Voting is open for the Campbell Clinic Memphis area girls high school athlete of the week from April 28 to May 3 Mary's Charlotte Stakem and ECS' Neely Wilder Wendell Shepherd Jr. is The Commercial Appeal's high school sports beat writer. Reach Wendell at wendell.shepherd@commercialappeal.com or on X @wendellsjr_ all holding him in boundless love and gratitude His dry humor and perfectly timed one-liners were legendary among friends and family—even to the very end He often had his family rolling with laughter thanks to his silly antics only child who brought a strong sense of integrity and civic duty to everything he pursued He spent parts of his childhood in Indianapolis he played on the school’s undefeated football team worked as editor of the school newspaper and yearbook and was affectionately described by his classmates as “mirthful.” Wendell went on to attend Johns Hopkins University on an ROTC scholarship and honed his recipe for Fish House Punch for his fraternity and the next day wrote her a 12-page letter asking for her hand in marriage where he served for 18 months just after the war He returned home and earned his law degree in 1959 Though he once dreamed of becoming a sports broadcaster Wendell found deep satisfaction in the law and forged a meaningful path as an attorney Smith & Davis LLP as a partner in 1968 and was an integral member of its renowned real estate practice for over 50 years Wendell was broadly recognized as one of New Jersey’s preeminent authorities on the legal issues impacting condominiums and community associations in the state he represented many prominent real estate developers hundreds of condominiums and cooperative communities He was a proud co- author of New Jersey Condominium and Community Association Law a longstanding resource as the penultimate legal treatise for professionals in that field Wendell was a founding Fellow of the prestigious American College of Real Estate Lawyers and the College of Community Association Lawyers and a Fellow of the highly selective American Bar Foundation He was the founding President and General Counsel Emeritus of the Community Associations Institute’s New Jersey Chapter which honored him with its inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011 A giant in his communities and a mentor to many His ability to navigate complexity and build consensus made him a natural leader whose influence extended far beyond his legal practice He served on the Johns Hopkins Hospital Board and was a trustee of Johns Hopkins University he was a former trustee and board chair of the Bayshore Community Hospital and its charitable foundation served as President of the Holmdel School Board and co- founded the Holmdel Drama and Arts Association He also served on the Holmdel Cemetery Board and co-founded the Holmdel Theatre Company Wendell was a people person and loved to have fun or throwing unforgettable parties back in the day fiercely loyal Mets and Giants fan—cheering them on with gusto through every season But what Wendell felt most proud of was his family He always found time to coach his kids’ sports teams take family boating trips up the Northeast coast every summer and their children nurtured in ‘Smitty’ a deep appreciation for the arts and they took great pride in Kala’s theatre work in New York Wendell was a supportive father to his children a fun-loving “Grandpa Moustache” to his three treasured grandchildren and a wonderful partner to his second wife of 13 years Wendell introduced Judy to more sports and news than she could ever imagine he watched her soap operas and 90-Day Fiancé Known affectionately by his family as “Big Bear,” Wendell will be remembered for his service Michael Quattrone; and his three grandchildren He is also survived by his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Marilyn and Gerry Legato; his brother-in-law David Ferrari; nieces and nephews; and thirteen cousins-in-law in Denmark April 21st 2 to 4pm and 6 to 8pm at Holmdel Funeral Home at 26 South Holmdel Road in Holmdel Funeral Service will be held Tuesday at The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepard at 112 Middletown Road in Holmdel the family kindly requests donations for the Holmdel Theatre Company at the Duncan Smith Theatre Your name will appear next to the candle you light.Your condolence may need to be approved before it appears on this page It may not appear immediately once submitted Upload attachment  (Allowed file types: jpg and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" It looks as though you’ve already said that!' + ' Your condolence may need to be approved before it appears on this page Thank you for leaving a condolence..Your comment has been submitted for moderation Wendell Atkins Smith, 93, passed peacefully on April 13th, 2025, surrounded by his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren, all holding him in boundless love and gratitude. Wendell was charming, and quick-witted. His dry humor and perfectly timed one-liners were legendary among friends and family—even to the very end. He often had his family rolling … Read More Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Designed and produced by ©document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); MKJ Marketing|Privacy Policy|Sitemap Connect with our staff on topics that matter to you via email or request a reprint Place classified and announcement notices or grow your business with advertising and marketing solutions Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Utah to Robert and Donna (Jorgensen) Hurst He was an identical twin to his brother Bradley He attended college at Utah State University in Logan Utah where he majored in Business Information Systems with a minor in Spanish Bruce was active in the LDS Church and served for two years as a missionary for the church in Costa Rica he met and married Tami Felt in the Salt Lake City LDS temple in 1993 The couple lived briefly in Logan while Bruce finished his schooling Bruce worked in the IT department of several bus transit companies He was employed at the Kansas City Area Transit Authority at the time of his death and had worked there for about 15 years Bruce enjoyed being outdoors fishing and camping He was active in Scouting as a boy and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout he served as a Scout Master and troop committee member He continued to support the troop even after his boys had moved on He was passionate about helping young men succeed in the Scouting program Bruce enjoyed collecting coins and Garfield items He was preceded in death by his mother Donna Mae Hurst and great-niece Cora Wade The family will receive guests for a visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 AM on Friday at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints the funeral service will follow at 11:00 AM To leave a special message for his family or to share a memory of Bruce The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors IL passed away peacefully on Christmas Eve morning surrounded by family IL to the late Vernon and Alice (nee Kochel) Bormet.  Loving father of Sean (Teri) Bormet and Ryan (Meg) Bormet; cherished grandfather of Zoë Bormet and Lucille Bormet; dear brother of Carolyn (Floyd) Combes Wayne Bormet and the late Frances (late Jim) Ezell; loved uncle Wendell was a man of few words but full of meaning and a passionate youth wrestling and football coach and his memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.  Family & Friends: You’re Invited to a Celebration of Life and celebrate the life of Wendell (Butch) Bormet When: February 2nd | 2:00-5:00pm CT Where: Gatto’s Restaurant & Bar |1938 E Lincoln Hwy | New Lenox We look forward to celebrating our father’s life with all of you!  Broadway Off-Broadway Off-Off Broadway Cabaret Dance Opera Classical Music Nashville Minneapolis / St. Paul Connecticut Atlanta Chicago Los Angeles WEST END UK Regional Canada Australia / New Zealand Europe Asia Latin America Africa / Middle East TV/Movies Music The 78th Annual Tony Awards will return to Radio City Music Hall in New York City next month This morning, live from Sofitel New York Tony Award winners Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce announced the nominations for the 78th Annual Tony Awards The full announcement is available to stream on the Tony Awards official YouTube page and the complete list of nominations can be found here and GRAMMY Award-winner and three-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo The American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards will broadcast LIVE to both coasts on Sunday 2025 (8:00 – 11:00 PM ET/5:00 – 8:00 PM PT) on the CBS Television Network The Tony Awards are produced in collaboration with Tony Award Productions a joint venture of the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss are executive producers and showrunners for White Cherry Entertainment Photo Credit: Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce Wendell Pierce Sarah Paulson The 40th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards – the only New York theatre award to exclusively honor Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway – are being presented tonight, Sunday, May 4, 2025, at NYU Skirball. Check out live updates from the ceremony here! The Broadway community is still buzzing with excitement in the wake of yesterday's Tony Award nomination announcement. Several shows celebrated their nominations with on-stage speeches during the curtain call of last night's performance. Audra McDonald has broken a new Tony record, becoming the most-nominated performer in Broadway history. Her nomination as the iconic Mama Rose in the latest production of Gypsy marks the 11th for the performer, following her 2023 nomination for Ohio State Murders.  