Pastor's Blog

It is 2:30AM and I decided to enter a post as I cannot sleep.  I have made an honest effort but it ain’t happening!  Honestly, I can’t say it is any one thing but do know that Susan’s passing and the passing of Lloyd Stokes factor into it.

The service for Susan was a blessing.  Her pastor, David Gallamore, did a very nice job of sharing about Susan and sharing Jesus.  She was a member of a very strong church, Rock Springs Baptist.  She literally lived right behind the church building and was buried very close to her house.  The family did well through the service and will be traveling home today.

Lisa & I spent some time with the family after the service and then were joined for supper by Pastor Terry & Miss Cookie Rainey and their daughter, Shannon, along with her husband, Chris.  We ate at Smoke on the Water in downtown Greenville and it was excellent!  The fellowship was even better!  (Pastor Eddie didn’t come because of the owing me money thing but Pastor Terry came and still owes me!)

Deidra called last night and they are doing well.  Presently, they are with Neal & Jana Seaborn but they will be with another IMB missionary couple beginning on Wednesday.

Alisha Vice is flying home as I write this entry.  She is leaving Kenya but from the sound of her blog it appears she will be going back and the next time it won’t be a for visit!  Pray for her to have safety in her travels and for wisdom to completely ascertain the divine will of God for her life.

The visitation with the Lloyd Stokes family will take place tomorrow night, 7/14, from 5:00 – 8:00PM from the Oak Park Church of God on Sollie Road in Mobile.  The funeral service is on Thursday but I don’t remember the time.   Keep praying for Lloyd’s family.

Lisa and I will be traveling home today.  Hopefully, we will get home in time to vote even though I am still undecided on my choice.

I pray that you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus.

Greetings from Greenville!  Lisa and I are here and will soon be leaving for Susan’s funeral service.  I ask that you keep praying for the family.

Daphne called last night as we were traveling to tell me that Lloyd Stokes passed away yesterday afternoon.  Lloyd was a great friend to Lisa and me.  I know that he is in Heaven which is great but he will be greatly missed here.  Pray for Miss Edna & the entire Stokes family.

James Cook’s father came home from the hospital yesterday morning but they did not find the source of his problems.

We had a good day in our services yesterday.  What a joy to welcome Miss Barbara Hamilton into the Friendship family by transfer of letter.  I appreciate Rita taking care of the Spanish service and Edwin Williams preaching last night.  I heard good things about both of those services.  Also, I appreciate Bro. Jerry Whitmore leading our missions committee through their meeting as we ready for the new fiscal year on 8/1.

There is a memorial page set up on FaceBook for Susan.  You can go there and leave comments.  We will perhaps use some of those comments at the service in Grand Bay this Saturday night, 7/17, at 7:00PM.  (Visitation with the family begins at 6:00PM)  By the way, those helping with the food on Saturday are asked to have it in the fellowship hall by 10:30AM and it will then be taken to Edwin & Eula Mae’s house.

Lisa and I stopped for a quick visit yesterday afternoon with Pastor Bob & Terry Harvey in (gulp) Auburn!  We had a delightful time of fellowship with them.  (Stuart & Renee stopped by for a few minutes too!)  This afternoon we hope to spend some time with Pastor Terry & Miss Cookie Rainey along with Pastor Eddie & Mitzi Burdette.  Terry & Eddie both owe me money!

Hope you have a great Monday with Jesus!

Visitation with the family tomorrow, 7/11, from 3:00 – 5:00PM at the Robinson Funeral Home located at 1425 Powdersville Road in Easley, South Carolina.  Funeral service on Monday, 7/12, at 11:00AM from the Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley, South Carolina.

There will be a memorial service next Saturday, 7/17, at Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay, Alabama.  The family will receive friends beginning at 6:00PM until the 7:00PM service time.

Keep praying for the family as they walk through this valley.  Thank God they have the hope that Susan is now in the presence of Jesus!

Here is the name, location, and phone number for the funeral home handling the arrangements for Susan Quinn.  Robinson Funeral Home  located at 1425 Powdersville Road in Easley, SC 29642.  The phone number is 864 442 1800.

I share this because there are multiple locations for Robinson Funeral Home.

There will be a memorial service in Grand Bay at a date to be determined.

I will update tomorrow with the arrangements as the family will be meeting with the funeral directors in the morning.

With a very, very sad heart I write to share that Susan Blackmon Quinn departed this life about 4:30PM (our time) today.  I spoke to Diane via the phone and she said her passing was very peaceful.  Obviously, her husband, parents, siblings, and the entire family need our prayers.

The tentative arrangements call for a visitation with the family on Sunday night at a funeral home in South Carolina with the service taking place on Monday from Susan’s church, Rock Springs Baptist, in Easley, South Carolina.  I will post the arrangements once they are finalized.

Eula Mae and I talked about a memorial service in Grand Bay and, if that is scheduled, we will announce it through this blog.

