Pastor's Blog

James Francis French, Sr, “Jimmy”, went to be with our Lord and Savior on Monday, August 25, 2025. He was a native of Mobile, Alabama – born to Lorenzo George French and Anna B. Fox French on July 21, 1935, the oldest of 10 children. He was a member of Dauphin Way Methodist Church. Jimmy graduated from Murphy High School, served four years in the US Air Force, then worked at Brookley Air Force Base, in civil service, until its closing in 1969. He continued doing the work he loved at the Army Corps of Engineers until he retired. He loved working on electronics and was often referred to as the radio man.

Jimmy was married to Joe Alice Wise and together they raised five children. He was devoted to his family, wanting to “take care” of everybody. Because of his ability and desire to fix things, friends and family members knew they could count on him whenever help was needed. He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jimmy enjoyed spending time outdoors. Fishing from his boat or the dock at his house on Dauphin Island was his favorite pastime, but he also enjoyed taking care of animals, like birds, squirrels and dogs.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Forrest Campbell French and John Winfield French; and two sisters, Nora Emily Lindstrom and Anna French McIntosh.

He is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Joe Alice French; daughters Judy (Steve) Duke, Peggy (David) Brown and Anna Belle Rushing, two sons, James (Teresa) French, Jr. and David (Kim) French; ten grandchildren Jamey (Lettie) Duke, Elizabeth Duke, Neil (Jessica) Brown, Scott Brown, Amanda Whisenhant, Brittanie (Ryan) Hinkle, LeighAnn French, Melia (Josh) Weatherford, Jason Rushing, Jimmy Rushing; twelve great-children Ansley, Stephen and Molly James Duke, Carson Brown, Brady, Isaac, and Micah Whisenhant, Eli, Ella Kate, Rory, and Oliver Weatherford, and Celesta French; brothers, Lorenzo George (Mary Lee) French, Jr., and Richard Lee (Nita) French; sisters, Betty Jean Moore, Ellen Rae Beuk, and Norma Kay (Roy) West; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other cherished family and friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 29, 2025, at 10 am at Pine Crest Funeral Home on Dauphin Island Parkway in Mobile, with a chapel service immediately following. Interment will be in Pine Crest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Semper Fi & America’s Fund or the Wounded Warrior Project.

The obit for David French’s father has not been posted online.  When it is I will post it here.  Remember, visitation at 10:00AM and service at 11:00AM tomorrow.  Pinecrest Funeral Home on DIP.  Pray for the French family.

Talked to Jeanette yesterday.  Taking it one step at a time.  She will be taking a few days away and spending time with her family.  She is greatly missed whenever she is not here.  However, I am very thankful for Kim Tillman and her sweet spirit.  Keep praying for Jeanette.

Good day in our services yesterday.  Sweet spirit.  Average attendance in our early service and a bit better than average in our evening service.

Bro. Abel taught our students last night and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.  I appreciate him doing this.

Rumor has it that Bro. Andy & Miss Betty “may” be in our service this Sunday morning?  How great will that be!

Our Sunday afternoon service will be from 4:30PM until 5:15PM.  My letter was wrong regarding the times.  (Laura Fosmore’s fault!  LOL!) Bowling fellowship begins at 6:00PM and ends at 9:00PM.  Spanish Trail Lanes in Gautier, MS.  Come join us!

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

David French’s father, James Francis French, passed from this life on Monday, 8/25.  Mr. French was ninety years old.  The obituary is incomplete but the arrangements are complete.  The visitation and service will take place Friday, 8/29, from Pinecrest Funeral Home on Dauphin Island Parkway.  Visitation will be from 10:00AM until the 11:00AM service.  Please pray for the French family.

David French is one of the nicest gentleman I have ever known.  (How Kim got him I will never know!) David has faithfully taught Royal Ambassadors at Friendship for years.  He is very quiet and never seeks the spotlight.  Great member of the Friendship family.

I will post the obit once it goes online.  Pray for David, Kim and family during this time.

The celebration of life service for Sonny Bates was very well done.  Brad & Cindy did a great job of sharing the message in song.  Wes Bates did his dad proud as he did an excellent job of sharing the Word.  I know Sonny would have been very proud of his son for a job well done.

Thank you to each person who helped with the meal following the COLS.  Nicely done.

Regular schedule on our campus today and tonight.

Ladies Bible study tomorrow morning beginning at 10:00AM.

Church wide bowling fellowship this Sunday evening.  Details in my letter this week.

Church picnic at Presley’s Outing on Sunday, 9/21, beginning at 4:00PM.  Make plans to join us.

One observation from the visitation with the Bates family Tuesday night.  The wife of one of our leaders came to me complaining about having to stand in line so long and basically demanded that she be taken to the front of the line or. . .   So, not wanting to cause a scene I did as she requested.  People!