This morning, live from Sofitel New York, Tony Award winners Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce announced the nominations for the 78th Annual Tony Awards. Check out photos of the duo here! function closestickysocial(){document.getElementById("foxsocial").style.display="none";}@media(max-width:1024px){.most-popular,.video-row{display:block;margin-top:25px}}Videos and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows © 2025 - Copyright Wisdom Digital Media, all rights reserved. Privacy Policy Texas went to be with our Lord and Savior on October 31,2024 surrounded by his loving family 1942 to William “Bill” and Edna Ridgway Wendell graduated from Pampa High School where he was a cheerleader He went on to play baseball at the University of Texas and then San Marcos After college he then joined the Marine Corp where he served in Vietnam as a communication specialist During his time there he received many awards including the Rifel Marksmanship Expert Badge He also played music to entertain the troops alongside his band “The Ridgrunners”.  After serving our country Wendell pursued his love of music and went on a tour with his band “The New Sound” Texas where he pursued a career in construction Wendell then went on to start his own business Texas Delights Together they enjoyed many years of traveling and eventually joined an RV club where they continued their love of traveling Wendell and Elnita were a true testament to what a loving and committed marriage should be.  Wendell is preceded in death by his parents Bill and Edna Ridgway A Celebration of Life will be held at Ussery Roan Texas State Veterans Home on Tuesday Remembrances can be made through contributions to Ussery Roan Texas State Veterans Home or Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) in honor of veterans affected by agent orange We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money Silas Wendell Holmes created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Made with love by funeralOne He was a member of Atkins Baptist Church and a lifelong member of the Gibbs community Wendell was the proud co-owner of Conner Asphalt Paving He will be greatly missed by his family and friends who could always count on him for help or a joke.  AC and Sally Conner and Frank and Mildred Turner Survived by his parents Robert and Regenia Conner; wife of 31 years his grandson and “little buddy” Clayton Graves his adopted granddaughter Rebecca Mota; special aunt and uncles Linda Bowman He was also survived by in-laws Reuben and Carolyn Stansberry and special nieces “Rugrat” Heather Keck and “Mandycakes” Mandy Pressley A special thanks to the caregivers at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center a private family service will be held at a later date Honorary pallbearers will be Wendell’s motorcycle family Wendell would prefer donations be made to Atkins Baptist Church Mission Fund at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls    Wendell’s family will have a private inurnment service at Hillside Cemetery in Doon    Wendell Joe DeJong was born September 3 the son of Clarence and Edna Mae (Mulder) DeJong He married Marilyn Anderson at the Congregational Church in Doon on August 29 Iowa where Wendell spent 6 years working as a carpenter for Mouw Den Hartog He then worked at Big 4/Land O’Lakes/AGP Soybean Mill for 34 years Wendell worked stocking shelves at Hy-Vee for 3 years Wendell and Marilyn purchased the Kwiki Car Wash in 1977 His grandchildren have lots of fond memories of “helping” grandpa on the weekends at the car wash    Wendell also enjoyed racing his mini sprint car in the tri-state area Wendell shared many good times on his pontoon boat fishing and laughing with his children and grandchildren through the years Driving his Ford 8N tractor was another hobby he liked He and Marilyn loved to travel and visited all of the states except Alaska and Hawaii    Wendell is survived by his wife of over 65 years and Krisha DeJong of Sheldon; 10 grandchildren and Jacee De Vries; 17 great-grandchildren    Wendell was preceded in death by his parents but in the end the ultimate answers lie in God’s atonement and love for us and in our love and forgiveness for others who are just as implicated as we are Wendell Berry is a bearer of that message in his books I have a great deal of respect for Wendell Berry the Kentucky farmer and writer who has dedicated his life to the well-being of his corner of Henry County often by taking principled stands against big business because I am about to take a potshot at him and perhaps less inclination to get into the weeds with carping critics This makes what I am about to do all the less honorable But I am going to use his example to make an important point about Christianity and forgiveness and I think he will appreciate it in the long run I run a small independent bookstore in Steubenville One of our spring 2024 ambitions is to have Wendell Berry’s books in stock He has long preached precisely the kind of emphasis on local businesses and local resilience that represents the only long term hope for our bookstore which generally means I forgo taking a paycheck having Berry’s books at our shop was worth it “Find out who Berry’s publisher is,” I instructed my store’s one almost-full-time employee “Let’s get an account with them and order some books.” She did the research and came up with: “To get Berry’s books we have to have an account with Penguin Random House.” If you don’t know the inside workings of publishing Penguin Random House is to book publishing what Amazon is to book retail It recently negotiated a buyout of Simon and Schuster which would have given it 70% control of the U.S Department of Justice on antitrust grounds Berry himself pointed out the problem: competition doesn’t breed more competition Penguin Random House is itself only a subsidiary of a massive international media conglomerate called Bertelsmann which produces mostly European television and radio programs you don’t know it turns out—the Kentucky farmer who refuses to buy a computer or a cell phone because he thinks they all erode local culture The guy who writes during the daytime because he doesn’t like power companies He’s part of the Bertelsmann-Penguin-Random House brand too Now if you want to quibble and get into the weeds Berry’s publisher is actually Counterpoint LLC which only uses Penguin Random House’s distribution services Counterpoint’s current form was started by Perseus Book Group as well as Random House’s distribution services before being themselves bought up by Hachette and Ingram; Counterpoint went independent Koch Industries is one of the world’s largest fossil fuel companies (Wendell Berry very publicly reneged on his commitment to give his papers to the University of Kentucky to show the world “what [he] thought of the university alliance with the coal industry.”) Counterpoint is headquartered in Berkeley and Manhattan Berry’s thoughts on corporations are easy to find I’ll point out his essay “The Idea of a Local Economy” in particular which we in Steubenville often use as a point of inspiration for thinking about how we should proceed: The limitless destructiveness of this economy comes about precisely because a corporation is not a person is a pile of money to which a number of persons have sold their moral allegiance at a realization of the shortness and smallness of human lives; it does not come to see the future as the lifetime of the children and grandchildren of anybody in particular It can experience no personal hope or remorse It goes about its business as if it were immortal with the single purpose of becoming a bigger pile of money.[1] Berry has said that corporations really are the central engine for our reduction to passivity What has happened is that most people in our country and apparently most people in the “developed” world have given proxies to the corporations to produce and provide all of their food they are rapidly giving proxies to corporations or governments to provide entertainment and many other kinds of “service” that once were carried on informally and inexpensively by individuals or households or communities Much as Berry has delegated his book selling to Counterpoint Berry’s writings would constitute a good nest egg for a new publishing house and working with small bookshops of the sort that represent Berry’s actual vision Steubenville itself has two such publishers which publishes books by Dietrich von Hildebrand which started with the writings of Scott Hahn but has grown since I drive up to their warehouse and put their books in my car of course.) I’m sure they are dependent on other corporations for all sorts of things But they are fighting Wendell Berry’s fight within the book industry: for what is local Lewis began Mere Christianity by talking about people quarreling which he describes as the kind of fuss people make when someone accuses someone else of being in the wrong He says we cannot escape this sense of right and wrong But Christianity offers a code no one lives by even to the point of denying the existence of the “good” human being have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way that they do not in fact behave in that way They know the Law of Nature; they break it These two facts are the foundation of all clear thinking about ourselves and the universe we live in.