Wednesday

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor,

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

~Isaiah 9:6, NKJV~

If you have children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren, hear is a link to a site that will explain who Lottie Moon was and her importance in telling the world about Jesus during her lifetime to the present time.

http://www.baptistheritage.org/StoriesforKids/TheStoryofLottieMoon/tabid/259/Default.aspx

Use some time during this month to be a blessing to others.  Many people are alone, grieving, suffering, out-of-work. etc.  Let God lead you in who to contact and what you should do.

Mug – n – Muffin

Saturday morning ladies who are 5 to 105 are invited to come to First Baptist Church, Amite for a special time.  Each one is asked to bring their favorite mug (or your favorite Christmas mug) and a dozen individually wrapped muffins.  After our refreshment time, the extra muffins will be packaged in gift bags.  At the end of the meeting, we will have outreach gifts for those in our communities.  While at the meeting there will be several activities including a craft time.  Even those who think they are not crafty will be able to complete this project and have something new for their home.  That’s all the hints you will get from me.  Come join us to get the total picture.  You’ll be blessed and be a blessing to others.  Also, this is a good time for ladies to do something special with their family members of different generations.  You may contact me if you have any questions.  You do not have to be a member of any particular church or group to come!  The next meeting will be the second Saturday in January at FBC, Kentwood.  Mark your calendar for 10 A.M. on December 11th.

Jesus is the reason for the season!

Anna Lee

Tuesday

“I waited patiently for the LORD;

and He inclined to me,

and heard my cry.”

~Psalm 40:1~

Jadon’s Story

I’m updating from my phone so hopefully this works. I was admitted to
childrens hospital to start iv medicines to help lower my seizures. I
don’t know how long we will be here. The neurologist said probably a
couple of days. I’ll keep you updated. Please pray for me.

Please pray for Rev. Gray Wieborg who is recovering from colon surgery.  Pray for his family as they help nurse him back to good health.  Bro. Gary is a former pastor of Roseland Baptist Church who is now serving in Bratt, Florida.

Jon-Michael Williams has been moved to Children’s Hospital.  Please continue to pray for him, his family, and his friends.

At 11:00 A.M. today, the senior adults of FBC, Kentwood will be treated to their annual Christmas lunch at the church’s fellowship hall.

Lottie Moon
Lottie Moon
Click on image to enlarge

Lottie (Charlotte) Moon

(b. Viewmont, Albermarle County, Va., Dec. 12, 1840; d. Kobe, Japan, Dec. 24, 1912). Missionary in Tengchow and Pingtu, China, for nearly 40 years; instrumental in instigating first Christmas offering, 1888. She was educated at Female Seminary at Botetourt Springs (later known as Hollins) and at Albermarle Female Institute, Charlottesville. She was converted in the spring of 1859 in a meeting by John Albert Broadus, then pastor at Charlottesville. She taught at Danville, Ky., and Cartersville, Ga. She volunteered for missionary service in Feb., 1873, in response to a sermon on the text, “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest,” and she was appointed to China, July 7, 1873, by the Foreign Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention. In 1888 she wrote to the Baptist women of the South, pleading for reinforcements. The first Christmas offering in 1888 provided three additional missionaries. She spent 14 years in China before taking her first regular furlough. Toward the end of her days, she suffered with her Chinese people in the terrible famine. She gave all she had. In the time of deepest trials she wrote, “I hope no missionary will be as lonely as I have been.” Literally starving, she grew steadily weaker. Before Christmas, 1912, Cynthia Miller, faithful nurse, started back to America with Lottie Moon; death came to the frail missionary, Christmas Eve, while the ship was at harbor in Kobe, Japan. The present Christmas offering for foreign missions, sponsored by the W.M.U., is named for Lottie Moon.

Biographical Sources:
Allen, Catherine. The New Lottie Moon Story, 1980.
Lawrence, Una Roberts. Lottie Moon, 1927.
“Lottie Moon.” Shapers of Southern Baptist Heritage pamphlet series. Southern Baptist Historical Society.
Archival sources in Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives.
Moon, Lottie. Missionary Correspondence. AR. 551-2.

Jesus is the reason for the season!

Anna Lee

Monday

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,

from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the LORD,

which made heaven and earth.”