I just checked my voice mail and Eula Mae had left me a message with the following information.  This afternoon, 7/9, they are going to remove the ventilator from Susan.  The doctor says that she has been in the dying process for a couple of days and moving her to a hospice facility is not a viable option.  It is the doctor’s opinion that Susan will not live long once the ventilator is removed.  Susan’s sister, Diane, and her family are traveling to Greenville and they are waiting on them to arrive before taking any action.  Please pray fervently for Susan’s husband, her parents, her siblings, and the entire family during this most difficult time.

I received an e-mail from Mary Cook during the night with three prayer requests.  First, Lonnie Cook, James’ father, was taken to the hospital with shortness of breath and hot flashes.  Second, Mary’s grandmother, Miss Mary Lou Mallette, has a blockage in her neck and will have an ultrasound on Monday.  Her husband, Mr. Nicholas Mallette, was recently diagnosed with cancer.  Please pray for these folks.

Our good friend, Lloyd Stokes, suffered what is being described as a “major” stroke on Wednesday night.  He is in ICU.  I visited with him yesterday but did not see any of the family members.  However, I did speak to his brother, Pastor Alton Stokes, via the phone and learned it was deemed serious with his left side being paralyzed for the time being.

Carla Kyser got an excellent report yesterday from the her test – praise the Lord!

Susan Quinn’s sister, Diane, called yesterday to say that the family has some decisions to make today regarding how they will proceed i.e. stay the course or move Susan to a hospice facility.  I don’t understand all I know about this but do ask that you keep praying.  I will most likely hear from the family at some point today.

I am assuming that all of Bro. Johnny’s team arrived in Guatemala as 21 of them missed their connection in Houston yesterday.  I know 17 of them made it because they called me a couple of times from Guatemala yesterday for some information.  The others were to arrive around 10:30PM our time last night.  Pray that they will have a good week of ministry.

I am also assuming that Chris & Nicole left safely last night from New Orleans.  Alisha Vice is doing well according to her blog entries.  Soy & Deidra have gone mia and I can only assume that Jordan Lowell’s theory has come true i.e. the islanders have gotten them.  They are with IMB missionaries so we “assumed” they would have access to the internet but apparently not.

Our deacons are asked to meet with me this Sunday afternoon at 4:00PM.  Remember, we have moved our Spanish service to 12:00PM for this Sunday only.  Our Missions Committee is asked to meet with me this Sunday at 5:00PM.  Our Finance Committee is asked to meet next Thursday, 7/15, at 6:30PM.

I pray that you will have a great weekend with Jesus.

It is 6:25AM and I just spoke to Eula Mae Blackmon via the phone .  Susan’s situation basically remains unchanged.  I encourage you to continue to pray for Susan and her family.

Lois Kirschenman is thinking that she will be discharged from the hospital today.  Pray that will happen.

Carla Kyser will hear from her latest scan today too.  Miss Joyce Bosarge is having significant pain and will see the doctor a week from today.  Ted Ezell was in our service last night – praise the Lord!

I appreciate all of those who attended the visitation and/or funeral service for Miss Dottie Fore.  Also, thanks to those who helped with the meal.  Keep praying for Barbara and her family.

William “Smidge” Freeman continues to make improvement as he recovers from his surgery.  He remains in a Birmingham hospital.

Alisha Vice is doing well in Kenya as are Soy & Deidra in the Philippines.  Chris & Nicole Taylor are leaving tonight bound for Singapore & China.  They will be gone on vacation until 7/24.

We had a good day in our services yesterday/last night.  A better than usual number of young adults gathered for our 8:00AM Bible study.  I thank God for folks who are faithful.

The World Cup is almost over with the finals taking place this Sunday beginning at 1:30PM.  We are moving our Spanish service to 12:00 noon for this Sunday only.  I realize that doesn’t apply to the majority of our folks but I did want you to be aware of the change.

The team from West Mobile Baptist returns home from Guatemala today as a team being led by Bro. Johnny Tucker leaves for Guatemala this morning.  Pray for both of these teams.

My prayer is that you will have a great Thursday with Jesus!

It is 2:15AM and I am getting ready to leave from Greenville.  Please pray for the Fore family today as the service for Miss Dottie takes place at 12:00PM (noon).

Susan’s condition remains unchanged.  Folks, she needs a miracle that only God can provide.  Pray!

I will “try” to post a more complete entry upon my arrival home this morning but I am making no promises!

I pray that you will have a great Wednesday with Jesus.

The Lord blessed and I arrived at the hospital in Greenville around 12:45PM.  I stayed with the family until around 5:45PM and then went to grab a bite to eat and to check into a hotel.  I am heading back in a few minutes but wanted to give a quick update on Susan.

According to the family, today has been a better day.  Susan is still not “awake” but does respond by slightly blinking her eyes many of the times when asked by the family.  The doctors are now talking about doing dialysis in a day or two but they want to give her some nutrition first.  So, she is certainly no worse and appears to be a little better.  Eula Mae and the family are encouraged.  Keep praying!

I am scheduled to leave early in the morning and, Lord willing, will be home for the morning service and Miss Dottie Fore’s graveside service.  Thanks to those who are praying for me.  I am blessed!