Sunday, April 9, in New Orleans

Yesterday, we held the appreciation event for First-Responders in the New Orleans Arena. I have no idea how many of our heroes got the message and attended. Fewer than we had hoped, obviously. But we had a great turnout of volunteers from various churches and the fellowship was great, and the heroes who did attend seem to have been touched by the kindnesses and gifts they received. Thanks to Cherry Blackwell and her team of volunteers for overseeing this.

Saturday was a doubly sad day for our family.

Around 8 o’clock that morning, my sister Patricia called from north Alabama to say that our youngest brother Charlie had had a heart attack and was being rushed to the Jasper hospital. At nine o’clock, she called back to say he did not make it, that he was dead on arrival. We were stunned. Age 62, the youngest of Mom and Dad’s six children. Charlie had lots of health issues and had been on disability for years, but he was not an invalid. In fact, Mom said he was at their house Friday, visiting, being his jovial self.

You can get a good snapshot of Charlie if you go to our website www.joemckeever.com and read his comments left at the end of various articles, usually signed Charles. He always says some variation of how proud they are of me, how he expected no less, how I’m following in the footsteps of our terrific Dad.

Charlie and Carolyn have three sons, Patrick, Russell, and Chris, and I don’t know, maybe 6 grandchildren, including Chris’ triplets. Burial at Nauvoo, Alabama, later this week after the autopsy.

Mickey Brunson died Saturday also. Mrs. W. C. “Bill” Brunson was the receptionist at First Baptist Church of Jackson, MS, in the early 1970s when I was on staff. A dearer, classier, kinder, more gracious human never existed. The funeral is set for Wednesday morning at that church. Depending on when Charlie’s service is set for, I plan to make it.

A double-whammy. If it were not for the promise of the Lord that “whoever believes on the Son of God shall never die,” I don’t know how we could handle these blows.

Turning to the news today….


“Public Housing Still Empty” the headline says. Authorities say the mold inside the abandoned, flooded projects like St. Bernard and others, makes them unlivable. The city is still trying to decide what to do. My own opinion, worth absolutely nothing, has nothing to do with people living in these sad apartments, but everything to do with the crime and desperation of their former pre-Katrina states. For that reason alone, I’d like to see them bull-dozed and a better solution presented.

The New Orleans Police Department has finally decided what to do about all those hundreds of officers accused of skipping out and abandoning the city in its hour of need. 114 were suspended for 30 days or more after hearings, 71 fired with a hearing and 51 fired without a hearing because they failed to report at all. Another 50 resigned while under investigation and 3 were exonerated. The Times-Picayune actually devoted an entire page to listing the names of every police officer accused, where he/she worked, what the accusation was, what the verdict was, and whether they are appealing. No secrets in this town. I suppose it’s called the public’s right to know. That seems to cover a lot in the world of journalism.

Many police officers say they put their own family’s needs above their job. One woman officer spent two weeks trying to find her 5-year-old child. “There are a lot of gray areas here,” says one authority.

The paper says since Katrina there has been a rush to the marriage altar in our area. People who had been putting off getting married now realize the shortness of life and the need to seize what happiness they can while they are able. On the Northshore above the lake, marriage licenses applications are up 30% over last year. Local jewelers say they are doing a landslide business in engagement rings.

A United Methodist Church in Chalmette is having worship services today for the first time. It’s BYOC, however. Bring your own chair.

The newspaper is running a two page printout of polling places for the April 22 election, listing the old polling location on the left and the new one on the right.

Hugh Hefner turns 80 today. He says the morality in America has not changed, that we are still as offended by nudity as when he began his magazine in the 50s. You see this octogenarian on television running around in his pjs and smoking jacket, surrounded by his silicone beauties, and you scratch your head and wonder how it is he never grew up. And you wonder more than a little about the girls around him. What is it with them.

The Times-Picayune is endorsing Ron Forman for mayor. This CEO of the Audubon Nature Institute–meaning the zoo, the aquarium, and botanical gardens–is called a proven executive and fund-raiser.

In some cities you may scoff at the newspaper’s endorsement of candidates. Not in New Orleans. Four years ago, it was the paper’s endorsement of Ray Nagin that brought him to the attention of voters and convinced the citizenry that he was the right choice. Whether that will work for Forman remains to be seen.

At the Sunday night concert at First Baptist-New Orleans, I saw candidate Peggy Wilson in attendance and chatted with her. She wasn’t passing out literature, “bad form,” she said, but was shaking any hand available. Peggy was a needed voice of dissent on the city council with previous mayors, but she’s been out of the public eye some 10 years and it’s doubtful she has enough support to make the runoff.