~Psalms 121:1-2 ~

Pray for Mrs. Kathrine Sanders and many others who have that winter cough.  It is very hard to get ride of.

Jadon’s Story

Well mommy and daddy got a new puppy for my brother and I. My brother loves to play with him and me, I love to snuggle. I know this sounds weird but its like he is protecting me. He sits at my feet if I’m in my chair, comes and plays with me in my play area, and sits in my lap. This is a picture of us snuggling. My mommy just loves this picture. She said they mainly got the puppy for my older brother to play with and I’m stealing all the loving..LOL My seizures are still the same. I’m having way to many. Even though I’m having so many, I’m very alert. In fact I’m more alert than I usually am when I’m having this many. Seizures, I will never understand them. We still don’t know what is making them so increased right now. I have to do blood work Monday, so maybe that will reveal something. I did get to have some fun last night. I went to my cousins wedding. Mommy did the hokie pokie with me, and I just laughed. This is so exciting because I used to not be able to handle loud noise at all. Well the music was definitely loud and there were lots of people there. I was very content and we got to stay until almost 9:00. Well I will let everyone know how my blood work goes Monday. Thanks for praying for me. I love you all!!! Jadon

Hunting Season

Pray for safety for all the hunters in our area.  Pray others don’t stumble into hunting areas unaware of the hunters.

Pray for teachers and for students as they have classes for the last couple of weeks before Christmas.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Vietnam – Not yet

In 1975 when communists took over, 16 years of Southern Baptist ministry suddenly stopped.

Or did it?

Thanks to Southern Baptist gifts, Grace Baptist Church, led by a national pastor, held its own deed to building and land. Years later, visiting personnel discovered the church alive and thriving, despite suffering leaders had endured.

“The Lottie Moon offering came through,” an emeritus missionary reflects. “Had we not had a location that we could say ‘This is Baptist, this is where our church is located,’ we might have ceased to exist as Baptists.”

Grace became the mother of many Baptist churches and was officially recognized in 2008. The churches organized into a Baptist convention with a bold vision to train leaders and start churches all over Vietnam.

Today we celebrate a greater opportunity for those in Vietnam to follow Christ.

Have all had the opportunity to hear about Christ? Not yet. Vietnam is still a communist country.  But there is movement, and Southern Baptists’ prayers, gifts, and presence have helped provide a solid base to complete that journey.

Thank you for praying and giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering®.

KneEmail


“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10

Mike Benson, Editor

IN 1958, A NEW York City father named Robert Lane decided to call his baby son “Winner…”

The Lanes, who lived in a housing project in Harlem, already had several children, each with a fairly typical name.  But, Robert Lane apparently had a special feeling about this boy.  Winner Lane: How could he fail with a name like that?

Three years later, the Lanes had another baby boy, their seventh and last child.  For reasons that no one can quite pin down today, Robert decided to name this boy “Loser.” Robert wasn’t unhappy about the new baby; he just seemed to get a kick out of the name. First aWinner, now a Loser. But if Winner Lane could hardly be expected to fail, could Loser Lane possibly succeed?

Loser Lane did in fact succeed.  He went to prep school on a scholarship, graduated from Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, and joined the New York Police Department, where he made detective and, eventually, sergeant.  Although he never hid his name, many people were uncomfortable using it.  To his police colleagues today, he is known as “Lou.”

As for his brother, the most noteworthy achievement of Winner Lane, now in his late 40s, is the sheer length of his criminal record:  more than 30 arrests for burglary, domestic violence, trespassing, resisting arrest, and other mayhem.

Names can reveal one’s character and even shape it.  Names can provide a goal for which a person may strive to achieve.  Or, one can fail to live up to a name that he has been given.

What’s in a name?   There is conviction in a name that we all wear due to our wrong choices: sinner. “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

What’s in a name?   There is SALVATION in the Name of JESUS.  “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).  Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins (Matthew 1:21).  When we respond in trusting obedience believing in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turning from our sins in repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9,10), repentance His name before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized (immersed) in His name, Jesus gives us a new name: CHRISTIAN.  Wearing the name “Christian” indicates that we have been forgiven of our sins and it also gives us a goal for which to strive: Christ–likeness.  God has promised that as a Christian walks in the light of His Word, that He will continue to cleanse that one of his sins (1 John 1:7).