[3] This pattern repeats over and over again: we know what is right a philosopher friend of mine came into the store His main work is on the philosophy of money and he has been working here in Steubenville to create more principled ways of investing money and has done a great job of moving money toward small businesses and away from those massive corporations that are the normal targets for investment capital and took out his credit card to pay for them “You write all this stuff about money and keeping investments local Do you know that my shop paid $5,000 in card processing fees last year That’s money that could have been in my family’s hands and instead it went to giant financial services corporations $5,000 means a hell of a lot to me—I’ve got five little kids to support.” because of the supreme ease it offers when doing accounting This whole essay contains attacks on corporations including for the computer I’m using to write this essay I bet Wendell Berry sends less of his money to corporations than I do I’m just using his expressed idealism as a way to call him out to live more by his ideals But I share in whatever hypocrisy he can be charged with a vast gap opens up between ourselves and righteousness It is a gap that only God can span; and hence the Lamb of God One of the words that Christianity gave the world is hypocrisy and playing a role; it is Jesus who uses it of those who censure others while pretending they are not implicated in the evil of the world themselves We still need people to censure the evils of the world the ones who are most agitated about a problem often gain their energy from the moral contradiction of being utterly implicated in the very sins they condemn The previous owner had made most of his money selling on Amazon I have cut our dependence on Amazon in half in a year but I still use it because I sense that I have many books that I will not be able to sell any other way Amazon takes huge fees—last year they took a thirty percent cut of our sales on their site—and that’s money I’ve sent to them I am looking for some way to extricate myself from this tangle but the principle remains: we are all of us implicated in systems and evils we cannot find a way out of To be a member of a society is no way to be pure We support a thousand evils in every direction and feed the beasts that will eat us in the end it can make you hate yourself: as Lewis writes,“We know that if there does exist an absolute goodness This is why the Christian religion is so important to the world which is why they transcend even his idealism And so when his children or friends found the new Port William Press mine will be the first bookshop to drop Penguin Random House and make a phone call—or maybe even write them a letter—to place an order This essay was originally published in New Polity Issue 5.2 (Spring 2024) and appears here by permission. We recommend you subscribe for all their best essays “ The Idea of a Local Economy,” in The Future of Nature: Writing on a Human Ecology from Orion Magazine Mere Christianity (New York: The Macmillan Company All comments are moderated and must be civil Comments that are critical of an essay may be approved but comments containing ad hominem criticism of the author will not be published comments containing web links or block quotations are unlikely to be approved Keep in mind that essays represent the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Imaginative Conservative or its editor or publisher I am greatly admonished as I read your essay but much of what we should do would be so terrifically inconvenient (nasty word!) and At least impossible within any system that required less than heroic effort and constant vigilance I have a friend that once advised me that the biggest enemy of Western Civilization is corporatism This is yet another affirmation of his point The Imaginative Conservative is sponsored by The Free Enterprise Institute (a U.S Your donation to the Institute in support of The Imaginative Conservative is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law of Spencer passed away on December 9th at St north of Gillett Grove to Celia Mae (Davis) and Elmer Herman Anderson It was on the family farm where he and his two brothers and three sisters played many innings of baseball after chores were done He attended country school and graduated as a Gillett Grove Hilltopper where he excelled in basketball After graduation he was scouted for semi-pro baseball which he declined.  Wendell then enlisted in the Army and spent several years in Korea as a road engineer building roads into where the fighting was happening When asked how close he was to the fighting he always replied "not close." But it wasn't until the Daily Reporter interviewed him a few years ago at the age of 88 or 89 and they asked exactly how close he was to the fighting and he replied "not close...maybe a mile or so." After he was discharged from the army and after 4 years of dating Wendell tied the knot with his life-long love They lived on a rental farm first before being offered the opportunity to purchase "the Tuschoff farm" located right next to the "Anderson homeplace." the kids had more opportunities to spend with their dad even during planting and harvest season but especially when sorting and loading hogs on Saturday mornings when the kids would take turns taking a load of hogs to market and receive their reward of a bottle of pop for their hard work And when the kids would complain about walking beans in the summer with their dad they would ask "Awww do we have to?" He would reply "You don't have to...you GET to." Wendell was an active supporter of his kid's activities from speech music and band contests to all sorts of athletic events including putting many miles on the brown and tan Dodge Ram van as he and Vivian trekked all over the Midwest to watch Barry play basketball for Buena Vista.  they said that they very much enjoyed watching their dad play church league softball and later on Senior League volleyball He enjoyed playing sports as well as watching basketball and baseball in particular on TV the most He really enjoyed the sports conversations that he later shared with his daughter-in-law Dana and they would discuss the merits of the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Tennessee Volunteers in particular One of his favorite memories in his later years was actually attending a Minnesota Twins game with Vivian He said that had been on his “bucket list” but he never actually thought he would get to do that another family member was added to the Wendell & Vivian's family when Guadalupe Larrea Flores came to live with the Anderson family for a year as the first ever exchange student to South Clay Unlike many exchange students who live with a family for a year and then rarely visit their host family again Guady became a regular visitor to the farm and later to their home in Spencer Wendell was just as supportive of Guady as any of the other kids Kansas for her graduation with her Master's degree He later became the "bonus grandpa" to her son Juan Sebastian and took great pride in all of their achievements All this time Wendell was also involved in many community events from being on the Dickens Coop Elevator for over 30 years many years on the South Clay school board and a deacon and elder at First Christian Church in Spencer He was intentional about supporting his local community Once when asked why he took his vehicle to Burger's gas station in Gillett Grove instead of up to Spencer he explained that it really matters when you support a local business because you're helping that business and the family running it to be successful AND that if you don't support your local businesses pretty soon that business won't be there anymore Wendell was intentional about supporting the Dickens Fire Department and their pancake & sausage fundraisers and the turkey dinner and auction at the Greenville Congregational Church He was also intentional with supporting First Christian Church and demonstrating that sometimes you give financially and sometimes by manual labor and sometimes by serving on a committee or leading in some capacity or by prayer His faith in Christ was a big part of who he was He was quiet but consistent about how he lived out his faith One of his personal rules was to choose not to farm the land on Sundays He fed the cattle and the hogs but chose to set aside farming with his tractor and "keep the sabbath" and take a day of rest His faith was tested at many points throughout his life -- when he served in