A letter to the editor is headlined, “Violence creeping back.” In our Jefferson Parish, the western half of metro New Orleans, I think the figure I saw is that there have been some 13 murders so far this year, and all but 2 on the west bank. That means Marrero, Harvey, Gretna, etc. Pastors over there speak of gangs roaming the neighborhoods. The sheriff says they are cracking down on gang violence. Another pastor spoke of the possibility of racial wars, from things he has seen as well as the division he picks up from the mayoral race.

The I.Q. candidates for the seven tax assessor positions in New Orleans ran a big ad with their photos and some explanation of their situation. Calling themselves the “I Quit” team, they hope to be elected to the seven assessor slots, then pool their salaries and hire one professional to do it right, then campaign to get the legislature to do what it ought to have in the first place, abolish these seven offices and turn them into one. A judge has ruled the candidates cannot use “I.Q.” as their middle names on the ballots. Voters will have to know whom they are voting for, and that’s always an iffy situation.

Our family will appreciate your prayers these days. Our elderly parents are having a tough time. Mom says she never thought she would have to bury her own children, and her “baby” at that.

Pop turns 94 on Thursday, the 13th, which is also Margaret and my 44th wedding anniversary.

26 thoughts on “Sunday, April 9, in New Orleans

  1. Dear Bro. Joe,

    David and I are very sorry to hear about your brother Charles. We are praying for you and your family and love you very much.

    Ginger and David

  2. Dear Brother Joe,

    Our hearts and prayers will be with you this week. May the Lord comfort and strengthen you and your family in the days ahead as you prepare for the homegoing of your brother Charlie. Just another reminder to be ready in season and out. Today if you hear His voice, please readers don’t harden your heart. Thank you Jesus for the Easter Resurrection. What a glorious reunion one day.Ok-enough preaching- We love you and your family. Love Gail, Jim, Sarah, and Jake

  3. We are praying for God to wrap you in His love, and allow you to experience his comfort and peace during these days after your brothers death.

    Praying that you and Margaret will enjoy your 44th Anniversary.

    Blessings, Joe and Linda

  4. Brother Joe,

    I still think of how you have always been there for David and I during our up and downhill experiences and I want you to know that we are here for you. All the prayers you sent to God for us are returning to you in this time of grief. You have been such a blessing to our family and we extend this note of love with great sympathy. We love you, The Gooch’s

  5. Dear Bro. Joe,

    Please know that I am thinking of you and your family this week, especially your Mom and Dad and will be praying for God’s strength, His Mercy and His Grace for all of you. The bright side of this is that you will all see Charlie again one day and what a reunion that will be! Ginny Evans

  6. I have lost a very good personal friend after many years of enjoyable exchanges over the internet. Hugh Sutherland of Ontario and I have kept Chaz in our minds and our prayers for several years. Our final communication from him was this past April 4, 2006, 1:38 AM. His main complaint was over some typing errors over a broken finger. I’ll forward this sad news to Hugh. May God bless your parents and others, including the triplets of whom Chaz was so proud. Peace, Brother.

  7. Brother Joe, I’ve not met you but did send you an email once. I’m a friend of Jim Graham and I know how much he thinks of you.

    I’m so sorry just now to read of your brother’s passing. We’re never ready to lose someone no matter of what age, but we always have their wonderful memories to think back on. I’m thinking of you and your family and I know God is blessing you right now and watching over all of you. God Bless!!

    Cookie Bufkin

    Jackson, MS

  8. As one of his email buddies, I was sorry to hear about my friend “Chaz” or, even as he was sometimes called, “Sir Chaz”. He had some refreshing viewpoints on many things and I think the world is a poorer place without him. I am sending my condolences to the rest of his family and pray that Charles has a peaceful rest in the arms of his Saviour.

  9. My condolences to all the family. I knew Chaz through the same site that Doug Ross and Hugh Sutherland knew him, and I always enjoyed his sense of humour. He was a good man, and will be missed by his family and friends.

  10. Pastor, Jana and I will be praying for you and Margaret – especially for your Mom and Dad. Thank you for your quiet strength in the tough times. It remains a reminder to all of us that we can claim complete assurance in the providence and sovereignty of God.