What’s YOUR name?  Labels can hurt; titles can reward.  But the name above every name is JESUS and He wants to be your Savior so that He can give you a NEW name, a name filled with glory and honor as well as responsibility, the name “Christian.”   Won’t YOU become a Christian today?  Connor McLean and David A. Sargent, Minister

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.”  Proverbs 22:1Do something special today to make the day better for someone!

Jesus is the reason for the season!

Anna Lee

Sunday

“God reigns over the nations.

God sits on His holy throne.”

~Psalm 47:8~

As we go through the wonderful Christmas season, let’s remember others who will be having a difficult time.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/adriannacavanagh

Week of Prayer for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Day 8

HIV/AIDS Ministry in Zambia

Troy Lewis has seen death. He’s also seen lives transformed physically and spiritually.

Troy and his wife, Tracey, are missionaries to Zambia. His primary focus involves ministering to those impacted by the AIDS crisis. More than 5,500 people die every day from this disease in sub-Saharan Africa.

Troy’s work has been both challenging and rewarding as he has labored alongside local believers to help the hurting.

“My heart has been touched and broken by seeing so many people suffering and so many people hurting,” said Troy, who hopes to “awaken the church … to go out and make a difference.”

Meanwhile, Troy is helping people hear about Jesus Christ every day — people like Collins.

A former street kid, Collins once sniffed gas fumes and lived in a graveyard. Through local believers and Southern Baptist initiatives such as True Love Waits, Collins gave his life to Christ. He turned away from a worldly lifestyle that leads many young people to become infected with AIDS.

“It gave him a vision … of what his life could be,” Troy said. “And quite literally that’s what Christ does with all of us. … He takes us out of the trash heap of life and sets our feet on a higher place.”

Pray the churches in Zambia will address the AIDS crisis and offer a Christ like response.

Churches will be celebrating with a missions march/collection day this month.  All the money will be used to fund the 5,000+ missionaries serving outside of North America.  Support those who have given up life here to go elsewhere to introduce others to Jesus.  Keep them in your prayers.  Knowing how important family time is during the holidays, pray for missionaries as they join together in celebration of Jesus’ birth.  Pray for their opportunities to share about Jesus as they explain their holiday celebrations to those who don’t know Him.

Jesus is the reason for the season!  Celebrate Jesus today in your church!

Anna Lee


Saturday

“God knew what he was doing from the very beginning.

He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him

along the same lines as the life of his Son ….

We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.”

~Romans 8:29 (Msg)~

Jadon’t Story

Seizures, Seiaures, & Seizures

I don’t have much to report. My seizures haven’t gotten any better. I’m having them during the night again. I’m also having many intense ones all during the day. We don’t know an exact amount, but we do know its well over 100. It’s just impossible to count them every day. My mommy is off of work for the weekend so she is going to get a good count on them. All I can say is please continue to pray for me. My mommy called our neurologist and they said there isn’t anything that needs to be done right now. We just have to wait. Well waiting is horrible, especially when your having seizures all day and all night. Thank you all very much for praying for me. It’s the only thing that keeps us going.

Callie Cole

Good Morning,
Just wanted to say hello and let you know that we had a good trip to Atlanta.  It was fast and furious, but successful.  Doc was impressed with her intact, cognitive abilities.  Can’t wait to see how she will conquer this school thing.  Pray that this area will show the stamp of God and be glorified!!  There are issues with writing that in turn affect the arithmetic portion of the school work.  But, like all other areas of this recovery we will figure out what will work best for Miss Sunshine.  She desires to go to school with Jackson.  I can see her changing her mind once we were to get started.  Can’t you?  Afterall, she is a teenager.  Right now, homebound is good.
Hope you all are thinking up a great, radical, Jesus kiss for someone this month.  I will continue with the challenge to think outside the ordinary and remember that it is a secret!!  Allow the Lord to be glorified so you may receive rich blessings in Heaven.
Keep it real.

Love,
Frances

Harrell Sharkey is progressing well following his knee surgery.  Pray for him as he continues rehab.

Frances Gay got a good report yesterday after the procedure was done.  Thank God for the good report.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Day 7

The Udmurts of Russia

Imagine loving someone you have never met, in a country 6,000 miles away. It happened to two American couples when God gave them a heart to reach the Udmurts, a minority people group in Russia, more than two years ago.