Korea followed by years of ulcerative colitis with Linda although large and looming at the moment were still only temporary His faith in Christ as his savior allowed him to live confidently It also allowed him to not take things too seriously and to look for the humor in things If there was a trademark characteristic about him it was his humor and his teasing of almost anyone who crossed paths with him he still spent many days out at the farm helping Barry and later his grandson He was the one who taught Dana how to drive the combine and also in her words was "the pig whisperer" as he taught her how to corral and sort hogs He had an innate ability to know better than the computer in the combine what the crop yield would be in the different parts of the field he spent an entire afternoon in the combine with Christopher "harvesting." That afternoon was a high point for him Wendell was well regarded by so many for his approachability He enjoyed people and made special effort to include others in his circle of friendships although he didn't actually regard himself as unique in that way Wendell was always very conscientious about honoring Vivian with flowers and creative gifts every Christmas One of his traditions that he shared with Sonya was the annual “Around The Farm Christmas Gift Scavenger Hunt” for mom’s gifts This is when he would send Soni off to go find Vivian’s Christmas gifts hidden on the seat of his combine in the glovebox of his farm truck and anywhere else he could think of to hide his gifts for Vivian It was then up to Soni to not only retrieve these gifts but also wrap them on his behalf One of the best birthday gifts that Wendell ever received was when Brian and Sonya (Anderson) Nash's daughter was born on his birthday when he was 84 years old and this past November they celebrated as they always have every year with a shared birthday cake There was a special bond between these two "birthday twins." Although he wasn't very effusive with his praise he demonstrated his love and his pride for his kids and his grandkids by attending hundreds of soccer Taylor and Christopher; concerts and plays of Joshua and Caleb Juan Sebastian's graduation from Purdue University Aviation program and Abby's concerts & soccer games He would probably be embarrassed to read these words written about him because "he's not really that special." But then again don't all of the humble people say that about themselves Wendell joins a great cloud of witnesses in heaven including his parents Celia & Elmer Anderson; his mother-in-law and father-in-law Frances & Marshall Elkin; his older brother Ronald who served as a missionary in Africa; his younger brother who he farmed together with for many years and Deane's wife Eagerly anticipating seeing him again are his wife Sonya & Brian Nash of Spencer; his daughter Guadalupe Larrea Flores of Quito Ecuador as well as his grandchildren and great grandchildren: Joshua Makayla & Charlie Ann Davidson - Orange City; Megan Hadley & Griffin Kjose - ,Sioux Falls; Taylor Nicole & Hallie Anderson - Spencer; Abigail Nash - Spencer and Juan Sebastian Ponce Larrea - Chicago Wendell is also survived by his sisters Wilma Werts of Pueblo, CO; Doris & Don Nissen - Spencer: Lola Sjogren – Sibley, sister-in-law, Clela (McCall) Anderson – St Louis and by Vivian's siblings Doris Salton - Dickens and Marshall & Lillian Elkin – Carlock, IL and many friends and relatives. Holt created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Available by phone 24/7 (513) 897-5966 Copyright © 2025 Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home & Cremation Services Wendell Elliott Gaillard created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Send flowers to Wendell's Memorial Service © 2025 Davis-Struempf Funeral Home & Crematory Made with love by funeralOne The family of Wendell "Sunny" Kravitz created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Fred was a graduate of Kenmore High School He went on to serve in the Navy and given an honorable discharge Fred was a Master Welder for Babcock and Wilcox for 33 years Fred enjoyed photography and photographed weddings and events He played the drums in his youth and never lost his passion for it Fred was also a member of the Masonic Lodge (53 years) Fred is survived by his daughter Tracy Shepherd daughter Becky Lee Marple-Drake; grandson Christopher Standridge; sister Mary Alice; brother-in-law Jon Swires; and a host of extended family Fred was preceded in death by his father Wendell F with a funeral service to follow at 1:00 p.m cremation will take place after the services donations can be made in Fred's honor to the Goodyear Heights Food Bank or St To leave a message to the family or share a memory McALESTER — Oklahoma carried out its first execution of 2025 on Thursday giving a lethal injection to a confessed killer who had said in his first interview with police that he wanted the death penalty It's going to be all right," he said in his last words after apologizing and asking for forgiveness from "all of you that I hurt." He did not seek any emergency stays in court and did not speak at his clemency hearing in February "I don't want to spend the rest of my life in here." Grissom was executed for fatally shooting a woman during a 2005 home invasion in rural Blaine County was at the isolated home near Watonga helping a friend Matthews was shot the first time in the back of the head while holding her friend's newborn baby She was shot again in the forehead after collapsing to the floor "You guys really need to remember her because she was unbelievable," Kopf said Thursday of her best friend The execution was the 16th in Oklahoma since lethal injections resumed in October 2021 after a long hiatus brought about by drug mix-ups and botched procedures "This was probably as flawless of an execution that we've had in terms of the process," said Steven Harpe the Oklahoma Department of Corrections' executive director It was the third in the United States this week. A fourth took place Thursday night in Florida. The executions this week come at a time of increased public attention on capital punishment The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 4-1 on Feb Grissom had been locked up most of his adult life twice going to prison in Texas for burglaries after being paroled in 2001 and became a long-haul trucker according to evidence presented at his 2008 trial They drank whiskey during the drive and discussed plans to commit robberies or burglaries.After staying at a hotel in Del City they drove the next day into Blaine County looking for a house to burglarize "I needed money," he told police in his first confession He said he chose the house at random and had been drinking vodka After first asking Kopf if her husband was home he shot his way through a sliding glass door into the house She testified at trial that she offered him money and her car to stop "He was just laughing and he just kept shooting and shooting and laughing," she told jurors Matthews fled with Gracie to a bedroom where Kopf's oldest daughter “Please don’t shoot me," Matthews said before being gunned down "Amber died protecting the children she loved like her own," Attorney General Gentner Drummond and his assistants told the Pardon and Parole Board Kopf escaped in her shooter's truck as Johns came into the house The two men fled but were arrested the same day after buying beer The state's attorneys contend Grissom acted out of his hatred toward women He had told his ex-wife in a text a week before the murder that he was going back to his "old ways" and hoped she had a crash and burned to death his attorneys blamed his actions on brain damage from a problematic birth and motorcycle accidents "Do you have (the) death penalty in Oklahoma?" he asked police in his first confession Told that Oklahoma does have that punishment "I didn't plan or mean for any of it to happen "All I do know is that it was senseless and I was not in any right state of mind He told Newsweek on Monday that he asked God for forgiveness "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't stressed out or worried about it but I know where I stand with God," he told Newsweek about his execution because I know that I've asked for forgiveness but Jesus Christ died on that cross for everybody — that includes me Grissom was convicted at trial of first-degree murder grand larceny and possession of a firearm after former conviction of a felony Johns was convicted at a separate trial of first-degree murder and grand larceny is serving life in prison without the possibility of parole The execution was carried out before more than 20 family/victim witnesses prayed at Grissom's feet in the execution chamber Grissom said he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the shooting "I'm not who I made myself look like that one day." He said he did not deserve forgiveness but prayed that "you all can forgive me for your sake." He added that "it is the only way you will find God in this." characterized his last words as demands for forgiveness "I didn't care what he had to say," said Kathy Johnson "I feel like it was sincere but it was too late." "I had eight bullet holes in my body and there's still bullets in me," Kopf said I'd go