About The Lee County ledger. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1978-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 2024)
Page 6A, The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, January 31,2024 What’s New About A New Year Special to the Ledger Dr. James L. Snyder On New Year’s Eve, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I were celebrating in our living room with some hot apple cider. We wanted to end the year together. At our age, with so many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, that’s a tough agenda. We love all our family, but sometimes it is just good to be by ourselves. As we were sipping our hot apple cider, we heard the roar of fire crackers around our neighborhood. We lis tened to it and chuckled as we leaned back in our chairs, enjoying the time together. I must confess that this past year was filled with all kinds of things. It is hard to define what a “thing” is these days. Time, however, has a way of bouncing along without any indication of stopping. As we were coming to the end of our hot apple cider, The Gracious Mistress of the Parson age looked over at me and said, “Happy New Year.” How she said it caused me to believe she was anticipating a “New Year.” Even though it’s anoth er year, I still am who I am, so I looked at her and said very seriously, “What’s so new about this coming New Year?” I surprised her, and she did not understand what I was saying. She looked at me and said, “Well, it will be 2024 and not 2023. I’m sure you can see how that’s new?” I took a deep sip of my hot apple cider, looked at her and said, “Eve looked at the calendar for the year 2024 and all of the months are the same as they were in 2023. Every month has the same seven week days and each of those days have 24 hours. What in the world is new about that?” She looked at me as though I was a bit crazy, and I must say, she is never wrong. Of course, she did know how to respond to my question. “Maybe, just maybe this New Year will be the year that you get a little bit mature.” I was a little confused be cause I didn’t quite know what she was talking about. I thought about what she said and responded, “I’m as mature as I ever want to be.” I couldn’t help but think of the time we went out to a restaurant to celebrate my last birthday. As we finished our meal, she looked at me and said, “So, how does it feel to be old?” Without thinking, which is my MO, I reached across the table, took hold of her upper arm, gently squeezed it, looked at her, and said, “Old is feeling just fine.” As I remember that incident, she wasn’t laughing. Then, I did one of the dumbest things I have done throughout my life. I looked at her and said, “What do you think I need to do to improve my maturity?” I think she set me up for that question. “Well,” she said with one of her infamous grins, “maybe you could improve your listening ability this New Year. You just don’t listen when I say things and I have to repeat them over and over again.” “What did you say?” I asked. “That’s exactly what I mean. You may hear what I’m saying but you don’t listen to what I am saying. Maybe this year you could practice listening a little more.” I almost asked, but I didn’t, what she would recommend that I do to practice listening. I’m sure she had an agenda there. She was not finished. “Also, you could improve your memo ry. You forget so many things and I have to remind you of them all the time. Maybe you could do something to improve that part of your maturity.” Those two things would take up my whole year, and I would have no time to do anything else. I was so afraid she would have a number three on her list. Then it came, “And thirdly, maybe you could do something about your snoring at night. You snore so loud every night that some times it wakes me up.” I’m not sure how I can do all three things in one year, but that was the recommendation from The Gracious Mis tress of the Parsonage. As I sat in my chair sipping some hot apple cider, I thought about Anna Pierce, of Alba ny, GA, is among 2,514 named to the Mississippi State University fall 2023 Deans’ List. To be named to the Deans’ List, a student must have achieved a GPA between 3.5 and 3.79, based on a 4.0 scale, while completing at these things, and then, she had something else to say. “And there’s another thing you could do,” she said with a very serious perspective in her voice, “you could tell me some things I need to