Pastor's Blog

Danny Richard Lewis, age 68, born in Mobile, AL and a resident of Moss Point, MS died Sunday, April 21, 2024 at his brother’s residence. He was a retired Electrician at Ingalls Shipyard. He was a member of Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay, AL, a member of the international brotherhood of electrical workers Local 733.

He is survived by his wife, Pamela Weber Lewis of Moss Point, MS; three brothers, Michael (Lou) Lewis of Styx River, Bill (Tamara) Cohron of Houston, TX and David (Ann) Lewis of Bay Minette, AL; two stepsisters, Margaret Dawson of Loxley, AL and Donna Skipper of Summerdale, AL; nephews, nieces and nephews, Shan, April and Steve and great nieces and great nephews, Christy, Alexis, Seth, Justin, Hayden, Logan and Tim.

He was preceded in death by his father, Clarence Howard Lewis; his mother, Emily Jorgensen Cohron; sister, Linda Farrell; brother, Nicholas Lewis and two stepsisters.

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 26, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the chapel of Norris Funeral Home with Reverend Teddie Turrentine officiating. Burial will follow at Silverhill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Friday, April 26, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. until the 2:00 p.m. service at Norris Funeral Home.

In lieu of flower the family requests memorial contributions be made to the charity of your choice.

I was wrong! (Again)  Tim Knighten will meet with the doctor(s) this morning for his test results.  It was not scheduled for yesterday afternoon.  My apologies for the misinformation.  Pray for Tim & Peggy this morning.

The arrangements for Danny Lewis are as follows:  visitation with the family this Friday, April 26, from noon until 1:00PM at the Norris Funeral Home in Bay Minette, Alabama.  I do not have the name of the cemetery but I do know it is the one where Danny’s mother is buried.  I will update this once the obit is posted online.  Pray for Pam and the Lewis family.

Our ladies will be providing a meal for the Lewis family following the service.  Clara Broadus & Rita Boutwell will be coordinating this ministry opportunity.  Details coming.  Contact Clara if you are willing to help, please.

Mrs. Vel Brannon’s heart surgery went as expected.  As far as I know, they did three by-passes.  Miss Vel will be in the unit for two or three days.  Keep praying!

Winston Gulley is still scheduled to have heart valve replacement on Thursday.  Keep praying for Winston.

Soccer again this afternoon beginning at 4:30PM and ending at 7:00PM.  Pray for this ministry.  (Betty, you are needed in the concession stand again, please)

Speaking of soccer, we could use some volunteers to bring their mowers and help clean up the back forty (not the actual playing fields) today, tomorrow, Thursday or Friday.  Any, and all, help would be greatly appreciated.  Contact Bro. Abel if you need more information.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

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

Can I be perfectly honest this morning?  The passing of Danny Lewis has shocked me and I still trying to process it as best as I can.  I had a full Sunday and, once I was able to be alone and call it a day, I just sat in our living room and just spent time remembering Danny while praying for Pam.  Pam has asked me to preach Danny’s celebration of life service and I have already been thinking “what do you say” and then, just like God, He gave me a word this morning through another pastor.  God is good!

Pam, along with Danny’s brother, David, will meet with the funeral home at 3:00PM today.  I will post an entry detailing the arrangements as soon as possible.  Keep praying for Pam and the family.

As I am writing this entry, Morris contacted me to let me know that Diane’s mother, Mrs. Brannon, is having open heart surgery now.  Pray for all to go well.

Also, just heard from Peggy Knighten.  All went well with the tests yesterday.  More tests today.  Tim will meet with the doctor later today to receive test results.  Keep praying for Tim.

Daphne and crew fly from Guatemala later today.  If all goes as scheduled, they will arrive home around midnight.

The Lord blessed us with a good day in our services yesterday.  Our attendance was not as “down” as I had thought it would be.  Thank you Friendship family for being faithful.

Soccer games tonight and tomorrow night from 5:00PM until 7:00PM.  Pray for this ministry.

Online sign up for our Fall flag football begins later this week.  The belief is that it will reach capacity by this weekend.  So, our thirteen blog readers have the advantage.

Please mark Sunday, May 5 on your calendar and make plans to join us for both services that day.  Evangelist Oliver Cagle will be preaching in the 10:00AM service and Pastor “Anonymous” will be doing likewise in the 5:00PM service.  Friendship family, do not miss this Sunday!  Pray!

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

I am saddened to share that Danny Lewis passed from this life and entered Heaven around 2:45AM today.  I have spoken to his wife, Pam, and will be visiting with her later today.  Pray for Pam and the entire Lewis family.  Folks, death stings!

Two important clarifications to begin with today.  First, the celebration of life service for Mary Cook will begin at NOON today.

Second, Elizabeth Sessions will be leading the planting of the garden on the back forty today beginning at 9:00AM.  Those helping are asked to park back near the garden spot.  Need more information?  Contact Elizabeth.

I have moved Danny Lewis to the top of my prayer list after talking to his wife, Pam.  Danny is not doing well.  He and Pam are staying with Danny’s brother as Pam needs help caring for Danny.  Danny Lewis is a fine gentleman.  Pray for him, Pam and the family.

Tim & Peggy Knighten are driving to Houston, TX today.  Pray for traveling mercies and for good meetings/results with the doctors there.

Scott & Nanette Fontenot are driving to Louisiana today to attend a celebration of life service for one of Scott’s cousins.  Pray for traveling mercies and for the service.

Winston Gulley remains in the hospital awaiting surgery Thursday, 4/25.  Keep praying for Winston.

