Pastor's Blog

William Charles Whitehurst, age 75, a resident of St. Elmo, AL, passed away on Saturday, April 15th, 2023. He loved the Lord and his family. He was a devoted husband of 55 years, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents Hubert and Ruth Whitehurst, Brothers Ed Whitehurst and Eugene Whitehurst. He is survived by his wife Candy Whitehurst, children Robbie Whitehurst (Tracy), Kristy Abrams (Matt), 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Siblings Larry Whitehurst (Judy), Sandra Freeman (Gene), and Jerry Whitehurst. Nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Charles was a member of the IBEW for over 50 years and loved riding his Harley Davidson every chance he got. His greatest joy was spending time with his grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held at St. Elmo First Baptist Church on April 20, 2023 at 12:00 PM. Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Good day in the Lord’s house for the Friendship family yesterday.  Yes, the spring break negatively affected our attendance but that is now the norm in today’s society.  My focus is on those who attended and I am thankful for their faithfulness.

The visitation and celebration of life for Michelle Fore’s mother will take place this Saturday, 4/22, in Biloxi.  I will share the specifics later in the week.

The Charles Whitehurst family will be making arrangements perhaps today.  I will share those once I know them.

Our friend in Montgomery, Decker Terry, remains hospitalized.  Please keep praying for Decker.

Nanette tells me that Terrel remains basically the same – low blood pressure and heart still not strong.  Continue to pray for Terrel.

Dale Ellerman remains with his mother.  Pray for Dale.

Buddy Brewer is some better compared to last week but continues to need our prayers.

There will be a breakfast for our senior adults this Wednesday, 4/19, beginning at 8:30AM.  Others are invited but it would be helpful if you let Bro. Jerry know you plan on attending.  Those attending the breakfast will then join us for our regular 10:00AM service in the auditorium.  Pass the word!

We will not have any classes or services this Wednesday evening, 4/19.  This is spring break week so we are giving our workers a break too.  Again, pass the word.

JZ and his entourage are doing great in Guatemala.  If you have social media then you know more about their happenings than I do.  I am happy for JZ.

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

This entry is late but, honestly, I normally do not post on Saturdays or Sundays.  However, I doing so for two reasons.  My wife called me from Guatemala to tell me that I have not posted yet.  I told her that I do have a life outside of posting blog entries.  Just saying!

The real reason I am posting today is because Larry Whitehurst sent me a message saying his brother, Charles, passed from this life just before 6:00AM today.  Charlie had been sent home from the hospital per his request.  Pray for the Whitehurst family as they walk through this valley.

Also, spoke to Miss Vinnie this morning and her son, Buddy, is doing better this morning.  He had an infusion yesterday and that has proven beneficial.  Keep praying for Buddy.

Decker Terry was taken to the emergency room yesterday due to a fluid build up.  Not sure if he was admitted or not but do ask that you pray for Decker.  Great man.  Great friend!

I do not have the arrangements for Michelle Fore’s mother but will post them once I do.  Pray for the family.

Keep praying for Terrel Brooks and Dale Ellerman.

Brandon, Pam and tribe arrived on GRACE Mountain around 8:45PM last night.  It was a long day for them.  Deidra has posted a blog about their traveling day – shininglightabroad.com.  I encourage our nine readers to simply go there for the latest.

Soccer today.  Garden work today.  Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow.

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

Immediate need prayer request – Brandon, Pam and the boys are at the Mobile airport waiting on their flight to Guatemala.  They were supposed to leave at 6:00AM but there is a mechanical problem which is going to delay them.  They have to make their connection in Atlanta this morning or they will be delayed until tomorrow at the earliest.  Pray that the mechanic will get there in a timely manner, the repair will be quick, and the Bakers can make their connection in Atlanta.

Just received word from Lee Fore that Michelle’s mother passed from this life earlier this morning.  Pray for Michelle, Lee and the family as they walk through this valley.

Miss Vinnie Brewer called me late yesterday afternoon to let me know that her son, Buddy, was having some health issues.  He went to the doctor and was sent to the emergency room.  They made some adjustments to his medications and sent him home.  Pray for Buddy!

I spoke to my good friend and brother in Christ, Decker Terry, yesterday.  He has been having a tough go of it physically and needs our prayers.  His niece, Sherry, serves as his primary caregiver and she is scheduled for surgery soon.  So, pray for Decker and Sherry.  Decker has been a great supporter of GRACE Ministries for years and is a dedicated prayer warrior.

Keep praying for Terrel Brooks.  Pray for his blood pressure to rise and for his heart to get stronger!

Also, continue to pray for Dale Ellerman in his recovery.

Our soccer leagues resume play tomorrow beginning at 8:00AM.  Pray for this ministry.

