About The Jenkins County times. (Millen, Ga.) 2023-current | View Entire Issue (May 19, 2023)
thejenkinscountytimes.com The Jenkins County Times Friday, May 19, 2023 - Page 5 % 3 m tes Contact our office 478-401-5007. Prices start at $25. JERRY COUNTS A Kf rfL f Jerry Counts, age 69, of Millen, and husband of Cindy Bragg Counts, passed away on Saturday morning, May 13, 2023, at his residence in Millen. Jerry was bom in Sylvania, Georgia, to the late John Willie Counts and the late Allie Mae Arledge Owens. He had his own transport service, helping those in his community get to appointments and meetings. Jerry loved animals and enjoyed watching football. In addition to his wife, Cindy, Jerry is survived by his daughters, Rochelle Counts and Brittany Counts; sons, Brandon Counts and Mark Counts; sister and brother-in- law, Rhonda & Andy Robbins; brother, Tommy Counts; and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be on Friday morning, May 19, 2023, at 11 o’clock, at Thompson Strickland Waters Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by Rev. Bill Kent. Interment will follow at Screven County Memorial Cemetery. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh reen pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He 23 me to lie down in green p restoreth my soul: ne leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of tne shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oik my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mer cy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. The Church of Cod 62S USHWY25N Millen, CA You’re Invited to B.l JlIlN I I u Friday & Satu rday 6pm Sunday 10:30am THE COTTON GIN "Millen's Florist" Since 1987 478.982.2153 717 Cotton Ave. Millen, GA Humns That Touch thp Heart k ~ w JZ#** Let the lower lights keep burning Early one morning back in the early eighties while spending time at my Grandparents home in Cobbham, Georgia, I was awakend by the sound of an angel singing. Or at least I thought it was an angel singing. 1116 voice was very soft and peaceful. After hearing it for a few minutes, I decided to go and see what or who it was. By Sam Eades, Publisher/Writer for The Times did not sing very was alone. However, tms particular morning, alter searcMng tne house, I found her sitting in her rocking chair, reading her Bible and singing softly, "Let the lower lights keep burning." Before! made myself known,! sat on the stairs and listened to her quiet angelic voice. I had never heard the song prior to this morning. It brought tears to my eyes. One of the verses she would sing over and over again was, "Brightly beams our Father's mercy, from His lighthouse evermore, but to us He gives the keeping of the lights along the shore." After singing this hymn, she would go back to reading scripture from her old worn Bible. I will never forget this special time and how it changed me. In fact, I still have her Bible today. The hymn, "Let the lower lights keep burning" was written by Phillip Bliss in 1864. Mr.Bliss was born in Clearfield County, PA, in 1838. He left home as a young boy to make a living by working on farms and in lumber camps, all while trying to continue his schooling. He was saved at a revival meeting at age twelve. Bliss became an itinerant music teacher, making house calls on horseback during the winter, and during the summer attending the Normal Academy of Music in Genesco, New York. His first song was published in 1864. Here is the fascinating story behind this particular hymn. A harbour on Lake Erie, at Cleveland, was set up with a series of lights to guide ships in safely. Above the harbour was a lighthouse. Then, along the channel that led to an inner basin that was the Cleveland harbour, there were a series of lamps lit. But one day, the man responsible for lighting the lower lights carelessly neglected his duty. He reasoned that the lighthouse was good enough, and no one had ever yet failed to make the harbour. So he decided not to bother igniting the channel lights. That particular night a terrible storm blew up, with waves rolling in like mountains, and the moon and stars obscured by black clouds. Nearing the harbour was a ship, and on deck this conversation took place between the captain and the pilot, amid the roar of the storm: Phillip Bliss “Are you sure this is Cleveland?” asked the captain. “Quite sure, sir,” replied the pilot. “Where are the lower lights?” “Gone out, sir.” “Can you make the harbor?” “We must, or perish, sir!” But, they did not make it. The ship went down with great loss of life. Bliss applied this story to the need for Christians to share their faith. From heaven shines the great light of the gospel, through the Word. But we bear the lesser lights along the shore, commissioned to guide sinners into the safe harbour of God’s salvation. I am sure this is why my Grandmother loved this song so much. She was always very close to Go! and read her Bible every morning. She always said, "reading the word every morning helps me to be more brighter all day and gives me a greater faith." Please sing with me.... 1 Brightly beams our Father’s mercy From His lighthouse evermore; But to us He gives the keeping Of the lights along the shore. Refrain: Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave! Some poor fainting, struggling seaman You may rescue, you may save. 2 Dark the night of sin has settled, Loud the angry billows roar; Eager eyes are watching, longing, For the lights along tne shore. 3 Trim your feeble lamp, my brother! Some poor seaman, tempest-tossed, Trying now to make tne harbor, In tne darkness may be lost. Scammers impersonate law enforcement The Millen Police Department issued a warning this week. Scammers are targeting law enforcement and the scam is circulating in our area. In the scam, the caller identifies themselves as law enforcement representing either local, state, or federal agencies. During these calls, scammers attempt to collect a fine in lieu of arrest due to a claim of identity fraud or theft, failing to report to jury duty or other offenses. “These scammers then tell victims they can avoid arrest by withdrawing funds and transferring it to the government agency they claim to represent by purchasing a prepaid debit card,” explains Chief Dwayne Herrington. “They ask the victim to read the card number over the phone to satisfy the fine, or by depositing cash into a bitcoinATM.” Please remember, law enforcement agencies will NEVER ask for credit/ debit/ gift card numbers, wire transfers, bank routing numbers or to make bitcoin deposits for any purpose. Never divulge personal or financial information. Report scams to your local law enforcement. Authenticate the call by contacting the agency the caller claims to be representing or the local law enforcement agency. The Millen Police Department may be reached at 478-982-2750 or the Jenkins County Sheriffs Office at 478-982-4211. Dann speaks with Rotary By: Shana Brinson, Special Contributor for The Times Allison Dann with the Jenkins County Board of Education spoke during this week’s Rotary meeting. Allison serves as the School Nutrition Coordinator. She is a pastor’s wife, was bom and raised in Millen, and has lived here most of her life, except for a short time spent in Kennesaw & Warrenton, GA, respectively. She has been married to Mike Dann for 29 years this August. And they have three kids: Maggie, 23, Mollie, 21 & Jake, 12. Allison loves going to the coast as much as possible with her family! Allison began her career with the school system in June of 2006, when her two daughters started Pre-K and 1st grade. Prior to that she had been a stay-at- home mom with the girls. She decided that she would apply for the School Nutrition Manager’s position that was available; for Allison this was simply a way that she could be with the kids while they were in school and home when they were out of school. Having a tremendous interest in Nutrition and Wellness, stemming from her personal experience, she enrolled in school and has recently graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, concentrating on Behavioral & Health Sciences. She is also ServeSafe certified.
