Willie....you were always very nice to me in school. I didn't know you had passed....way too soon, buddy! Watch over all of us down here, ok? Rose (Strickland) Branam
I've been meaning for many years to tell the events prior to Willies death. Willie and I were friends in high school. Shortly after summer school and graduation I enlisted in the Air Force. Prior to leaving for basic training I was attending a revival at Columbus Independent Baptist Church on Morris Road. At the end of the service I went forward and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my savior. From that point 2nd Corinthians 5:17 was so very evident in my life. After my enlistment was over I returned to Columbus and started college. Shortly there after I ran into Willie and he seemed dumbfounded about how I had changed. I explained to him how I had received Christ ( and when the Holy Spirit comes into your heart, your outside will reflect what's on the inside ) as my savoir and shared the gospel with him. He shared his concerns with me about what people would think about him if he was to make a decision like the one I'd chosen. I also shared with Willie the peace God had given me, the peace that passeth all understanding and how it was available to all that ask. I also asked Willie why the only thing that was free in life, nobody wanted! I asked Willie to pray about it and let the Holy Spirit lead him with conviction. He told me he would. Well, about two weeks later I ran into Willie and he was about 20 yards away from me and I will never forget the smile he had and the closer he got to me the larger it got. I immediately noticed a different domineer and while smiling ear to ear ask me Guess what happened to me? I said to him Tell me, Tell me. He said you want the long version or the short version? I told him ANY Version!! Willie went on to tell me that he had gone home back to southern Alabama. While Willie was talking with me I could tell Willie was a different person. No cursing and he spoke with a calmness he had never had before. Willie told me that this South Alabama Church was having a revival while he was there. Willie went on to tell me that he had made the decision to give his life to Jesus Christ and made that decision at the alter of that church! Wow what a gracious God! I to this day believe the Holy Spirit allowed me to plant His seed by telling Willie, if God saved me He'll save anybody Willie! For the next few weeks Willie and I became as close as two people can become spending many, many hours together with his new found brother in Christ. Our Gracious and loving God knew of his up-coming death and planted a seed in which gave Willie the choice of where he wanted to spend eternity! I can honestly tell you with all my heart that two weeks before Willies' death he became a born again believer in our Lord Jesus Christ BOUND FOR HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was as short as I could make it on paper, Jimmy Boyd class of 75. It will not be long now before Willie and myself are re-united. Romans 6:23
Rickey Mcchargue (1975)
hated to see you leave us so soon.wished you had settled down peace your cousin rickey mcchargue.Marion Butts (Richard) (1975)
thinking of you Willie!
Rose Strickland (Branam) (1975)
Willie....you were always very nice to me in school. I didn't know you had passed....way too soon, buddy! Watch over all of us down here, ok? Rose (Strickland) Branam
Jimmy Boyd (1975)
I've been meaning for many years to tell the events prior to Willies death. Willie and I were friends in high school. Shortly after summer school and graduation I enlisted in the Air Force. Prior to leaving for basic training I was attending a revival at Columbus Independent Baptist Church on Morris Road. At the end of the service I went forward and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my savior. From that point 2nd Corinthians 5:17 was so very evident in my life. After my enlistment was over I returned to Columbus and started college. Shortly there after I ran into Willie and he seemed dumbfounded about how I had changed. I explained to him how I had received Christ ( and when the Holy Spirit comes into your heart, your outside will reflect what's on the inside ) as my savoir and shared the gospel with him. He shared his concerns with me about what people would think about him if he was to make a decision like the one I'd chosen. I also shared with Willie the peace God had given me, the peace that passeth all understanding and how it was available to all that ask. I also asked Willie why the only thing that was free in life, nobody wanted! I asked Willie to pray about it and let the Holy Spirit lead him with conviction. He told me he would. Well, about two weeks later I ran into Willie and he was about 20 yards away from me and I will never forget the smile he had and the closer he got to me the larger it got. I immediately noticed a different domineer and while smiling ear to ear ask me Guess what happened to me? I said to him Tell me, Tell me. He said you want the long version or the short version? I told him ANY Version!! Willie went on to tell me that he had gone home back to southern Alabama. While Willie was talking with me I could tell Willie was a different person. No cursing and he spoke with a calmness he had never had before. Willie told me that this South Alabama Church was having a revival while he was there. Willie went on to tell me that he had made the decision to give his life to Jesus Christ and made that decision at the alter of that church! Wow what a gracious God! I to this day believe the Holy Spirit allowed me to plant His seed by telling Willie, if God saved me He'll save anybody Willie! For the next few weeks Willie and I became as close as two people can become spending many, many hours together with his new found brother in Christ. Our Gracious and loving God knew of his up-coming death and planted a seed in which gave Willie the choice of where he wanted to spend eternity! I can honestly tell you with all my heart that two weeks before Willies' death he became a born again believer in our Lord Jesus Christ BOUND FOR HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was as short as I could make it on paper, Jimmy Boyd class of 75. It will not be long now before Willie and myself are re-united. Romans 6:23