Greeting readers,

The Book of  Nahum 1:7 speaks to our hearts about God’s words about trust in him, and they read: “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him..” God and his Son Jesus Christ will take care of you through this holiday season as well as all other times in your life if you believe and trust in him whole-hearted.

Family is one of the oldest institutions of all times, and it still remains important in our society today. Family celebration can be meaningful, fun and a blessed gathering for all involved. Mrs. Annie Frances Hudson would like to share her birthday celebration that meant so much to her with this reading audience. Her special birthday events started on her birthday, Sept. 18 with a dear friend Mrs. Ulla Jolly who took her out to dinner at Cracker Barrel in Brookhaven. This was a fun event and the two of them enjoyed the fellowship as well as the food.

Annie Frances Hudson, of the Della Green community, didn’t know that the next day, her children, grandchildren and other family members had planned a grand celebration for her at her home. On Saturday, Sept. 19 Annie Frances was given a surprise dinner in honor of her 85th birthday. The planning for this occasion started in July. Everything had to be done secretly without her knowledge, and this was accomplished through phone calls, text messaging and by e-mails. But with God’s goodness and his grace, everyone came together. Family members came from New York to Iowa, from Illinois to Tennessee, from Virginia to Texas, and from across the state of Mississippi.

Arriving from New York for this great celebration were her daughter Janice Tom/George, of Brooklyn, and her son, Lincoln Hudson of Kingston. Her son, Kenneth Hudson and his family arrived from Davenport, Iowa with a special large and beautiful birthday sheet cake. It was amazing how they picked this cake up at a bakery and kept it in tact from Iowa to Brookhaven. It was still delicious when they cut it, (not dried out and not messed-up). Arriving from Rock lsland, Illinois was her grandson Morgan Harris and his family also from Springhill, Tennessee was her son Keith Hudson and his family. Her grandson, Carlton “Trell” Hudson and his wife, Mary, arrived from Nashville, Tennessee. Two of Annie Frances great-grandchildren arrived from San Antonio, Texas, Tiffany Hudson and her son, Jonathan, and Chris Hudson. Her son Ted Hudson arrived from Nasa, Virginia. Her children from Mississippi were there: her daughters, Annie Ruth “Cookie” Hudson of Jackson and Ann Hatcher of Brookhaven and family; her sons, George and Johnny Hudson Jr., both of Brookhaven. Five of her grandchildren were not present, but they sent cell phone videos to their grandmother to show their love and support to her. Annie Frances’s family is now five generations deep and still going strong.

Also in attendance was Annie Frances’s sister in-law, Minister Willie Faye Webb of Brookhaven, Mrs. Margaret There’ll, Mrs. Mildred Allen, Mrs. Mary Green, all of Brookhaven, and Mrs. Mary Smith of Hazlehurst. The dinner and the occasion was blessed by Minister Willie Faye Webb with a joyful and a beautiful prayer. The dinner was filled with heart-felt conversations, warm smiles, lots of laughter, lots and lots of fun, and of course plenty delicious food. After dinner Mrs. Hudson was blessed with two songs, “His Eye is on the Sparrow” and “How Great Thou Art.” Both songs were sang by her great-nephew, Rev. Jerry Kelly Jr., of Jackson.

Mrs. Annie Frances Hudson would like to extend special thanks to all of her children, her grandchildren, and all other family members who helped to plan and make this wonderful event a success. She stated that this special occasion “will always be one that she will keep in her heart and her mind to remember and cherish forever and ever.” May God Almighty continue to watch over and keep each of you in his loving care.

In request of her mother and other family members, we would like to recognize the life of Gwendolyn Arlee “Lisa” Smith Nunaley who was born Aug. 2, 1958 and her sunset was Nov. 15, 2014. She was born in Hazlehurst to Louis S. and Velma Bailey Smith. Gwendolyn was better known as Lisa to her family and her friends and she was a caregiver to all. Lisa was excellent in her educational pursuit. She attended Brookhaven High School and graduated in 1976. She transitioned to and received degrees at the University of Southern Mississippi at Hattiesburg, Copiah-Lincoln Community College of Wesson and Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit which led her to careers in numerous fields. Her careers included being a X-ray technologist, a phlebotomist and a registered nurse for a number of years. Lisa was so astute and intelligent in math that she prepared taxes and tutored those seeking higher education. Most importantly, Gwen/Lisa the mother demonstrated devotion and support, which was embellished upon her children and grandchildren; as well as other family members and anyone who had need of her compassionate encouragement.

Lisa was a member of Bethel AME Church pastured by Rev. Stamps, she was also a member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and was a community involvement assistant with The Lincoln County Boys and Girls Club.

Lisa leaves to mourn and to cherish her loving memories her four children, Charles Lewanika (Vicky) of Brookhaven, Danielle Nunaley, Evan Nunaley and Wendi Nunaley all of Hattiesburg; her loving mother, Velma B. Smith; her brother Nikita Smith (Petra) of Brookhaven; her sisters, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, uncles, aunts, and a host of other relatives and friends. She is gone, but she will never be forgotten.

The family would like to extend special thanks for your prayers, your words of encouragement and for your many thoughtful deed rendered to the Nunaley/Smith families. Special thanks to Effie Poole and her daughter, Teresa, who stopped to help Lisa beside the road as they passed by and saw that she was ill. They called the first responders and police officer Kevin Thompson was the first to arrive on the scene. He administered CPR as they waited for the other responders to arrive. The family would like to thank all pastors and church families, who had Lisa on their prayer list, also to all other ministers, friends and the general public who prayed for Lisa and supported the family doing her illness and her death. Special thanks to the doctors and nurses at Southwest Mississippi Regional Hospital in McComb and Select Hospital in Jackson. Last but not least, special thanks to William Mortuary staff for all you did to make this transition successful. May God bless each of you.

If you have any Loyd Star Area News to Report, please call Carolyn E. Beard Humphries at 601-833-5753.