to Walmart and a guy would walk in with a backpack and I thought .. With Kopf as she spoke to the media were her daughters "I think it was a long time coming," Rylee said Harpe said Grissom on Wednesday was served his last meal — a medium thick-crust Canadian Bacon Supreme pizza a pint of vanilla ice cream and a pint of Coke Observing the execution for the media were reporters for The Associated Press a McAlester radio station and a Tulsa television station death penalty opponents gathered before the execution outside the Governor's Mansion in Oklahoma City "These executions are becoming too routine One senseless killing is avenged by another senseless killing There is nothing routine about that," said the Rev chair of the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty said after the execution that he was not the same person who committed the crimes "Wendell had become a deeply reflective spiritual and peaceful man," the attorney said "Wendell’s execution perpetuates a cycle of pain and trauma We hold out hope for a day when we no longer purport to advance justice by taking one life for another.” Court to schedule next Oklahoma executionThe Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals will schedule the next execution for a Thursday in June after being notified of Grissom's death. Next on the list is John Fitzgerald Hanson who fatally shot a retired banker after kidnapping her from the parking lot of a Tulsa mall on Aug (This story was updated to add new information.) Live Cast He is survived by his children: Linda Greiner (Bernie) Brian Willers (Jann); grandchildren: Wendy Cooley (Shane) and Miranda Bohnenkamp (Jake); step-grandchildren: Jasmine Silva (Joe) Kirsten Hoaby; great-grandchildren: Payton and Avery Cooley; Maddex and Alianna Willers Bonnie and Stevie Willers; Harper and Emerson Willers; Dexter and Zoe Hansen; Kendrick and Ethan Willers; Mia and Dezmin Willers; and Jaxen and Macent Bohnenkamp; step-great-grandchildren: Garrett Menear-Carda Colston and Kieran Silva; and Natalie and Miles Monico and Esther Rose (Kind) Willers in Wayne County He attended country school in Stanton County at District 43 and was later assigned to the Medical Corp He went to Denver Fitzsimmons Hospital for training and reported to Augusta General Hospital in Augusta Wendell spent time helping on the family farm and working as a farm hired hand He enjoyed going to dances at King’s Ballroom in Norfolk She happened to be on a date with his brother and that dance lasted into a lifetime of happiness and lived in a little rented cottage that was blessed with a two-hole out house She was afraid to go out in the dark alone where he had a job as a welder for Independent Metal Co. After working in the shop as a welder and lead man he was picked in April 1971 to be a customer service representative and held that job until retirement on Dec 31 Wendell and Shirley enjoyed bowling and bowled with the same couple of friends for over 35 years They also enjoyed Fourth of July and New Years Eve celebrations with the same group of friends for over 50 years Wendell spent time watching grandchildren and great-grandchildren over the years when their parents were busy and hockey games to watch all the great-grandchildren play The Willers Family have been members of Messiah Lutheran Church since 1961 All the children went to Sunday School and were confirmed here Wendell and Shirley were co-sponsors of the Luther League along with Marilyn Homburg; and Wendell was a member of the church council many times as well as building committee member and part of the team that brought on Pastor Art Homburg During Ralston’s Fourth of July celebration This took quite a bit of time and phone calls to organize for the committee Wendell loved sharing the newspaper comics with anyone who would listen and had a group chat with the great-grandchildren where he would send a picture of his favorite ones to them ___________________________________________________________________________ MEMORIAL SERVICE with Military Honors: Wednesday with VISITATION from 10:00am to 11:00am at the church memorials are suggested to Messiah Lutheran Church To view a live broadcast of the Memorial Service please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “Live Cast” button at the top of the home page Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler, West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha, Ne 68124. (402)-391-3900. www.heafeyheafey.com So sorry for the passing of Wendell but I am sure he and Shirley are celebrating being back together Mike & Connie Schellerer and Julie Gorum Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler Mortuaries © 2024 All Rights Reserved Terms of Use and Privacy Policy It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Wendell Joseph Navarre on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at home surrounded by his loved ones. He was born in Centreville, Mississippi on August 18, 1962, and spent the majority of his childhood... View Obituary & Service Information The family of Wendell Joseph Navarre created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passi.. Millington Central High School has fired girls basketball coach Jason Nichols after allegations of inappropriate conduct toward multiple players on the team, Millington Municipal Schools superintendent James Griffin confirmed to The Commercial Appeal on May 2 Nichols was placed on administrative leave without pay and was restricted from all school activities beginni on April 8 when the district began a Title IX investigation According to a statement Griffin shared with The CA the "process included a thorough investigation the opportunity for all parties to be heard the employee has been terminated effective immediately." The school is now moving forward in searching for a new coach according to an email obtained by the paper that was shared with MCHS girls basketball families on Friday Millington Central assistant principal Zane Adams coordinated the Title IX investigation with Deputy Superintendent Mark Neal and Director of Human Resources Patricia Speight in making the final decision according to the obtained investigation documents Neal and Speight "conclude that the conduct of Mr Jason Nichols rises to the level of sexual harassment under the descriptor 'unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the recipient's educational program or activity." Per documents previously shared with the paper complaints related to the former Trojans coach included "reports of inappropriate handshakes involving sexual innuendos The latest investigation documents state that investigators found "behavior occurred consistently from Fall 2023 through January 2025." "We recognize the impact this may have on our team and school community," Griffin wrote to families well-being and continued support of our students." Join Bill Allred, X96 Radio From Hell personality, Ken Sanders, owner of Ken Sanders Rare Books Sommelier and owner of Wine Academy of Utah for a boozy book discussion and paired cocktail we will be discussing Wendell Berry and his book “Mad Farmer Poems” which can be purchased in store at Ken Sanders Books Berry advocates heavily for small-scale farming and living in harmony with nature His works are considered critical for the environmental movement and the understanding of the importance of local economies recorded live for future broadcast over various podcasts and YouTube channels Designed, Developed, Hosted, & Marketed by Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. followed by a celebration of life service at 3 p.m. on Thursday, October 24, at Faith Lutheran Church.  Interment will be in the church columbarium.  Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Green Lake Funeral Home in Spicer.  www.petersonbrothers.com Wendell Jerome Erickson was born on April 8 the son of Clifford and Ruby (Haug) Erickson Minnesota and received his education at Lake Park High School and his secondary education at Moorhead State University  Wendell met the love of his life Marge Erickson (Pearson) and they were united in marriage on June of 1973 and from this union three children were born They made their home in Spicer where he worked in Special Education starting at New London-Spicer schools and later at Willmar Public Schools devoting himself to those with special education needs for over 30 years  He later worked for Divine House as a program coordinator and later as a bus supervisor for the mentally and physically challenged students at New London-Spicer schools.  