God provided the days! God provided July 6th! God provided a host of friends and family members! We were so thankful to have those days and never imagined God had more days than we expected or hoped for at that point.
Today is the second July 6th since that date. God had more plans for David and his life. At this moment David is sitting on the porch talking with a young man from Georgia. Our Georgia grandson and five of he friends are here. We are hosting them for the week. They have big plans for a busy week. Thankfully, David is here to be a part of their memory forever.
I wear a black bracelet that was given to David several years ago by the lady who drew his blood in Baton Rouge each week. The lettering wore off a long time ago. It said. “Never Give Up!” I like to imagine that it now says, “God Still has Plans for You!”
We don’t know God’s plans or timeline. The health issues are still with David, but God is too. I’m enjoying the opportunity to witness God using David to touch and influence many lives during his “extra years”, one day at a time.
Please continue to pray for Mrs. Sharon Slaven. She is still in ICU following surgery to stop a bleed.
Today’s Prayer Focus: Please pray for youth and children from area churches as Vacation Bible Schools, church camps, and mission events continue this summer.
Please continue to pray for Sharon Slaven and her family. She was able to sit in a chair for a while in ICU yesterday.
We’ve been praying for Tommy Hood at MD Anderson. His brother, Bill Hood, had a jet-ski accident in Destin. Due to complications at the site of his injury, he had to go to the ER to have it checked and wound up with surgery. Pray for the Hood-Setoon family during this time. Especially for for their mother, Kenna.
Della Casanova Ladner
November 17, 1933 – July 01, 2021
Della “Dell” Casanova Ladner was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She passed away peacefully on July 01, 2021, at the age of 87. Dell was born on 11/17/1933 in Husser, LA., the daughter of Idee Husser Casanova and Paul “Pete” Casanova. Dell worked as the head bookkeeper at French Market Homestead in Metairie, LA, where she resided for 49 years until Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She was a strong woman of faith and enjoyed sharing stories with her family, spending time in nature, listening to bluegrass music, collecting and creating jewelry, and loved creating art. Her artwork conveyed her admiration for nature; many of her paintings and drawings consisting of favorite flowers, birds, and animals.Her passing saddens her family and friends, but her example of strength, resilience, and unconditional love will carry on. Dell is predeceased by her parents, her beloved husband of 45 years, Nordford “Butch” Ladner; daughters, Fay Phelps Prokop Stephenson and Shirley Phelps Galladora LeBlanc, and her grandson whom she adored, James “Jimmy” Galladora Jr. Dell is survived by her brother, Virgil (Delores) Casanova; sister, Frances Newman (Bill) Krambeer; grandchildren, Tracie Prokop Hutchinson, Don (Ashly) Prokop, Tammy Crifasi (Chris) Bourg; great-grandchildren, James Paul Galladora III, Jennifer Galladora (Brandon) Fontenot, Jeremy Galladora, Jonathan Hutchinson and Kayla Hutchinson (Billy) May, Joanna Crifasi and Adam Crifasi, and nine great-great-Grandchildren. Family and friends are invited to a memorial service at McKneely Funeral Home (110 E Factory St., Amite City, LA 70422) on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, from 11 a.m.- 1 a.m., with burial to follow at St. Dominic Catholic Church Cemetery.
Thomas L. Carter of Amite, Louisiana | 1936 – 2021
Mr. Thomas L. Carter, 84, of Amite, La, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Thursday, July 1, 2021 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, La.
Mr. Thomas was born in Roseland, La on September 29, 1936. He was the son of late Leon Carter and Ernestine Cutrer Carter. Prior to his illness, he was an active member at Kedron Baptist Church in Amite, La. He retired as the Parts Manager of Kent Trailers in Fluker, La after many years of service. He was an avid LSU and Saints fan and enjoyed watching them on television. In his younger years, they say he was the best fast pitch softball player around. He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with his grandson, Wesley Corkern. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife of nearly 50 years, JoAnn Sharkey Carter, and five brothers and three sisters-in-law, Stewart Carter and Barbara, Clines Carter and Antionette, David Carter and Rosalie, MacArthur Carter, and Marshall Carter.
He is survived by his daughter, Leisa Corkern and Darrell of Amite, La; one grandson, Wesley Corkern and Kara of Kentwood, La; one great-granddaughter, Camellia Corkern of Kentwood, La; two sisters-in-law, Jeanette Carter of Marrero, La, and Virginia Carter of Hammond, La, and a host of nieces, nephews and other family and friends.
Pallbearers will be Darrell Corkern, Wesley Corkern, Ralph Branton, Donald Carter, Ed Branton, and Bobby Carter. Honorary pallbearers will be Scott Sharkey and Dean Sharkey.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 from 9AM until time of service at 11AM at Kedron Baptist Church in Amite, La with Bro. Jacob Williams officiating and Sharkey Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. A burial will follow in the Kedron Baptist Church Cemetery.
Thank God for this great country we live in and for the freedoms that lead to its founding.
Sharon Slaven‘s surgery seems to have been helpful. Thank-you for praying. Please continue to pray her and her family.
J.C. Miller and others seem to be making some slow improvement with Covid-19. Keep all these patients in your prayers. Pray for a slow down/decrease in the spread of this disease.
Tommy Hood is continuing with phase two of chemo. He only goes to the hospital for about five hours each morning. Please keep praying for Tommy and his family.