Weather permitting, William Sessions plans to lead some work in the garden also beginning at 8:00PM.  All help appreciated.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday.

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

The Lord blessed us with a good day in our services yesterday.  I am thankful!

Next Wednesday, 4/19, we will have our 10:00AM service but we will not have any evening classes, service or activities as it is spring break week for our public schools.  Therefore, we are going to give our Wednesday night workers a night off.  Everyone is welcome to join us for the service at 10:00AM on Wednesday morning.  Please pass the word!

Terrel Brooks continues to have low blood pressure issues.  His oxygen levels are acceptable since he is on oxygen.  Please keep praying for Terrel, Marie and family.

Michelle Fore’s mother is not doing well.  We really need to keep her and her family near the top of our prayer list.

Dale Ellerman continues to recover at his mother’s house.  Pray for Dale.

Miss Vinnie’s son, Buddy, continues to need our prayers.  He is home but is still having health issues.

Liz Whalen is amazing!  Surgery on Tuesday, in church on Wednesday – no problem!  Thank the Lord!

Continue to pray for Larry Whitehurst’s brother, Charlie.  He is presently in the hospital but will be sent home soon.

Andy & Betty did arrive in California.  I think they are having lunch with Newsom today!

JZ and family head to Guatemala early tomorrow.  O happy day!

Lisa is enjoying her time in Guatemala.  I am happy for her.  The girls enjoy her being there.  Soy is thrilled!

Congratulations to Adrian Bates on her engagement to be married!  Good stuff!

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

Want to begin your Wednesday with great news?  Larry Whitehurst called me last night to share that the total VBS offering given during the celebration of life service for Myrtle Bowden was twenty-five hundred and seven dollars!  Hallelujah!  So, the girls are off to a commanding lead of $2,507 to zero for the boys!  How about that!  Myrtle would be thrilled and God is glorified!

Speaking of our VBS – the dates for our 2023 school will be Monday, July 10, through Friday, July 14, from 9:00AM until noon daily.  We will have a pre-VBS rally on Sunday, July 9, beginning at 5:00PM.  More details coming soon!  Pray for our VBS.

Larry Whitehurst also shared that his brother, Charlie, is not doing well physically.  Pray for Charlie.

Liz Whalen’s surgery went well yesterday.  Pray for Liz as she recovers at home.

Continue to pray for Michelle Fore’s mother.  She remains at home with around the clock care provided by family and friends.

Nanette updated me on her dad’s condition.  Terrel’s main two problems are very low blood pressure and his heart simply is not strong enough yet to fight off the build up of fluids.  So, Terrel is sleeping a lot and tires very easily.  Keep praying for Terrel, Marie and family.

Dale Ellerman remains at his mother’s residence as he recovers from his recent surgery.  Keep praying.

Miss Vinnie had a little health issue last Friday but is now doing well.  Praise the Lord.  Keep praying for her son, Buddy Brewer.

Lisa and Deidra arrived safely in Guatemala.  We are thankful.

JZ Baker and his entourage will leave Friday morning heading to Guatemala.  I am very excited for JZ and family.  Pray for this to be a huge blessing in JZ’s life.

As far as I know, Andy, Betty and girls arrived safely in California yesterday.  I know Andy is excited!

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.

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

Liz Whalen is having surgery this morning.  Pray that all goes well.

The visitation with the Hill family takes place from noon until the 1:00PM service time.  Both take place at the Cowboy Baptist Church in Irvington.  Pray for the family.

Eddie Albritton and I took Lisa and Deidra to the Mobile airport early this morning and they are headed to Guatemala.  Praying for them to have a great week together.  The Bakers will join them beginning this Friday, 4/14.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow.

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

Good Monday morning!  Jesus is still alive!  Hallelujah!  As did every church that I know about, we had a good day in our services yesterday morning.  I am thankful to God for His blessings!

Thank you to those who attended the visitation and/or service for Myrtle Bowden and family.  Tremendous crowd Friday night and Saturday morning.  It was a different service.  I pray that God was pleased and that Sammy & family were also.  I can tell you that Myrtle’s family has been very kind to me through this whole situation.

The girls have jumped out to a huge lead in the Myrtle Bowden VBS Missions offering.  How much?  Do not know at this point but will eventually have a number to share.  Jason Husband says Gary “Cooter” Walton is going to help the boys get “back in the game!”  He may be right!

Marie Brooks told me yesterday morning that Terrel remains “up and down” in his recovery.  Keep praying.

I do not have an update on Dale Ellerman but assume no news is good news.  Keep praying.

I talked to Lee Fore Friday night and there has not been any significant change in Michelle’s mother’s situation.  Keep praying.