Charlie and Heather Murphy* met Will and Marie Thompson* while attending seminary in Texas. Today all four are Russian language students in Izhevsk, the capital city of Udmurtia.

“I loved the Udmurt people before I ever took a trip here, before I ever met one of them,” Charlie says. “And that really was just a love that came from God.”

Southern Baptists had prayed for the Udmurts during 2007 Day of Prayer and Fasting for World Evangelization.

Most Udmurts live as outcasts in rural villages where they eke out a meager existence from their family gardens.

“Without a doubt,” Charlie says, “the thing that burdens me the most about this people is just the depression. You can see it on their faces. … Some turn to the animism, some turn to the Orthodox Church, but right now very few are turning to Christ.”

Will echoes these sentiments. Udmurtia, he says, is “a place ready to receive the gospel … Hopelessness is just an open field—open soil for the gospel.”

Pray for Udmurts to put their trust in Christ and boldly share their faith in their villages.

*Names changed
———-

Lottie Moon Tea

East Fork Baptist Church

2:00 Today

All girls and women from 5 – 105 are invited

Mrs. Lucille Pledger

McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood

Visitation beging at noon today.

Service begins at 1 P.M.

THE BLESSING OF A MATE

Someone has compiled the following list of observations about married
life:

*  A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can
spend.  A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

*  Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.  Women somehow
deteriorate during the night.

*  A man is a person who will pay two dollars for a one-dollar item he
wants.  A woman will pay one dollar for a two-dollar item that she
doesn’t want.

*  To be happy with a man you must understand him a lot and love him a
little.  To be happy with a woman you must love her a lot and not
try to understand her at all.

*  When women are depressed, they either eat or go shopping.  Men
invade another country.

*  A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn’t.  A
man marries a woman expecting that she won’t change and she does.

*  A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.  A man
never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

*  There are two times when a man doesn’t understand a woman – before
marriage and after marriage.

*  Only two things are necessary to keep one’s wife happy.  One is to
let her think she is having her own way.  The other is to let her
have it.

*  Any married man should forget his mistakes – there’s no use in two
people remembering the same thing.

*  A man has six items in his bathroom – a toothbrush, shaving cream,
razor, a bar of soap, deodorant and a towel. The average number of
items in the typical woman’s bathroom is 437.  A man would not be
able to identify most of these items.

*  A woman always has the last word in any argument.  Anything a man
says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

Although I am sometimes accused of being personally responsible for the deterioration of relations between men and women in this country, my wife and I can joke about such things because, deep down, we realize how much we mean to each other.

Allow me to share some personal thoughts with you.  God has truly blessed me with the most wonderful woman on the face of this earth.  We have shared our lives together for over 33 years.  We thought when we first got married that it couldn’t get any better, but it has (and it continues to do so!).

I hold my wife personally responsibility for anything I may achieve in this life.  She is my source of strength and my encouragement when things are rough.  She is the one who knows me best, with all my shortcomings and failures, and yet still loves me.  She always sees the best in me, and always manages to bring out the best in me.  She is one I most enjoy talking to and spending time with.  She is my best friend.  How blessed I am!

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD.” (Prov. 18:22).

“Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth.” (Prov. 5:18).

Those of you who are married, I encourage you to give thanks to God for the blessing He has given you.  Those who are not married (but hope to be), I pray that God will bless you with a mate as wonderful as mine.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Jesus if the reason for the season!

Anna Lee

Friday

“He has kept the promise he made to our ancestors,

and has come to the help of his servant Israel.

He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham

and to all his descendants forever!”

~Luke 1:54-55 (TEV)~

Pray for Frances Gay as she has a medical test today in Covington.

Pray for the Pledgers as they make final preparations for “Miss” Lucille’s service.