do to improve my maturity.” That caught me by surprise, I didn’t see it coming. How I respond to her statement will de termine how happy my life will be in this next New Year. I just looked at her, smiled, and said, “My dear, you are the most perfect person I know, and I could never think of anything that you need to do that would improve your maturity.” She just looked at me and smiled. It’s not very often that I get out of a mess, but I think I got out of this one. Let’s see how long this lasts. Thinking on this, I thought of Ecclesiastes 1:9, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” What more can be said? Dr. James L. Snyder lives in Ocala, FL with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. Tele phone 1-352-216-3025, e-mail jamessnyder51@ gmail.com, website www.jamessnydermin- istries.com. least 12 semester hours of coursework with no incomplete grades or grades lower than a C. MSU is committed to its comprehensive research university mis sion, addressing complex local and global issues with innovative ideas and solutions. Pierce named to Mississippi State University’s Deans’ List Obituaries Benjie Paige Cook Benjie Paige Cook, 63, of Albany, GA, died January 23, 2024 at Phoebe Putney Memori al Hospital. Funeral ser vices were held Satur day, January 27, 2024 at Mathews Funeral Home. Rev. David Martin officiated. The United States Army Honor Guard performed Mili tary Honors. Benjie was born on March 2, 1963 in Albany, GA to the late Ernest and Mary Louise Paige Cook. He grew up in Lee County, GA and graduated from Lee County High School in 1979. He immediately joined The United Army and served for four years. After his service to his country, he lived in Dalton, GA and then moved back to Albany where he was employed with Walmart and Burg er King. Benjie spent the next thirty years of his career with Civil Service at The Marine Corps Logistic Base in Albany. He enjoyed repairing computers, fishing and hunting. Survivors include his wife, Heidi Cook of Albany, two daughters, Emma Lasiter (Joshua Grant) of Albany, GA and Elizabeth Bell of Dawson, GA, a grand son, Joshua A. Grant, two sisters, Stacy (Joe) Whiddon of Taylor, AL and Tracy Brown of Blountsville, AL and a brother, Ernest (Sondra) Cook of Rabbit, GA. Those desiring may make memorials to the American Diabetes As sociation, 233 Peachtree St., Suite 2225, Atlanta, GA, 30303. To sign the online registry, or to send con dolences to the family, you may visit Mathews’ website at www. mathewsfuneralhome. com. Helena E. Kincheloe McCathern Helena E. Kincheloe McCathern, 72, of Santa Clara, California, passed away Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at O’Connor Hospital in San Jose, California. Helena was born in Albany, Georgia, to the late Howard Preston and Elizabeth Wade Kincheloe. She grew up in Leesburg, Georgia, and graduated from Lee County High School in 1969. She graduated from Albany Junior College and attended the University of Central Florida. She worked for Creative Publications and retired from Cisco Systems in 2013. Helena is survived by her two daughters, Rebecca McCathern and Ryann McCathern both of Santa Clara, California and her sweet dog, Kady. She is also survived by her siblings, Howard (Sue) Kincheloe of Germantown, Ten nessee; William (Edna) Kincheloe of Putney, Georgia; Shirley (Herb) Benford of Albany, Georgia; Rita (Russell) Wiggins of Williamson, Georgia; and Ralph (Beverly) Kincheloe Smithville, Georgia, as well as many nieces and nephews. Lee County Church Of Christ Eddie Garcia, Minister Bible Study 9:30 AM Worship..10:30 AM & 6:00 PM Smithville Baptist David Cromie, Pastor Sunday School... 10:00 AM Worship...11 AM & 7 PM Philema Road Baptist Aaron McCulley, Pastor Sunday School 9:45 AM Morning Worship 11:00 AM Evening Worship ..6:00 PM Alpha Baptist Joe Pollock, Pastor Sunday School 9:45 AM Morning Worship 11:00 AM 1st Sunday of the Month Evening Worship ..6:00 PM Antioch Baptist Church 1st and 3rd Sunday Sunday School 9:00 AM 4th Sunday Worship Service . 10:00 AM Friendship Baptist Church of Lee County Mark Spraggins, Pastor Sunday School 9:45 AM Morning Service.. 11:00 AM Phillip Grove Baptist Pastor Jenkins Sunday School... 10:00 AM 1 st & 3rd Sunday 11:00 AM Mt. Pleasant Baptist Pastor E B Washington Sunday School 8:00 AM Worship Service ...,9:15AM Albany Bible Church Pastor Pete Daughtry, Sun. Bible Class...9:30 & 11:00 Christ’s Sanctified Holy Church Rev. Gary Collier Sunday School... 