Lesia Thomas 1959-2011

Lesia Thomas

1959 ~ 2011

Mrs. Lesia Joy Higginbotham Thomas, age 51, of Carnesville, died Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at her home.

Born November 14, 1959 in Stephens County, she was a daughter of Joyce Sullen English and the late Harrison Dwain Higginbotham.

She was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church and was a hairdresser.

Family members include her mother, Joyce Sullens English; her husband, Larry Thomas; son, Logan Thomas; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Gomer and Frances Thomas; brother and sister-in-law, Mitty and Teresa Higginbotham; sister and brother-in-law, Lynne and Phillip Brady; brother, Allan Higginbotham; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Billy and Brenda Hallford and David and Sandra Marchman; nieces, Autumn Higginbotham, Mattie Higginbotham and Amy Higginbotham Crunkleton; a friend, Rebecca Thomas.

Funeral services will be held at four o’clock Friday from the Chapel of Whitlock Mortuary with the Rev. Tommy Childress, Mr. Mitty Higginbotham and Miss Autumn Higginbotham officiating. 

Burial will follow in New Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary from 7 pm - 9 pm Thursday and from 2 pm until the funeral hour Friday.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully ask that donations by made to the family to help

with the funeral expenses.

The family will be at the home of Larry Thomas in Carnesville and Joyce English in Toccoa.

Whitlock Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.

Obtained from: http://www.whitlockmortuary.net/Obituaries.html 

Pastor's Weekly Message - 7/17/11

STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR

July 17, 2011

How would we react if for the past 22 years we were misused, abused, lies told about us and eventually we were put in jail?  What would be our “standard of behavior?”  Would we be bitter, angry, or want revenge? We have been looking at a man on Wednesday nights who faced all these things.  Some of the people who mistreated him he saw daily and he behaved as if they did nothing to him.  Wow! Could we behave that way?  The Lord made the difference in his life.  For 22 years he stayed positive concerning his behavior.  He couldn’t help what the people did to him but he could help how he treated them.   

We all have a choice to do what is right.  Our behavior comes from our belief in God.  How well are we behaving?  Attending a meeting Thursday morning, the Holy Spirit revealed to me some areas of need in my life.  How well do we make eye contact and smile at people we are talking with?  In assisting with needs do we listen to what they are communicating?  They have trusted us to share their burdens, needs and desires, but do we speak to those?  The old saying, treat others as you want to be treated goes a long way.  Be not judgmental towards them or their actions.  Talk with them not at them. This is a big one for me because we are trained to fix people’s problems.  Everybody’s needs  are special and need special attention addressed to them not just general answers.  Provide quality care to every person every time.  Take time to listen and show that you are listening to them by repeating what they have conveyed to you.  Listening skills are important because it may not be what they are saying, but the nonverbal word that needs to be addressed.  Be honest in what you say and do.  Our belief does affect our behavior; both ways good and bad.

Pastor Tommy

Pastor's Weekly Message - 7/10/11

July 10, 2011

We just celebrated 234 years as a Nation, one that I am proud to be a part of. Do I agree with all that is going on with our Nation? No! What I am proud of is the history that our Nation was built upon: Faith in God. Faith in God was the key to America becoming a powerful influence in this world. Yes, we are losing the powerful influence in this world because our Faith in God is not what it should be. This is where the Christian can and should make a difference. If we have been set free by the blood of Jesus Christ then we should give the glory to God daily for what he has done for us.

Pastor's Weekly Message - 7/3/11

July 3, 2011

On July 4, 2011 we will commemorate 235 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This is the document that gave us independence from Great Britain and was the birth of our new country! Believe it or not, I was not living then, but just recalling this event gives me and most of us a sense of pride.  Hope you have a fun 4^th of July, but remember our freedom which we enjoy today cost a lot from our founding fathers. What we are enjoying today at New Bethel was part of what our forefathers envisioned. Any man, woman, boy or girl can praise the Lord without fear of what will be done to them.