He devoted himself to helping those around him  Wendell played the piano and accordion by ear He loved with compassion and found humor and enjoyed the music and comedy of Dolly Parton but also enjoyed the comedy of some of the greats such as Lucille Ball  He is survived by his wife Marge Erickson one daughter Amber (and Kyle) Ray of Litchfield; two sons Brett (and Kelly) Erickson of Minneapolis and Chad (and Jess) Erickson of Brainerd; and three granddaughters DeWayne (and Gail) Erickson of Lake Park and Roger (and Adelle) Erickson of Brainerd; and one sister besides many more loving family and friends  He was preceded in death by his parents Ruby and Clifford Erickson; and his mother and father-in-law  He had lived in Laurens County most of his life moving to Claxton four years ago  Wendell was an US Army Veteran and was the owner of Bush Tree Services playing cards and eating at the Krispy Chic  He also enjoyed spending time with his family especially his grandchildren  He is a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Dublin and is preceded in death by his parents; his son Lana Bush of Dublin and Cassi (Nick) McLean of Claxton; sister Hal and Henry Bush; several nieces and nephews Private memorial services will be held at a later date Low Country Cremation and Burial has the honor to serve the Bush family “The earth is what we all have in common,” wrote Wendell Berry the prolific American Christian writer and farmer shapes us: it is our literal common ground a place so cold that the Port-o-Potties steam Jenny dreams of leaving to pursue her dreams but to her grandfather their home is “the Garden of Eden.” Buck and Jenny share another area of common ground: their love for the Green Bay Packers (“the Pack”) Buck makes a daring (or desperate) wager: If the Packers win the Super Bowl they get another year to pay back their loan but wrestles with whether she will be a part of the farm’s future—especially when she meets Billy (Brandon Sklenar) a country music star who could make her dreams a reality perhaps you’re imagining that “Green and Gold”—a new film directed by Anders Lindwall and written by Mr Michael Graf and Steven Shafer— is just the latest in a genre of blandly inspirational sports dramas At heart it’s a study of relationships: within families and between humanity and the natural world I chose that Wendell Berry quote at the beginning intentionally: the film is suffused with his writing and thought which already sets it apart from other films in the genre Lindwall credited Berry as his biggest influence one that he discovered only after he and his brother Davin Lindwayy (who produced the film) left home in rural Wisconsin for the lights and promise of Los Angeles their family history deeply rooted in the soil they dreamed of something more; but reading Berry’s work inspired a new appreciation for the life they left “He gave words and language to feelings I started to have after I had left for the affection for the community that I grew up in the people that I grew up with,” Anders Lindwall said calling Berry “a voice of prophecy for our generation.” “Green and Gold” is successful not only because it’s a vehicle for interesting ideas but because it artfully translates them into cinema The cinematographer Russ Fraser gorgeously photographs the Wisconsin countryside He shoots the actors and environments in auras of golden sunlight The performances rely as much on the actors’ silences as their line deliveries but through expression and gesture he conveys that Buck is a man of deep love Lawlor gives an incredibly charismatic performance balancing Jenny’s confidence and fire with a quiet gravity I’ll admit that I am always a little leery of “faith-based” films but found “Green and Gold”’s portrayal of faith refreshingly authentic There are scenes set at church (Buck’s wife Margaret but more often the sacred appears in small moments of connection and ultimately the support the family receives from their community “We wanted it to feel super authentic to ourselves and to the place we grew up and how we were raised,” Anders Lindwall said they didn’t really talk about their faith that much….It was more these acts that they would do that we got to observe So we drew on that a lot and we tried…to let the actions of our characters and their experiences with the natural world and their environment speak to spirituality.” Davin Anders added: “I’m much more interested in the fruit of someone’s life We wanted to make a film that had goodness so it was just like: Let the characters be that.” As uncomfortable as Buck and Jenny look in the pews it becomes clear (to us if not them) that they are deeply spiritual This is especially true in the ways that they practice stewardship: Buck of the farm As another character observes: “There’s a holiness about how you guys care for things.” The film draws an implicit connection between caring for creation and artistic creation the idea of nurturing and protecting the gifts that have been given to you in the face of a world that’s only interested in what it can sell That philosophy extended to the film’s production which was intentionally rooted in the people and communities of northern Wisconsin “I don’t think we fully understood how deep that connection would be and how above and beyond all of those folks would go,” Davin said Local businesses and farms paused work for the day to accommodate filming a local choir performed on the soundtrack (and were driven hours to the set by the Lindwalls’ sister) Even the film’s corporate sponsors—the restaurant chain Culver’s and the Packers—are tied to the local community (The Packers are the only publicly owned team in the N.F.L.) This lends the film an air of affectionate authenticity: You can tell that it’s a labor of love “Green and Gold” is about paying attention to the sacred in the everyday Late in the film there is a long shot of Jenny in a field feeling the sunlight and the breeze in grateful silence the hands that plow the fields and the fingers that pluck music from guitar strings Berry wrote: “You cannot save the land apart from the people or the people apart from the land.” It’s an important John Dougherty is the director of mission and ministry at St Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia Password reset instructions will be sent to your registered email address As a frequent reader of our website, you know how important America’s voice is in the conversation about the church and the world. We can't do it without you—America Media relies on generous support from our readers. 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Please contact us at members@americamedia.org with any questions WENDELL — With the Selectboard’s approval in hand account to replace the police substation’s router Wendell no longer has its own police department as it contracts with neighboring Leverett for that town to provide policing services was renovated in 2023 and is used as a substation where police officers can park their cruisers Steven Gould said the building’s router was removed during renovations and likely recycled the router is a vital piece of equipment as it allows connection to the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) system for secure communication between law enforcement agencies and databases we can’t do license-to-carry renewal applications for residents,” Gould said “It really wouldn’t be … a functional substation without this router.” Though Selectboard Vice Chair Gillian Budine had thought the cost would be in the $3,000 range Budine explained there is $9,000 in an account for a defunct local D.A.R.E is an American education program aimed at steering young people away from illegal substances Gould noted the secured and encrypted router is required by the state and then if you lose it or if you break it it’s thousands of dollars to replace,” he said Gould said he believes the router had been in the Wendell substation’s attic prior to the renovations Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120 you agree with our use of cookies to personalize your experience measure ads and monitor how our site works to improve it for our users Wendell's early years were spent in Chicago and discovered his lifelong love for reading and classical music where he was a proud member of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity He was a proud Illini alum and fan as well as loyal to the Big 10 returning to Champaign with his family several times to attend Homecoming weekend.  Wendell honorably served his nation as a Sergeant Major in the U.S embodying the values of duty and leadership throughout his service he embarked on a professional career that included roles at Armstrong Tile where his work ethic and integrity shone brightly Wendell was an active member of multiple church communities after marrying Nan and moving to Kansas One could often find Wendell with his original Living Bible on his nightstand a testament to his enduring faith and love for Jesus.  Wendell's interests were varied and rich He was involved with the Leawood South Country Club and the Republican National Committee expressing his political passions through service and engagement always cherishing time spent outdoors or engaged in spirited debate about his favorite teams A staunch supporter of the Republican Party he found great joy in discussing politics and sharing his insights Wendell leaves behind a loving family: his sons Daniel (Carolyn) and David (Mary Ann); his grandchildren Lauren Doolittle and Jeffrey Doolittle; and his great-grandchildren Wendell cherished every moment spent with his family Wendell often reminisced about his favorite eateries and his retirement party at Guy and Mae's in Williamsburg Family and friends will remember Wendell as a devoted father and grandfather whose love and presence will be greatly missed.  