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thej enkinscountytimes. c om
The Jenkins County Times
Friday, May 26, 2023 - Page 5
Jeni joined her parents in
eternity with their Savior on
May 20, 2023.
Since 2020 she has had to
adjust her dreams and goals
to live with, learn about,
and advocate for ALS (Lou
Gehrig’s disease).
Jeni lived in the Atlanta
area until the age of 13 when
her mother moved back to
Millen with Jeni and her sister
Allyson. After helping care
for her maternal Grandmother,
who died of cancer, Jeni started
to feel like she was meant to
be a nurse. She dedicated her
life to nursing and believed,
for her, it was a calling. She
spent 36 years at the bedside
or in management roles in
Critical Care or Emergency
Nursing. She received her
bachelor’s degree and master’s
Degree from South University
in Savannah, GA. She worked
in Family Practice as a Nurse
Practitioner, with Dr. Kyle Gay
for 3 years and she covered
the Emergency Room on the
weekends. She then accepted
a position with East Georgia
Regional Medical Center on
their Hospitalist Team. She
held many certifications as
a nurse and as a provider.
However, the two she was
most proud of were Certified
Critical Care RN and Advanced
Trauma Life Support (as a
provider).
After being diagnosed with
ALS in the summer of 2020
she immediately retired. She
committed her time to her
family and to traveling more.
She had two hobbies in life,
her girls and traveling to places
she had never visited before.
Her favorite place to visit was
New York City and her favorite
sport was Ice Hockey.
Jeni was an active member
of Oak Hill Baptist Church.
Since the progression of ALS,
she was not able to attend
in person but, she faithfully
tuned in online every Sunday.
She was also very dedicated
to her hometown of Millen.
Throughout the years she
participated and held offices
in many Civic Groups. Her
favorites included Rotary Club,
Chamber of Commerce Board,
Green Thumb Garden Club,
Millen Woman’s Club, Better
Hometown and Community
for Christ.
Jeni is preceded in death by
her parents, Jerry and Rebecca
Becton, her biological father,
William G. Lunsford, Jr., sister,
Allyson Romedy, half-brother,
Keith Loudermilk (Lunsford),
and nephew, Michael Becton.
Jeni is survived by her
daughters, Emilee Clarke
(Kevin), Hannah Johnson
(Hilton) both of Millen, sister,
Michelle Finch (Dedrick) of
Baygall Community, Bulloch
County, half-brother, William
G. Lunsford, III and half-sister,
Taylor Lunsford (David Kelly)
both of the Atlanta area, and
nephew Marc Becton, Millen.
A very special Aunt, Martha
Sue Wilson, close cousin,
Donna Becton McMillan and
best friend, Melba Pulliam
Lane, all of Millen, Mason and
Danielle Davis and PG’s babies
also of Millen. She is also
survived by many wonderful
nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers were Dr. Kyle
Gay, Henry Young, Ricky
Baggett, A. J. Jenkins, Jimmy
Johnson, Dean Dailey, Dennis
Small, and Dean Brinson.
Visitation will be held
Monday, May 22, 2023, from
6PM - 8PM. at Crowe Fields
Funeral Home.
The Funeral Service was
held at 11:00 am on Tuesday,
May 23, 2023, at Oak Hill
Baptist Church with Rev.
Joshua Johnson, and Rev.
Tim Fields officiating. Burial
followed immediately in
the Oak Hill Baptist Church
Cemetery.
Qcj The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh
me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He
restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's
sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the 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
COTTON GIN
"Millen's Florist"
Since 1987
478.982.2153
717 Cotton Ave.
Millen, GA
Aged
to
Perfection
at the Jenkins
County Senior
Citizen Center
By Lee Wilson,
Special Contributor
for
The Times
Venturing out and about
At the Senior Center
we like to occasionally
tell a tale on each other....
sometimes it may be true
or sometimes it may not be
true!
One of our favorites is
“James”!
Well, when James and
one of his brothers were
young boys they were
excessively mischievous.
The two of them were
always getting into trouble
and their parents could be
assured that if any mischief
occurred in Millen their
sons were likely involved
in some way.
James’ parents were at
their wits end as to what
to do about their sons’
behavior. Their mother had
heard that the new preacher
at their church had been
successful in disciplining
children in the past, so
she asked their father if he
thought they should send
their boys to speak to their
preacher. Her husband
agreed and said they might
as well. He said they
needed to do something
before he really lost his
temper! The preacher
agreed to speak with the
boys but asked to see them
individually. So, James
went first to speak with the
preacher and the preacher
sat James down and asked
him sternly, “Where is
God?” James made no
response, so the preacher
repeated the question in an
even sterner tone, “Where
is God?” Again, James
made no attempt to answer.
So, the preacher raised
his voice even more and
pointed his finger in James’
face and asked one more
time, “WHERE IS GOD?”
At that point James bolted
from the room and ran
directly home, slamming
himself in a closet. James’
brother followed him into
the closet and asked what
had happened. James cried
out, “We are in BIG trouble
this time. God is missing
and they think we did it!”