10:00 AM Worship Service .. 11:00AM Life Church Pastor Matthew Schluckebier Sunday School 9:15 AM Worship Service.. 10:30 AM Westview Baptist Church Rev. Grady Morey Worship Service...11:00 AM Wednesday Worship...5:00 PM Attend The House of Worship of Your Choice This Sunday Kinchafoonee Baptist Rev. Melvin Slappy Sunday School 9:45 AM Morning Worship 11:00 AM Evening Worship ..7:00 PM Smithville United Methodist Rev. Henry Lee Young Worship 9:30 AM Sunday School... 10:45 AM Palmyra Baptist J. D. Bolden Sunday School... 10:00 AM Morning Worship 12:00 PM Bible Study (1st Sun) .5:00 PM Eve. Wor. (1st Sun)7:00 PM McAfee Grove Missionary Baptist Minister Robert Lewis Morgan First & Third Sundays Sunday School... 10:00 AM Worship 11:00 AM Second & Fourth Sundays Sunday School 8:00 AM Worship 9:00 AM Macadonia Baptist Church Sunday School... 10:30 AM First Sunday Morning Worship 11:45 AM Third Sunday Evening Worship .6:00 PM Jordan Grove Baptist Rev. Rod Hubbard Sunday School 9:45 AM Worship Service . 11:00 AM The Pointe Sam Hall Worship 9:00 & 10:30 Kids Ministry 10:30 (Infants - 5th grade) Jerusalem Grove MBC 2nd & 4th Sunday Sunday School 10 AM Worship 11 AM Leesburg Church Of Christ Bro. Howard Bouldin Sunday School 9:30 AM Morning Worship 10:45 PM Evening Worship .5:00 PM Greater Zion Hope Apostle Henry L Hosley Every 1st, 4th, 5th Sunday Sunday School...8:00 a.m. Sunday Worship..9:00 a.m. Shady Grove Baptist Church Ferlin Tyson, Pastor Belinda Tyson ■ First Lady 1st and 2nd Sunday Worship Service. 11:00 AM Every Sunday Sunday School ..10:00 AM Unity Church of Christianity Rev. Joanna Gabriel Morning Worship ...,11:00 AM New Hope AME Rev. E.X. King Every 1 st and third Sunday Sunday School 10:00 AM Sunday Worship 11:00 AM House Of God Saints In Christ Elder A.F. Caldwell, Pastor Sunday School 10:30 AM 1st, 2nd, & 4th Sundays Morning Worship ...,11:45 AM 2nd & 4th Sunday Evening Service 6:30 PM For any corrections or additions to the Church Page, Contact The Lee County Ledger at 759-2413 The Church at the Groves Worship 10:00 AM Wooden Grove Baptist Joe Jones, Pastor 1st, 3rd, & 5th Sunday Sunday School ...,9:45 AM Worship 11:00 AM 2nd & 4th Sunday Sunday School 7:45 AM Worship 9:00 AM Lifegate Church Sunday Service...10:00 AM Thundering Springs Baptist Church Sunday School 9.45 AM Morning Worship 11:00 AM Evening Worship .6:00 PM Leesburg United Methodist Church Pastor Lee Smith Worship 8:30 AM Sunday School ...,9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM Green Grove Baptist Smithville, GA Rev. H. Waters Sunday School ..11:00 AM Every First Sunday Morning Worship 11:45 AM Kingdom Vision Christian Center Rev. Earl S. Harrison, Pastor Sunday School... 10:00 AM Sunday Worship. 11:15AM Heritage Full Gospel Church Sunday School 9:45 AM Sunday Service.... 10:45 AM Sunday Evening.. 6:00 PM 636 Fussell Rd Leesburg, Ga 229-352-4300 'Kmkdi-Stmt FUNERAL DIRECTORS Crematory and Memorials Crown Hill Cemetery 1503 Dawson Road • PO. Box 92 Albany, Georgia 31702-0092 Phone: (229) 883-4152 “Service Since 1880” GEORGIA’S OWN CREDIT UNION 239 Cedric Street, Leesburg, GA For more information call 229-435-1715 non® ||} EEl Jlatfjetosi Funeral Home Crematory/Memorials Mike Mathews - Gary Mathews 3206 Gillionville Rd. Albany, GA 31707 435-5657 Leesburg Cemetery Leesburg First Baptist Sunday School 9:00 AM Worship 10:15 AM Evening Worship ..6:00 PM Greater United Pleasant Green Baptist Church Rev. Andrew E. McDowell, Jr. Sunday School....10:00 AM Worship 10:30 AM Flint Reformed Baptist Church Joshua DeLong, Pastor Worship 10 AM Evening Worship 5 PM Amazing Grace Baptist Church Dr. Johnny Nixon Sunday School 9:45 AM Morning Worship..10:45AM Evening Worship...6:00 PM Mt. Hope Baptist Church Services 1st Sunday Church 8:00 AM Sunday School 9:00 AM Piney Grove #3 Rev. Christopher Perry Sunday School... 10:00 AM 2nd Sunday Worship 11:00 Noon Emmanuel Community Baptist Church Al Bryant, Pastor Sunday School ..10:00 AM Morning Worship 11:00 AM St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church Rev. Dr. H. C. Wilson, Pastor Sunday School... 10:00 AM 2nd. Sun. Worship.. 11:00 AM 4th Sunday 7:00 PM Church Family of Prayer Ministry Pastor Norbert Ingram Sunday 11:00 New Hope Baptist Church Jonathan LaBarge Pastor Sunday School 10 am Service 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. Adventist Fellowship Church Pastor Nestor Amparo Saturday Worship 9:30 AM