A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Saturday followed by a procession to Pleasant Valley Cemetery where Wendell will be laid to rest beside his beloved Nan the family requests donations be made to Wendell's favorite charities and laughter will continue to inspire all who knew him Add to Calendar The Amos Family Funeral Home & Crematory He passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family Wendell Godbee was born to the late William Wilton Godbee and Marie Durrence Godbee on July 13 Faith in Jesus was an essential part of Wendell’s life He grew up attending the Bay Branch Primitive Baptist Church in Claxton GA and became a member of Park Avenue Church in 1968 He had a strong faith and led a life that exemplified his commitment Wendell developed a strong work ethic at an early age working on his family farm he was employed by his beloved Aunt Betty Nesmith at her family’s filling station Wendell enjoyed telling stories about his experiences growing up in Claxton.  He was a graduate of the University of Georgia JM Tull School of Accounting and loved the Georgia Bulldogs through and through After graduation he practiced as a Certified Public Accountant and was a founding member of Henderson & Godbee LLP but continued going to the office post-retirement His business acumen and integrity left a lasting impression on both his clients and colleagues Wendell was active on various boards and served as President of the Chamber of Commerce His final and most treasured project was serving as a director for The George W Strickland Foundation which supports non-profit initiatives throughout Southeast Georgia Wendell loved his profession and many of his clients became lifelong friends Wendell was very sociable and enjoyed the fellowship of his friends Outings with his breakfast and lunch groups were a highlight of his week Wendell always put family first and led by example He was a proud grandfather who loved attending their sports Wendell is survived by his wife of 62 years They met in high school where they were best friends They began dating in college and married soon after graduation Wendell is also survived by his daughter and son in law; Anna Godbee Clement and Dallas S Clement; his son and daughter in law; James W Jr and Julie Dennard Godbee; and seven grandchildren; Courtney Clement Wendell was preceded in death by his sister A celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday the family has suggested a donation to Park Avenue Church Online condolences and memories may be shared on the obituary page at www.mclanefuneralservices.com Add to Calendar Add to Calendar Fifteen railroad cars that derailed in Wendell Tuesday afternoon rest bunched up across the tracks parallel to Farley Road Freight train cars are strewn across the tracks parallel to Farley Road in Wendell with one freight car blocking Farley Road Tuesday afternoon A freight train car rests across Farley Road also blocking a driveway in Wendell Tuesday afternoon A freight train blocks the Farley Road crossing in Wendell on Tuesday afternoon with 15 of its freight cars derailed just west of the crossing Freight train cars are strewn across the tracks parallel to Farley Road in Wendell on Tuesday afternoon Wendell firefighters put up caution tape at a train derailment parallel to Farley Road in Wendell on Tuesday afternoon WENDELL — No injuries were reported after a freight train carrying merchandise derailed in Wendell Tuesday afternoon Steven Gould said was operated by two engineers from Berkshire and Eastern Railroad that both engineers were still in the front car “We’re just grateful there were no injuries,” Gould said adding that no hazardous materials were involved “Everybody’s OK — it’s a just a big mess.” The derailment prompted a regional emergency response that included police and firefighters from Wendell Greenfield Police’s Special Operations Unit also responded and operated a drone over the freight cars Railroad investigators on scene did not comment on the cause of the derailment nor the speed at which the train was traveling the train struck a power transformer nearby but it did not appear to cause “any significant outages.” Cuneo added that the process of removing the derailed cars by crane will likely be time-consuming and that first responders will prioritize clearing and opening roadways “That transformer looks like it might just feed two properties and I can see the light on in that one up there,” Cuneo said Gould mentioned a “train enthusiast” was seen photographing or videotaping the train moments before the derailment but he did not believe the spectator captured the derailment on video Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429 “Jude” as he was called by friends and family was a native of Buras He is the grandson of George and Adele Barrois of Venice Roy Rials and Betty Deason Rials of Natchitoches Parish Jude is the son of Wendell Jude Barrois Sr and Angela Gail Barrois He is the father of Brooklyne and Alisa Barrois Jude had many friends and loved his family He was happiest fishing and hunting with his stepfather Patrick Hue and best bud Jimmy Rigsby Family and friends are invited to a visitation on Monday A Sharing of Memories of Jude will begin at 1:00 pm in the parlor with the the funeral service to immediately follow at 1:30 pm in the funeral home chapel Mothe Funeral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements The family kindly invites you to share thoughts and condolences online at www.MotheFunerals.com and management for the Early Learning & Assessments team within the U.S She previously held various senior officer roles most recently within the Foundation Strategy Office where she led strategy and implementation projects across various U.S Program teams and prior to that on the Pneumonia and Vaccine Development & Surveillance teams within Global Health Carolyn’s main strategic projects within Global Health included expanding investments to research a one-dose human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) clinical trial site preparedness for COVID-19 vaccine efficacy studies Before joining the Gates Foundation in 2017 Carolyn worked at Google on the post-sales adoption team within Google for Education she started and scaled up the Google Educator Group program and launched the Google Certified Innovator program in the developing world Carolyn began her career working for Grassroot Soccer a global health nonprofit that focuses on educating African youth on HIV awareness and prevention and other crucial health issues Carolyn holds a B.A from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A from INSEAD trail running and skiing in Washington State Learn about the origins of the foundation and the values that drive our work Learn about where we work around the globe and the programs we've created to address urgent issues in global health and news from across the foundation and subscribe to our weekly newsletter Exeter- Ruth Riley Wendell passed away on August 27, 2024, just a few months shy of her goal of making it to 100. Ruth was known for her love of travel, dogs, current events, and the color purple. She left an impression wherever she went and... View Obituary & Service Information The family of Ruth Riley Wendell created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Exeter- Ruth Riley Wendell passed away on August 27.. He was proud to have served six years with the 82nd Airborne his favorite hobbies were Lead singer/Guitarist playing in Atlanta and Florida His proudest accomplishment in life was his son Scott Preceded by death by parents; John and Charlene Barnes Survived by son; Scott Barnes and wife Kate Irma Adkins and husband Mike and Elezan Stair special friends; Ralph and Donna Copeland and George Reno 2025 from 12:00-1:00 pm in the chapel of Martin Wilson Funeral Home Interment to follow at Campbell Memorial Gardens with military honors by the Campbell County Honor Guard In lieu of flowers please make donations to Campbell County Cancer Association The family has entrusted the care of Wendell Barnes to Martin Wilson Funeral Home ”Where Families Matter Most” the Christian Century has published reporting and essays on the role of faith in a pluralistic society Contact Us   Privacy Policy Century illustration (Source image: Getty) that I have not heretofore said enough about: our destruction of children We of the United States of America have now grown accustomed to the killing of children with a remnant revulsion; it is often a “news item.” But sensation wears out fast The roving eyes of the media hesitate a due moment over the current sensation and hurry on to the next Perhaps experts may devote an article or column to the matter and all must be given their moment in the schedule of sensations Child killing is the plainest measure of our betrayal of what we used to call our humanity I come under the necessity to answer those who think that from the perspective of the science and civilization of the 21st century the teachings of the Bible are outdated and irrelevant—which is to say that old truth cannot be true and that one now reads old books to learn about them but not from them This supposes that there is such a thing as a purely modern human mind free of all antiquated views of nature and human nature This is a mind entirely resident in