From Stephanie (and Joe) Cavanaugh:

Just heard the Beatles song….Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away……
I thought about not posting my feelings right now, but I hope that someone can relate and that others will just be grateful for all that they have right now.  We say that so many times, but then it’s funny how soon we forget it…..I guess it’s just human nature.
This coming Monday will be Adrianna’s birthday and I have just planned myself to pieces, trying to get ready for it.  We are going to have a balloon release, flowers in the church in memory of her on Sunday morning, and then we are planting a beautiful cotton candy pink colored Camellia tree at the cemetary.  Joe and I are going to get out of the house Monday and try to do something fun in honor of her.
But people, let me just be honest…I am a mess!!!
When you haven’t lost anyone close to you, you just don’t realize how awful it is for the ones who have.  Even now as I cry and beg God for mercy, I still think….how do people that have lost a WHOLE FAMILY get through???  It can always be worst…how do those people live through this pain?
I read the Bible and relate to many of the Biblical families who have lost so much and I realize that humans have not changed that much.  It’s still hard as hell to recover..it’s still emotional and crushing to lose your favorite people in this world.
So how do we move on?  That’s the question.
And I know that millions of people before me HAVE moved on.  It’s just HOW??
Every day is different.  Every day brings its own memories, doubts, confrontations, etc.
Joe and I grieve differently, as most men and women do.  That in itself is trying too.
Some days I am so strong that I can’t even believe I am in my own body…other days I wanna be distant from my own body.  The emotions are overwhelming.
But I guess what I want to say is that I do believe everyone gets through it from Jesus Christ and just believing in ourselves and keeping our faith.
I have to remind myself that ALL of the time.  The fact that I don’t have other children even intensifies the situation.  I have no one else that I can engulf myself in.  Other than myself and Joe, but that is not the same…Most of you know how easy it is to put all of your attention on your children.  It makes you feel special and it is a gift from God.
As we move into this weekend, I hope that you will remember us and pray for our strength and faith as always.  I know that the support we’ve been granted has always gotten us through the toughest times.
There are no words for the gratitude I have for each and every one of you….
On another note, I became a bone marrow donor this week in hopes to save another person’s life.  It only took a few minutes and while I was there I learned that nearly 80% of children DIE waiting on a bone marrow match….isn’t that just appaling?  I had no idea that many children were in dire need of a match.  I think if everyone knew that, they’d get off their lazy bums and march to their local blood centers and sign up.
That’s what I’m hoping people will do if they are capable.
I lie awake this week wondering how I would have felt if Adrianna had needed a bone marrow match and we couldn’t find one.  That would have just KILLED me, knowing that someone may could have saved her life…I don’t know how I would’ve lived after that.  Fortunately Adrianna was able to give herself her own bone marrow, but some children are not that lucky.
I found out at the drive that ANYONE can go to a blood center at any location and get their mouth swabbed.  Also, most of us don’t realize how much blood is needed for these cancer patients.  You can give blood each 4 weeks.  PLEASE make it a habit of giving and doing your part to help children…you never know when YOURS may need it!
Anyway, I just want to send a special prayer out to RJ Jackson and his family.  I surely hope they find a match and that they do all they can for RJ and know that they did everything they could possibly do for their beautiful son.  That’s the only way they will be able to get through this horrible situation.
Please keep them in your prayers and thanks for continuing to keep us lifted in prayer.
Adrianna sent me a beautiful butterfly on Thanksgiving day that swarmed around me over and over and even got so close to my eyes that I had to flinch!!  I know that was her sending her love.  It may sound silly, but it’s just a feeling you get in your gut….it’s not a coincidence!  God knows what He is doing!
With love,
Stephanie

Don’t forget the Lottie Moon Christmas Tea tomorrow at 2 P.M. at East Fork Baptist Church.  All ladies from 5 to 105 are invited.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering Week of Payer

Day 6

The Zaza of Turkey

When a devastating earthquake shook northwest Turkey in 1999, more than the ground moved around Dr. Hamit Kaya*, an ethnic Zaza from Turkey’s Tunceli province. As he bandaged the wounds of Turks all around him, God moved Kaya to consider the spiritual devastation of his own people.

Today Kaya is the first indigenous church planter to the Zaza of eastern Turkey. He uses his medical training to minister to villagers’ physical needs, while using his understanding of the culture to communicate God’s love in a language the Zaza can understand—the language of relationships.

Kaya has a long-term vision for reaching the Zaza. Vital to his ministry are the days he spends making personal visits and drinking tea with villagers before he pulls out his medical bag. Then with help from Southern Baptists, he buys and distributes medicine. He is loved and welcomed by everyone, from the mayor to the poorest shepherd. This is the key to sharing the gospel, Kaya believes.

With a handful of believers and one outreach group, Kaya is seeing God work.

Pray for Hamit Kaya as he shares the gospel among the Zaza.

