Pastor's Blog

Larry Oneal Brown, affectionately known as Larry, passed away peacefully on November 12, 2023, in Ocean Springs, MS. Born on March 13, 1948, in Pecan on Bayou Heron , Larry was the baby of 12 children. He was a beloved figure in his community and will be remembered for his loving, handy, and thoughtful nature.

Larry was a hard-working man, retiring from the International Paper Company and the Jackson County Roads Department. His dedication, reliability, and work ethic were admired by his colleagues. Larry was always ready to roll up his sleeves and lend a hand, a testament to his unwavering dedication to his community. Beyond his professional life, Larry had a myriad of interests that highlighted his love for nature and craftsmanship. He was a skilled beekeeper and a master woodworker, creating beautiful pieces that showcased his talent and patience. Larry also enjoyed shrimping, an activity that connected him to the natural beauty of his home state. As a relic collector, he had an eye for historical artifacts, each item telling a story that fascinated him. Larry had a special love for tractors, a passion that harked back to his rural roots and symbolized his love for hard work and the land. Larry was a man of many talents, but above all, he was a man of kindness, love, and thoughtfulness. His family, friends, and community will remember him for his big heart and the way he touched the lives of those around him. His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all who knew him. Larry Oneal Brown was not just a man, but a symbol of love, dedication, and kindness. He will be dearly missed but never forgotten.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Nathaniel Richard and Mary Edna (Stork) Brown, and his siblings, Olive Lorena Hart, Robert Lee Brown, Marion Richard Brown, and Cecil Paul Brown.

Larry was a devoted family man, cherishing his 55 years of marriage to his beloved wife, Joyce Elaine (Brinkman) Brown. Their love story was one for the ages, a testament to their dedication and commitment to one another. His children, Susan (Keith) Powell, Neal Brown, and Lessley Eger, were the pride of his life. Larry was always there to lend a hand, share wisdom, or simply lend a listening ear. He was a proud grandfather to Jacob (Nicole) White, Alexandria (Billy) Creswell, Shannon (Kelly) Morel, and Garrett Eger. His great-grandchildren, Sawyer and Seth White, Scarlett and Grayson Creswell, and a soon-to-arrive baby boy Creswell, brought immense joy to his later years. Larry was the beloved brother of Mary Catt, Shirley Schmitz Clyde, Clarence, Kenneth, Lonnie, and Sidney (Stephanne) Brown. His family circle extended to numerous nieces and nephews, each of whom held a special place in his heart.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to all the nursing staff at Ocean Springs Hospital MICU and the Hospice floor.

In lieu of flowers please make donations in honor of Larry Oneal Brown to the following:
Ochsner Multi-Organ Transplant Institute -1514 Jefferson Hwy, Jefferson , LA 70121 or
Singing River Cancer Center – 3535 Bienville Blvd Suite 220, Ocean Springs, MS 39564

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at Heritage Funeral Home in Moss Point, MS. Funeral service will follow in the funeral home chapel beginning at 12:00 p.m. with Bro. Jeff Saksa officiating. Interment will be held at Orange Grove Cemetery.

Georgia Phillips Crawley went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at her home in Grand Bay November 11, 2023, surrounded by her loved ones.

Georgia was born at home on February 2, 1936, in Antioch Mississippi. She is preceded in death by her parents James Otho Phillips and Eunice McNeil Phillips.

She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Delaney Crawley, children Larry Crawley, Marilyn Crawley, David Crawley (Diane) Iris O’Brien (Joby) and Grandchildren, Nicole Taylor (Chris) Rachael Sigsbee (Shane) Ivey O’Brien, Emma Sakon (Ethan) Sage O’Brien, Savannah Crawley, Jack O’Brien, Jorgia O’Brien, Amelia Lee Crawley, Great Grandchildren, Truett Taylor, Riley Mae Sigsbee, Tag Taylor and Shepard Sigsbee.

Georgia was a great lover of family, music, food, education and ministry. At eight years old, she sold two calves which she raised to buy her first piano. At the age of twelve, she became the church pianist at Antioch Baptist Church. She later learned to play the organ and would play piano and organ for multiple congregations for over seventy years. She taught piano lessons for the better part of her life. She was often found sitting at her piano playing hymns from her childhood, late into the night.

In High School, she won the state championship in Mississippi for her cherry pie. This earned her a trip to the National 4-H Convention in Chicago, IL.

She graduated from Jones Junior College and Mississippi University for Women (the “W”). She met Delaney Crawley, a Mississippi State student, whom she met at the “W’s” BSU Valentine’s banquet. They fell in love and were married nine months later. She graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Fine Art’s Degree in Home Economics.