  11. My prayer time includes you, Margaret, your children and grandchildren every day, but today, I also pray for your, and your family’s, comfort in the homegoing of your brother, Charles. Congratulations to you and your family in the rich, long life of your dad. How blessed you all are to have had him this long. Keep up the Lord Jesus’ work in NOLA. Hugh Martin.

  12. Brother Joe and family –

    Please accept my deepest sympathy in the loss of your baby brother this past weekend. I feel your pain as well as my baby sister passed away this past October at 53 – doesn’t seem right, but I know the Lord is in control. He has brought me a peace about it….and we will continue to miss her for a long time.

    Be encouraged…Enjoy your folks while you have them, mine are both gone, but what memories I have!

    Thank you for what you do in NOLA, and for the most encouraging words to the pastors in your area. We too are encouraged that you are there being a beacon. God bless you in the work He has placed under your responsibility in the extension of His Kingdom!

    Yolanda

  13. Joe, I was shocked and saddened by this news. It is obvious the closeness of your family and I know this is a difficult time. However, I know the faith of the family. I will try to get down to Nauvoo. We will be praying.

  14. Joe, I learned about your brother Charles from Misha on Saturday. I remember meeting all of your wonderful family when I visited with her and Marty for Thanksgiving about 5 years ago. My thoughts and prayers are with you, your parents, siblings, and Charles’ family.

  15. Dear Joe,

    Our entire Oak Park family extends our deepest sympathy in the loss of your brother. Please know that you and your family will be in our hearts and prayers in the coming days.

    Joe Kay

    Oak Park Baptist Church

  16. Would it be possible for you to send a mailing address for your family? We lost the first member of our family in January. It was my brother-in-law’s oldest son. We have a very large family too. It was on my parents’ 56th wedding anniversary. The Lord gives His comfort in all things but it is always hard. Billy was 25. Our prayers are with your family.

    Deborah

  17. So sorry to hear of the passing of your brother Charles, and my dear friend “Chaz”. Of course, we never met face to face, but I considered him my friend on “Electric Scotland”.

    My sincere condolences to the family. May he rest in peace.

  18. I wanted to express my heartfelt sadness at your families loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you, Chaz was quite a character, and Electric Scotland has missed him the last few years

    may he rest in peace.

    Elayne

    Electric Scotland

  19. Hey Dr. McKeever,

    I tried to give you a call but I couldn’t get through. I knew you are in South Carolina for the next few days and I wanted to make sure Dr. Cline was putting you up in the best hotel in Anderson and sparing no expense on your behalf. Let me know if he isn’t and I’ll take care of him. I’m praying for you as you preach the Word tommorrow and as you and your family go through this tough time. Know that God will never send you through anything that you can’t handle without Him.

    -Nathan

    NOBTS

  20. Bro. Joe, Phil and I will be lifting up you and your family in prayer as you go through the days ahead. You were such a blessing to my family during the illness and passing of my mother, Mrs. Alice, and have been so faithful in this post-Katrina task to which the Lord called you. I thank God for you.

    Leanna

  21. Joe, we are saddened today to hear of the earthly loss of your brother, Charles. Please know our family and church will be lifting your family up in prayer in the days to come.

    Congratulations on 44 wonderful(I’m sure) years with Margaret. That’s exciting!

    And, we’ll be sure to send your dad a birthday card today!

    Bob & Rana Burt

  22. Brother Joe, I’m praying for you and your family during these days of sorrow in the death of Charlie. (I share the experience as I have lost two of my five brothers in early death.) But, praise God for the hope He gives us.

    Thank you for keeping the Katrina victims on our minds and in our hearts. God bless you in your vital work there.

    Congratulations to you and Margaret as you celebrate your 44th anniversary. (Our 40th was in Feb.)

    I sent your Dad a card today. Thanks for the (your Mom’s) reminder!

    Ruth, AL Baptist Convention, Montgomery

  23. Hello Joe McKeever. I’m from The Christian Post and I wanted to do a story on Easter in the Gulf Coast. Jim Burton referred me to you but didn’t have your contact information. Please e-mail me with your contact number. Thank you.

  24. Joe,

    You and Marg continue to be in our prayers during this time of adjustment to the loss of your dear brother.

    Just as in the death of our mutual friend, Mickey Brunson, God’s timing is perfect, so we must not question, but know of our love and that we are lifting you up as you continue your work in the greater New Orleans area and, at the same time, mourn the loss of Charlie and try to comfort your dear Mom and Dad and other siblings, since you’re the “preacher” to them as well as to many of US!!

    Luv

    Mar/Lar

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