The visitation with the Hill family and the service for Mrs. Hill takes place tomorrow, 4/12, at the Cowboy Baptist Church.  Visitation begins at noon with the service beginning at 1:00PM.  Pray for the Hill family including our own, Katelyn Jackson Johnson.

Liz Whalen is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow, 4/12.  Pray that all goes well.  I love the faith of Liz and John.  I also love their faithfulness to the Lord through the Friendship family.  Great couple!

Deidra returns to Guatemala in the morning.  She is actually traveling with Lisa as Lisa will spend eight days there loving on her grandchildren and doing a bunch of cooking!  I am happy for Lisa to have this time away.  A break well deserved!

Andy & Betty Hamil will also leave tomorrow heading to the Reagan Library in California.  Praying for them to have a great trip with their two daughters.

Regular schedule on our campus this Wednesday, 4/13.

JZ Baker and family head to Guatemala this Friday!  Hooray!  I am excited for them.

Our soccer leagues resume play this Saturday, 4/15.  Pray for this ministry.

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

The visitation with the Myrtle Bowden family takes place tonight, 4/7, beginning at 6:30PM for the public.  I respectfully ask that those who are not family members wait until at least 6:30PM before entering the church auditorium.  The Bowden family is going to have a very limited time of “family only” visitation so please respect their need for privacy.  This applies to all of us even those who may say, “I am just like family.”  Thank you.

The visitation is scheduled to end at 9:00PM although that is not a hard ending time.  I do ask that folks pass through the line and express their sympathies without monopolizing the time realizing there will most likely be a long line of others waiting to speak to the family.  The is just good funeral visitation etiquette and I know you will do well.

If you will help with tomorrow’s post service meal, please contact Rita Boutwell or Clara Broadus today.  The service will begin at 10:00AM tomorrow so that will be a good time to have all food in our Preschool Building.  Thank you to these ladies for doing this and for all who will help with this ministry.

The arrangements for Katelyn Johnson’s maternal grandmother are as follows:  visitation with the Hill family on Tuesday, 4/11, from noon until the 1:00PM service time.  Everything at the Cowboy Church in Irvington.  Pray for the Hill family.  Katelyn is a sweetheart!  (I like Coley but Katelyn is a sweetheart!)

Nanette Fontenot sent me a very nice email yesterday regarding Myrtle’s impact in her life.  She also updated me on her dad’s, Terrel Brooks, situation.  His blood pressure continues to be real low and his heart is only functioning at about one fifth of the needed amount.  So, the doctor has put Terrel on a medicine to help improve his heart.  The problem is that this medicine “could” lower his blood pressure even more which would be problematic.  Pray for Terrel, Marie and family.

Keep praying for Michelle Fore’s mother, Dale Ellerman, Buddy Brewer, Liz Whalen and the others for whom we have been praying.

Remember, no activities on our campus tomorrow other than the celebration of life service for Myrtle.  Pass the word!

Easter Sunday – two services.  8:00AM and 10:00AM.

One final word – if Nanette and I had gotten married, Myrtle would have been our wedding coordinator.  Just saying.

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

Myrtle Earlene Ladnier Bowden, 74, of Grand Bay, AL, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, April 6, 2023. She is preceded in death by her parents Vivian and John M. (Dub) Ladnier Sr. and half-brother Dalton Ladnier.

Myrtle was a faithful member of Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay, AL. She retired from the Mobile County Public School System after 30 years of service. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Myrtle was a wedding planner, coordinator and flower designer. She was a kind, warm-hearted woman who would do anything for anyone. Throughout her life, Myrtle was involved in numerous church activities including the bus ministry at Friendship, director of Vacation Bible School, Ladies Helping Hands ministry, and devout Sunday School teacher. She loved the Lord and demonstrated His love through serving others.

She is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Samuel Allen Bowden Sr., sister Cecil (Warren) Guidry, brother John M. (Teresa) Ladnier Jr.; her children Dana (Dave) Childress, Samuel A. (Jennifer) Bowden, and Tiffany Fox; her 6 grandchildren Shea Collier, Todd Blackmon, Carleigh Bowden, Alivia Fox, Cade Bowden, and Peyton Fox; her great-grandchildren Ava Collier, Barrett Blackmon, Max Collier, Emi Kate Collier, and Cullen Blackmon along with numerous other relatives and friends.

The visitation will be held on Friday, April 7, 2023, from 6:30-9:00 p.m. and the celebration of life service on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Both will be held at Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay, AL. Interment will be at Grand Bay Cemetery. John Warren Guidry, Joey Guidry, John M. Ladnier III, Scotty Bowden, Todd Blackmon, and Cade Bowden will be serving as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mission of Hope, Mobile, AL or Ladies Helping Hands, Friendship Baptist Church.