Following Delaney’s graduation, they moved to Mobile, Alabama and finally settled in Grand Bay. In 1969 Georgia started Magnolia Springs Christian School, where she taught first and second grades. She later went on to earn her Master’s in counseling from the University of South Alabama and became a Guidance Counselor for Theodore High School.

She and Delaney started Children’s Church, a new concept, at Friendship Baptist in Grand Bay which continues to this day. They also started an inner-city ministry in the Happy Hill’s area in Mobile. In 1973 Georgia and Delaney started a telephone hotline ministry, to lead others to faith in Christ with a three-minute Gospel presentation. They later expanded this ministry to Washington D.C.

In 1974 they worked with Here’s Life Gulf Coast through Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) and were also in charge of showing Christian films in the local theaters in Mobile. They felt called into part-time Christian Ministry with Here’s Life America (CCC), while Delaney continued to work with the U.S. Navy.

In 1976 Georgia and Delaney led CCC’s “I Found It” campaign for the Mobile area.

In 1978 Georgia and Delaney were called to part time staff with CCC.

When ‘The Jesus Film’ was released, their lives were changed forever, and they joined CCC’s Jesus Film Project. Georgia and Delaney took ‘The Jesus Film’ to Haiti in 1982. Realizing the great impact of the film, they both left their jobs and launched into full time Christian ministry. They soon became the field reps for The Jesus Film Project and spent the next 41 years taking ‘The Jesus Film,’ and the Gospel of Christ to over 40 nations.

In addition to showing ‘The Jesus Film,’ drilling water wells, discipling and starting new churches, Georgia would lead women’s conferences while Delaney discipled the men.

Taking the Gospel of Christ to the ends of the earth, Georgia and Delaney found themselves hundreds of miles up the Amazon River, in the Arctic of Siberia, and in the deepest parts of the African Congo. They lived in Moscow, The Republic of Georgia and The Ukraine.

In 1997 they retired from Campus Crusade and started ‘Here’s Life Africa,’ in Tanzania and seven surrounding nations. In 2013 they left to start a new ministry, ‘Mission To Zambia,’ which continued up until 2023.

Georgia helped to start the current food pantry at Union Baptist Church and was also a member of Union Baptist’s Dixie Dulcimer Players.

Growing up in the rural in Mississippi, education was of utmost importance to Georgia, and she was very proud the education of her children and grandchildren. She was always counting the schools of higher learning where her immediate family had studied.

The most important thing in Georgia’s life was that her children and generations that follow, would walk with The Lord. She taught her family how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She died with perfect peace, and she would love for you to experience that same peace she had through Christ.

“But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

The family would like to thank Adonis Caring Hands for ministering to their parents in their time of great need.

Services will be held on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, from the chapel of Serenity Funeral Home at 12 o’clock noon. A visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. until service time. Interment will follow at Serenity Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that donations be made to the food pantry at Union Baptist Church, Grand Bay, Alabama.

First, let me announce that there will be no morning service on our campus this Wednesday, 11/15.

The visitation and service for Miss Georgia Crawley will take place at Serenity Funeral Home in Theodore, AL.

The visitation with the Larry Brown family will take place this Wednesday, 11/15, beginning at 10:00AM and lasting until the noon service time.  Both visitation and service will take place at the Heritage Funeral Home in Escatawpa, MS.  Burial will take place in the Orange Grove Cemetery.  Pray for Elaine and the entire Larry Brown family.

Larry Brown, Elaine’s husband, passed from this life last night.  Pray for Elaine and the family as they walk through this valley.

Pastor Alfredo Garcia’s father passed away yesterday.  He lived in Cuba and Pastor Alfredo will he traveling there for the service.  Pray for the Garcia family.

Keep praying for Bobby & Laurie Chandler and their family.

The visitation and service for Georgia Crawley will take place this Wednesday, 11/15.  Visitation with the family from 10:00AM until the noon service time.  Pray for Delaney and family.

Good day in our services yesterday with two professions of faith in our morning service.  Praise the Lord!

The retirement reception for Bro. Jerry Hovel went well.  Thank you to each person who helped and to all who attended.  Bro. Jerry will be with us for the evening service on December 10.  Otherwise his time on staff here has ended.  Thank you Bro. Jerry for twenty-one plus years of service.  Pray for Bro. Jerry & Miss Tena in this new chapter of their life.

The evening service saw the Friendship family extend a call to Pastor Alfredo Garcia to come alongside our Spanish ministry beginning in January serving as the pastor of that ministry.

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