the human brain that can make up out of thin air any rules needed for the guidance of human behavior people learned and intelligent who have engaged the Bible and Christian tradition seriously and with an awareness of the trial and the testing it must be for themselves and for humankind One of the rules of warfare was the prescription that weapons should be employed in a manner calculated to bring an absolute minimum of hardship to noncombatants and to the entire infrastructure of civilian life This principle was of course offended against in the most serious way in World War II; and our nuclear strategists seem to assume that it has now been sanctioned and legitimized by precedent The readiness to use nuclear weapons against other human beings—against people whom we do not know and whose guilt or innocence it is not for us to establish—and to place in jeopardy the natural structure upon which all civilization rests as though the safety and the perceived interests of our own generation were more important than everything that has ever taken place or could take place in civilization: this is nothing less than a presumption an indignity—an indignity of monstrous dimensions—offered to God I believe that this is fairly exactly what Christian conscience would say in response to this jeopardy of our souls that has only grown worse in the 42 years since Kennan wrote his essay Kennan offers a reasoned dissent from the dominion of technological progress: There will now come what I would expect to be a long period of virtual enslavement have become not the enlargers of life they were originally seen to be but the restrictors of it—forms of entrapment from which people no longer know how to extract themselves let us remove these questions from the thin air that now surrounds our public talk about freedom and place them in the force field of the Bible Genesis 1:27 declares that “God created man in his own image in the image of God created he him: male and female created he them.” I would like to read that for what it is: not history or science but a part of the King James translation of a Hebrew poem about the origin of everything this one places us between two perfectly symmetrical impossibilities: nobody can prove that God created us in his own image we will have to ask how we can so disvalue the lives of other people’s children without disvaluing the lives of our own we the people of the United States observe our world of active and potential violence paying day by day our share of the cost of it suffering the outbreak of it at times in the classrooms of our children And where is the prominent peace movement that would normally be expected of a Christian country Love your enemies” and not see that we are involved in a world-destroying to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” and merely regret that they may be killed by an assault rifle in the hands of a fellow citizen or be merely sorry that thousands of little children like our own have been and are being killed by weapons made and paid for by us Can we not speak at least an audible no to the meaningless suffering and death of these most precious and helpless ones given in trust into our care We would love to hear from you. Let us know what you think about this article by writing a letter to the editors Cardinals' homilies before conclave speak volumes African Hebrew Israelites finally see legal victory against Israel's deportation threats Have things changed for women since the time of Mary Magdalene and essays on the role of faith in a pluralistic society.      Contact Us  Privacy Policy Oklahoma executed Wendell Arden Grissom on Thursday for the murder of 23-year-old Amber Matthews in front of her best friend’s two young daughters in 2005 "I don’t know what made me do what I did," Grissom said in his confession to police "I never done anything like this in my life .. In text messages to his spiritual adviser in January, Grissom wrote that he was not scared of dying because he knew where he was going "I'll finally be free from this place and all "I for sure do not want to spend the rest of my life in this sorry place." Grissom's execution comes only hours before Florida was set to execute Edward Thomas James for the murders of a woman and her 8-year-old granddaughter Here’s what you need to know about Grissom’s execution, including his last words and his last meal, and what his victims had to say. Read more about James' execution here Grissom's last meal consisted of a medium Canadian bacon supreme pizza one pint of vanilla ice cream and one pint of Coca-Cola a spokesperson for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections told USA TODAY West also said six members of Grissom's family witnessed the execution on Thursday morning alongside 26 members of the victims' families Grissom's last statement to witnesses was lengthy "It is the only way you will find God in this." What was Wendell Grissom convicted of?On Nov. 3, 2005, Grissom and a homeless hitchhiker he had picked up named Jessie Johns were planning to burglarize homes when they targeted Matthews’ friend Dreu Kopf's house near Watonga Kopf was home with her two daughters and Matthews when Grissom came knocking he asked Kopf if her husband was home but eventually shot his way in jumped on Grissom while Matthews ran with Kopf's 5-week-old daughter into a room where Kopf’s 19-month-old daughter was sleeping “Dreu begged Grissom to stop,” court records say She offered him “anything he wanted” to spare their lives but Kopf said in court records that “he was just laughing and he just kept shooting and shooting and laughing.” Hearing the shooting from inside the bedroom with the girls Matthews was "overcome with terror" and "vomited all over her jeans and on the floor,” court records say Kopf managed to steal Grissom’s truck and escape "Please don't shoot me," before Grissom shot her in the back of the head and then the forehead as she held one of the girls Kopf and members of the Matthews family spoke to the news media "You guys really need to remember (Amber) because she was unbelievable," Kopf said Thursday of her best friend In reaction to Grissom's last statement asking for their forgiveness Matthews's stepsister said that Grissom did not deserve any "I didn't care what he had to say," Kathy Johnson said On the other hand, Kopf, who previously told USA TODAY that she had forgiven Grissom for his actions She witnessed the execution alongside her now-grown daughters "I feel like it was sincere but it was too late," Kopf said "I had eight bullet holes in my body and there's still bullets in me." Who was Amber Matthews?Matthews' father, Garry Matthews, described his daughter as the “apple of my eye a cute blond blue-eyed little bundle of joy.” she was always there for me,” he said during Grissom's 2008 trial Everything that reminds me of her brings back the pain.” told the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board last month that her niece was a “pretty angel.” “We never got to see her get married or have kids There’s not a day that does by that I don’t miss her beautiful smile.” The ripple effects continue to haunt the entire Matthews family My son no longer has a big sister,” Garry Matthews said in court I miss my daughter so much and I want her back and can’t have her I can’t even have her for one more day to say goodbye.” Grissom's execution comes amid slew of othersGrissom's execution comes amid a busy week for the death penalty Grissom's execution was expected to come about seven hours before Florida executes Edward Thomas James by lethal injection on Thursday Grissom became the ninth inmate executed in the U.S this year and James is set to become the 10th Another 12 inmates are scheduled to be executed in the U.S but that number is sure to rise as states approve more death warrants Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_ was called to his eternal rest on January 10 James led a life marked by dedication and love serving as a minister from the age of 18 until his retirement embodying the faith and compassion that defined his vocation James dedicated himself not only to his spiritual calling but also to his family His life was a testimony to the importance of faith and he touched the lives of many through his ministry James was known for his engaging and fun-loving personality He had a remarkable ability to connect with people offering warmth and understanding to all who crossed his path showcasing his creative spirit and zest for life James demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his loved ones with his relationship of 72 years with Mrs they created a legacy of love and support that will be remembered by family and friends alike As we gather to remember James Wendell Lowe and an enduring love for his family and faith but his spirit will continue to inspire those who had the privilege of knowing him Elwood Lowe and Theodore “Jack” Lowe Janice Abraham and her husband Alex; 8 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; as well as a number of nieces His family will plan a private celebration of life at a later date Messages of condolences may be sent to www.jones-wynn.com Jones-Wynn Funeral Home and Crematory of Douglasville is in charge of arrangements