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

The celebration of life service for Sonny Bates takes place today beginning at 10:00AM.  Jeanette and family will arrive around 9:30AM.  While the burial is not technically private they are not expecting folks to attend since it will be later in the afternoon.  What a nice crowd last night for the visitation.  Sonny was a well respected and well liked individual.  Pray for Jeanette and family today.  Especially pray for Wes as he will preach his dad’s service per Sonny’s request.  Good stuff!

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

The Lord blessed us with a good day in our services yesterday.  We give Him praise!

The visitation with the Sonny Bates family takes place in our auditorium today from 5:00PM until 7:00PM.  All of our senior adults who are eighty years or older are asked to enter through the West side door and we will merge you into the line without much (if any) wait time.  All others need to be prepared to stand in line for a spell.  Pray for Jeanette and family.

The celebration of life service for Sonny will take place tomorrow beginning at 10:00AM in our auditorium.  The burial will take place in the Alabama State Veterans Cemetery in Spanish Fort beginning at 2:00PM.

Those helping feed the Bates family need to have the food in our Preschool Building no later than 10:00AM Tuesday morning, 8/26.  Thank for for ministering to this family.

We will have a church wide bowling fellowship this Sunday evening, 8/31, from 6:00PM until 9:00PM at the Spanish Trail Lanes in Gautier, MS.  Details in my letter today.

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

Leonard Bates

October 15, 1941 — August 22, 2025

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

Sonny Bates was born on October 15, 1941, in Hartselle, Alabama, and came face-to-face with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 22, 2025 in Mobile, Alabama. He was a faithful member, Deacon, and Sunday School teacher at Friendship Baptist Church since 1973, and a retired employee of Chevron Pascagoula Refinery. A faithful follower of Jesus, the best daddy, husband, and Poppy there ever was, he entered heaven the same day as his precious mother-in-law Kittie Camp had 3 years prior.

He was preceded in death by his parents Leonard Etheridge Bates, Sr., and Etta Mae Wallace Bates, and his sisters Sherri Bates Condry and Gaye Royuallyn Crocker. Sonny is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Jeanette, his daughters Adrian (Billy) Thompson and Rebecca (Jay) Taylor, son Wes (Rebekah) Bates, grandchildren Ellie Taylor, Nathan Bates, Mallie Taylor, Nora Bates, Noah Thompson, and another to be born in October, his brother Larry Bates, and a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and other relatives.

Visitation will be held on Monday, August 25, 2025 from 5:00-7:00, with the funeral on Tuesday August 26, 2025 at 10:00, all from Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay, Alabama. Burial will take place at the Alabama State Veterans’ Cemetery in Spanish Fort, Alabama at 2:00.

My heart has been heavy and hurting ever since early yesterday morning.  I intentionally did not visit Sonny this past Monday as I had been exposed to covid and did not want to potentially expose him.  I spoke to Jeanette and she agreed with me that not visiting was the best decision.  If only I had known. . .   Keep praying for Jeanette and family.

Tomorrow will be a normal Sunday on our campus with Sunday School, morning worship and an abbreviated evening worship.  Then we will gather in the CAB to celebrate ten years of ministry at Friendship for Bro. Abel Garcia.  Four years his first time here and six years this time.  What a blessing Bro. Abel has been to me personally and professionally.  He thinks soccer is a sport but everyone has their faults!

Remember, we will receive a love offering for Bro. Abel in both services tomorrow to show a token of our appreciation for him.  Pray and give as the Lord leads.

You are not asked to bring anything to the fellowship.  There will be a taco bar and Bro. Abel is pumped!

I pray that you will have a great Saturday with Jesus.  Hope to see you in the morning and then again tomorrow evening.

While I do not have the complete obituary for Sonny Bates, I want to share what is known at this time.  The visitation with the family will take place on Monday, August 25, from 5:00 – 7:00PM.  The celebration of life service will take place beginning at 10:00AM on Tuesday, August 26.  Everything will take place in our church auditorium.

The burial will take place in the Alabama State Veterans Cemetery in Spanish Fort, Alabama beginning at 2:00PM also on Tuesday, August 26.

A complete obituary will be posted once it is listed by the funeral home.

Pray for Jeanette and family during this time.

This morning Sonny Bates was escorted to Heaven.  Jeanette, as she has been throughout this ordeal, was faithfully there beside him.  Bro. Abel is at the hospital with Jeanette as are her children, Sonny’s brother and others.  Pray for Jeanette and her family.  The Friendship family just lost one of the absolute finest church members in our history.  Heaven’s gain.

It was exactly three years ago today, 8/22, that Jeanette’s mother, Miss Kittie Camp, entered Heaven.  As Jeanette said to me this morning, “in time that will be a blessing.”  More reason to pray specifically for Jeanette.