*Name changed

Don’t forget the missions march for the LMCO Sunday at FBC, Kentwood at 10:30.

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10

Mike Benson, Editor

THIS PAST WEEKEND, Stevie Johnson, wide-receiver for the Buffalo Bills, dropped a perfectly thrown game-winning pass in overtime against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Because of the dropped pass, the Steelers were given new life and ended up winning the ballgame.  Stevie Johnson was distraught because of his costly mistake.  So following the game, Stevie tweeted the following message: “I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO…”

As you can imagine, this foolish accusation against God has taken a lot of hits by sports and religious commentators.

Stevie made himself an easy mark.  But, lest I commit a “personal foul” by “piling on,” let me take this article another direction.  In the midst of receiving correction from thousands of people, Kurt Warner, former quarterback for the Rams, the Giants, and the Cardinals did a little tweeting himself.  He tweeted to Stevie and said: “I asked same thing when released in STL & benched 3 times, But then God did his thing… Be ready! Enjoy watching you play!”

Wow!  Isn’t that amazing?  Of all the things that have been said or written following Stevie’s tweet, I wonder how many of them were as kind and understanding as Warner’s?  Warner didn’t defend Stevie’s statement.  It was indefensible.  He didn’t try to legitimize it.  There was nothing legitimate about it.  But he did let Stevie know he could identify with the pain and hurt he was feeling, he validated his skills in spite of his costly error, and he gave him hope for the future.

Stevie Johnson spoke rashly and foolishly in his despair, and has since reflected on what he said and retracted it.  I’m glad to hear that; he needed to.  But I’m also glad for Kurt Warner’s response to Stevie Johnson.  Personally, I want to develop my ability to empathize with, affirm, and gently correct the mistakes I see in others.  What about you?  Steve Higginbotham at preachinghelp.org

“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition…” 2 Timothy 2:24-25a

Jesus is the reason for the season!

Anna Lee

Thursday Obituaries

Lucille Lewis Pledger

(September 24, 1919 – December 1, 2010)

Lucille Lewis Pledger, age 91, passed away in Decatur, IL on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 after a lengthy illness. She was born in Summit, MS on September 24, 1919. A long-time resident of Kentwood, LA until 1999, she was preceded in death by Hal Pledger, husband of 53 years; parents, T.C. and Lizzie Lofton Lewis; infant daughter Susan Mary Pledger and brother Cass Lewis. She leaves behind three children and their spouses Melinda and Craig Huss, Decatur, IL, Jim and Nancy Pledger, Natchitoches, LA and Ray Pledger, Houston, TX; six grandchildren and spouses Sally and Kevin Withers, Tulsa, OK, Joe and Tiffany Pledger, Dallas, TX, Trent Pledger, Natchitoches, Alan and Katie Huss, LaPort, IN, David Huss, St. Petersburg, FL and Tom Huss, Lexington, KY; two great-grandchildren Nicky and Mary Huss; two brothers and their wives Floyd and Jimmie Lewis, Maryville, TN and Billy and Betty Lewis, Mayfield, KY; sister-in-law Helen Tycer Lewis, New Orleans, LA; and 14 nieces and nephews. She graduated from high school in McComb, MS and from Mississippi State College for Women in 1939. She was a stalwart member of Kentwood First Baptist Church for over 50 years who always put Christ first, others second and herself third. Beloved by all who knew her, she will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

A funeral service will be held at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, details to be forthcoming. Memorial gifts may be made to First Baptist Church, Kentwood, LA and Imboden Living Centers, Decatur, IL.

“Shot” Walt Hamp Watson

(September 2, 1943 – December 2, 2010)

A resident of Roseland, he died on Thursday, December 2, 2010 at Ochsner Medical Center in Jefferson. He was born September 2, 1943 and was 67 years of age. He is survived by wife, Viola Marsch, Roseland; son, Aubrey “Catt” Watson, Amite; step-daughter, Kim Hatfield, Kentwood; step-son, James Hatfield, Excelsior Springs, MO; grandson, Astin Daniel Hatfield, Amite. Preceded in death by daughter, Belinda Lee Watson; his parents, Walt and Thelma Jean Dees Watson. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday, December 3, 2010 and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 4, 2010. Services conducted by Rev. Marshall Wallace. Interment Pine Hill Cemetery, Arcola.