If any of you know
James.. .you can decide!
tlgrnns That Touch the ffeart
Have you ever had
difficulty in life? I am sure
we all have. Have you ever
called on Jesus and felt
he wasn't listening? I am
sure we all have. Do your
burdens get heavy and
sometimes you just want
to scream? I have those
days and I am sure you do
too. It's in those times we
can again, trust in Jesus to
get us through. No matter
what situation, he is still
there and listening.
I remember a time while
driving down the highway
on my way to visit family,
I was having just one of
&
U 7k
Frank Graeff
those days that I felt that
Jesus was not listening to
me. I prayed and prayed,
and nothing. No voice,
no answer, absolutley
nothing.
When I finally arrived
in the town where my
family lived, I stopped at
a red light and there on
the side of the road was
an older man with a sign
that read, "No matter what
you are going through, I
am still there, I hear your
prayer, signed, Jesus."
Wow! is all I could say as
tears filled my eyes.
Now, after passing the
light, I looked back and
no one was there. No one.
No sign of anyone. After
all this time of praying and
seeking answers from my
heavenly Father, he was
listening. He did care. He
just answered in his time
and in his way.
My Dad would
always say, God works in
mysterious ways, and he
did that day for sure.
My friends, Jesus
doesn't always answer
on time. And sometimes
he doesn't answer the
way we would like.
Sometimes he reminds
us just to wait and listen.
Sometimes he will answer
by appearing in other
ways.
One of my favorite
verses in the Bible, Isaiah
41:31, says, "They that
wait upon the Lord, shall
renew their strength, they
shall mount up with wings
as eagles. They shall run
and not not be weary, and
they shall walk, and not
faint." It seemed, for a
few days, I had put this in
the back of my mind. But,
after seeing this sign from
God, I knew he was going
to answer me. I knew for
sure my Jesus did care.
The hymn. Does Jesus
Care?, was written by a
Pastor by the name of
Frank Graeff. After feeling
all alone and out of his
despair, came a song that
has encouraged me and
many others to keep the
faith. He wrote the hymn
in 1900.
You see, Frank had
gone through a deep and
heartbreaking experience.
He was to say later,
“My whole attitude had
become one of despair
and defeat; and because of
this, I was living a life of
unhappiness and failure.
With each passing day, I
fell deeper and deeper into
that slough of despair until
finally, I felt I could stand
it no longer.” It was at this
point in his life that Pastor
Graeff did something.
Frank began to sing a
hymn, a hymn that had
been bom out of a sad
experience too, "What a
Friend We Have in Jesus."
What happened next
doesn’t surprise me either
because the Bible says to
encourage one another by
“speaking to yourselves
in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and
making melody in
your heart to the Lord.
By Sam Eades, Publisher/Writer
for
The Times
(Ephesians 5:19).
Pastor Graeff s heart
was filled with “joy,
unspeakable and full
of glory.” From that
experience, he
exclaimed, “I know He
cares! I know my Savior
cares!” The Lord gave him
a new song to sing.
Isn't it amazing? Just
at the right time, just
when you feel all is lost,
Jesus comes through and
reminds us that he really
does care.
Sing with me, and
remind yourself, that no
matter what life throws at
you, Jesus does care and
will answer in his time..
Does Jesus care when
my heart is pained Too
deeply for mirth and song;
As the burdens press, and
the cares distress. And
the way grows weary and
long?
Does Jesus care when
my way is dark, with a
nameless dread and fear.
As the daylight fades into
deep night shades. Does
He care enough to be near?
Does Jesus care when
I’ve tried and failed To
resist some temptation
strong;
When for my deep grief I
find no relief. Though tears
flow all the night long?
Does Jesus care when
I’ve said goodby To the
dearest on earth to me.
And my sad heart
aches till it nearly breaks.
Is it aught to Him? Does
He see?
Chorus:
Oh, yes. He cares; I
know He cares, His heart
is touched with my grief;
When the days
are weary and the long
nights dreary, I know my
Saviour cares.
Trinity to hold
benefit concert
By Sarah Hancock,
Special Contributor
for
The Times
Statesboro musicians Chris Mitchell
and his wife Ashlee bring their
considerable talents to the Trinity
Episcopal Benefit Concert Series
stage at Trinity Episcopal Church on
Friday, June 2nd at 7:30 pm. Chris and
Ashlee are something of a Statesboro
legend—well Chris is, at least, Ashlee
is from Wisconsin but she’s legendary
on her own—and if you haven’t heard
their particular alchemy, you are in for
a treat! It’s part rock, part blues, part
folk, and part country.
Here’s how it works:
Chris and Ashlee donate their time
and talents to the Benefit Concert series in hopes of raising lots of money for “Fixing the
Boro”, an animal neutering service in Statesboro.
Audience members can donate with checks, cash, or online (details will be clear at the
concert). 100% of the proceeds will go to “Fixing the Boro.”
It’s a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a great evening of music AND support a worthy
cause.
So come on out to Trinity Episcopal Church, at the comer of the Bypass and Country Club
Rd, on Friday June 2nd at 7:30. You’ll be glad you did.
SHOP, EAT
and LIVE