Bro. Wendell Rhodus will be preaching at FBC, Kentwood today. The 10:30 service is available online and in person. There will be no P.M. services.
Taylor Creek Baptist Church will provide fireworks and ice cream at 7:30 tonight. You are invitedd to join them. Bro. Gibby McMillian is the pastor there.
Today’s Prayer Focus – Pray for the safety of all who are around fireworks today.
Sharon Slaven is having surgery this morning. I had her at the top of my list and left her off when I was writing earlier. Please stop and pray now as her surgery is getting underway. I know your prayers will be appreciated. In case you cannot place her or do not know her, she is the sister and neighbor of Robert Wilson.
Pray for Jeff Tolar as he continues to heal from shoulder surgery.
Pray for JC Miller and numerous others from our area who have Covid-19. Pray for the churches that have new Covid-19 cases.
Ludell Blanton Willis
Ludell Blanton Willis, a resident of Amite, LA, passed away on Thursday, July 1, 2021 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, LA. She was born October 17, 1938 in Zama, MS and was 82 years of age. She loved to read and cook which was her gift to everyone. She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church in Amite, where she cooked for the daycare and served as a Librarian. She was a Proverbs 31 woman. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Thomas F. Willis; 4 children, Stephen Willis and wife, Janiece, Ramona Topa and husband Bryan, Kenneth Willis and Sharon Broussard and Kimberly McFerrin and husband Jim; 6 grandchildren, Eric Suire, Caitlin Suire, Marissa Willis, Margot Willis, Camille Willis, and Julieanna McFerrin. Preceded in death by her parents, John and Verna Blanton; and sister, Linda Packer. Visitation at First Baptist Church in Amite from 9:00AM until religious services at 1:00PM on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Services conducted by Rev. Trey Waldrop. Interment Amite Memorial Gardens, Amite, LA. McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
As the summer continues to roll by and more and more churches complete VBS, pray for the children who are making decisions to treasure Jesus in their heart. It’s the biggest decision they will ever make. Pray for churches to encourage and support them in their new life.
Please continue to pray for those who are sick and undergoing tests and treatment.
Thomas Stewart
February 15, 1939 – June 28, 2021
Thomas Stewart, loving husband, father and brother went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 28, 2021. He was born on February 15, 1939 to Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Austin Stewart, Sr. in Independence, LA. He was the oldest of 5 children. He graduated from Independence High School in 1957. He married Elaine Baham Stewart in 1962 and was married until his death. He worked for over 40 years at Kennedy Real Estate Sign Company of Amite. He loved farming and talking about farming. He was preceded in death by his father, Johnnie Austin Stewart, Sr. ; mother, Rosa Lashouto Stewart; sister, Sue Stewart Williams. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Elaine Baham Stewart; daughter, Alice Marie Stewart Patten and husband Greg of Coushatta, LA; son, Mark Andrew Stewart and wife Wendy of Lubbock, TX; 3 grandchildren, Kylie Patten of Coushatta, LA, Kasie Thornton and husband John of Aubrey, TX and Hunter Patten and wife Mara of Benton, LA; 3 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandchild; brothers, Vincent (Dickie) Stewart and wife Touleke of Tickfaw, LA, Terry Stewart and wife Donna of Maurepas, LA and Johnnie Stewart Jr, and wife Charlotte of Crystal Springs, MS. Graveside Services will be held at Natalbany Cemetery, Independence, LA at 10:00AM Saturday, July 17, 2021. Services conducted by Rev. David Cutrer and Rev. Johnny Stewart. McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised,
and we held him in low esteem.”
~Isaiah 53:3 (NIV)~
Tommy Hood has been staying in a hotel and traveling to the hospital as needed. He goes to the hospital for about five hours each day for his chemo, part two.
Mrs. Mildred Birch has tested positive for Covid-19. Please keep her in your prayers.
“The Good News about God’s kingdom will be preached in all the world, to every nation. Then the end will come.”
~Matthew 24:14 (NCV)~
Rev. David Luce has continued to improve. He drove to Ochsner in New Orleans where he learned the new valve replacement is working well. Also, the valve that was not replaced is working better because of the replaced valve. Thank-you for your continued prayers for him and his family.
Josiah Huckaby is better. Thank-you for praying for this child who always seems to be smiling. He is a big blessing to many people.
Bertie Simpson Hughes
August 05, 1929 – June 25, 2021
Bertie Simpson Hughes, a resident of Osyka, MS, passed away on Friday, June 25, 2021 in Hattiesburg, MS. She was born August 5, 1929 in Gloster, MS and was 91 years of age. She is survived by 2 children, John R. Hughes and Alex (Pat) Hughes; 5 grandchildren, Christine E., John R. Jr., Tracy M., Alyssa C. and Alex P. Jr.; 10 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; 1 brother, Bobby Ray Simpson; and many beloved nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors. Preceded in death by her son, Walter A. Hughes; parents, Ollie P. Simpson and Bertha Caston Simpson; brothers and sisters, Earl Simpson, Jewell Simpson, Reba Simpson, Burnell Simpson, Geneva Varnado, Mary Alice Blackwell and Ollie Dell Gore. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 9:00AM until religious services at 11:00AM on Thursday, July 1, 2021. Interment Osyka Cemetery, Osyka, MS. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
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