I am asking each member of the Friendship family who is in town to be faithful to attend our services tomorrow.  We have a ton of folks out of town for Spring break.  So, those of us remaining need to be faithful in our attendance.  Those of you who are out of town need to remember that you can watch the services online and that you can also give online.  Just FYI.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow – 10:00AM & 5:00PM.

Please make plans now to attend the services on Sunday, May 5.  It is going to be an awesome Sunday!

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

As I have been told by the family, the visitation with the Mary Cook family will take place in our auditorium this afternoon from 5:00PM until 8:00PM.  The service will take place tomorrow, 4/20, beginning at 11:00AM also in our auditorium.  Pray for James, Gracie and the family during this time.

Please note that the online obituary lists the same dates but different times for the visitation and service.  I fully believe the times listed in the previous paragraph are correct.

Thank you to those who are helping with feeding the Cook family following the service tomorrow.  Please have your food in the Preschool Building no later than 11:00AM.  Building will be open beginning at 8:00AM.

I had a nice visit with Winston Gulley and his oldest daughter, Christy, yesterday.  Winston is doing better and is still scheduled for surgery this Thursday, 4/25.  Pray for Winston and his family.

Elizabeth Sessions has plans to plant the garden at the church tomorrow, 4/20, beginning at 9:00AM and ending at 2:00PM.  This could change due to the funeral service.  However, I “think” it will take place.  If so, volunteer helpers are needed.  This was a very effective ministry last year thanks to William Sessions and his family.

The Lord answered a prayer yesterday and we will now have a very special messenger share with on Sunday morning, May 5.  This will be our annual senior adult day and I am praying for a SRO crowd.  It is going to be good!

Then, our evening service on May 5 is going to potentially life changing for our church family.  Pray, pray, pray and then attend these two services.

Dylan & Elizabeth shifted gears and actually left Grand Bay heading to Town Creek yesterday afternoon.  They will finish their trip today.  Pray for them to have traveling mercies.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday.  Chapter four of “I Am A Church Member” during the evening service.  I will be preaching both services this Sunday, Lord willing.  Hope to be joined by each member of the Friendship family who will be in town this Sunday.

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

UPDATE – Enough volunteers have answered the call and there is no longer a need for any more food to be provided.  Thank you so much to each person is helping with this ministry.  

The Friendship family will be ministering to the Mary Cook family following the celebration of life service this Saturday, 4/20.  We need folks to volunteer to bring food for a meal which will take place following the burial.

Those who will help are asked to call Clara Broadus at 251 281 4537.  All food needs to be brought to our Preschool Building on Saturday morning between 8:00AM and 11:00AM.

Questions?  Just ask Clara.

Here are the tentative arrangements for Mary Cook.  Everything will take place at Friendship.  Visitation tomorrow (Friday, 4/19) afternoon from 5:00PM until 8:00PM.  The celebration of life service will take place Saturday morning, 4/20, beginning at 11:00AM.  Continue to pray for James, Gracie and the family.

Winston Gulley has been moved to a regular hospital room.  Keep praying for Winston!

Tim & Peggy Knighten will be traveling to M.D. Anderson on Saturday.  Pray for all to go well.  Pray for traveling mercies.

Join me in continuing to pray for Danny Lewis.  He and Pam are in great need of our prayer support.

Continue to pray for young Harleigh Kirkland as she has begun her treatments.  Pray for her parents and family too.

Ladies Helping Hands will meet tonight in the Preschool Building beginning at 6:00PM.  All ladies invited to attend.

“Potluck with the pastor” was a huge success!  Our morning attendance was awesome!  The food was superb and the fellowship was off the charts!  Thank you to Stacey & Gayla Dyess for cooking the roast and helping service.  Thank you to Kayla Hatcher for serving as the host.  Thank you to Scott Fontenot for being a great “do whatever it takes” guy.  Thank you to each person who helped with the clean up.  Thank you Jesus for a great day!

Friendship family, mark the evening service on May 5 on your calendars.  Make plans to join us for that service.  Pray!

Bro. Dylan, Elizabeth, Ellie & Cash will leave tomorrow morning heading to Town Creek, Alabama.  A sad time for us but an exciting time for this family.  Pray for them!

Larry Whitehurst graciously filled two bottles of propane for me.  I think he put eleven and a half gallons in each bottle!  Thank you Larry for your kindness to me!

Grant Tillman is living a charmed life!  Just saying!

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

Mary Wright Cook departed this life and entered Heaven at 7:45PM last night.  Her family is heartbroken but thankful that Mary’s physical struggles are now behind her.  Pray for James, Gracie and the entire family.  Arrangements pending.

Winston Gulley is improving and, if nothing changes, he will have a heart valve replacement surgery on Thursday, April 25.  Keep praying for Winston.

“Potluck with the pastor” takes place today immediately following the morning service which begins at 10:00AM.  Each person who attends the service is invited to stay for the meal.  We simply ask you to bring sides and a dessert – enough for those attending with you and two more.

The evening schedule for today will be regular and begins at 6:30PM.  Bro. Chris Scofield will be teaching/leading our young people.

Yesterday was Miss Edna’s last day as our church secretary after fifty-two years of service. I am happy for her as she enters this new season of her life.  She will now be working for Glover Electric – just saying!  Thank you Miss Edna for all you have done for fifty-two years plus as our secretary!

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

Mary Wright Cook had an incident this past Friday night which required her to be taken to the hospital and to be placed on a ventilator.  Her husband, James, has made the most difficult decision to remove the vent tonight around 7:00PM.  I ask you to join me in praying for James, their daughter, Gracie, and the rest of the family.  Mary is only forty-two years old.  Difficult day to say the least.

Praise report – Angie Bentley got a good report today from her test of last week.  I do not know all of the details but I know Richard & Angie are praising the Lord!