The faithful son of Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Harold and Drexella Ward’s funeral services were on Saturday, May 6th, at CTK. Antoine M Ward, a high school graduate from Nicolet and a college graduate from Howard University in Washington, DC, was remembered today by his friends and family.
His best friend spoke to the parishioners, and then he talked to the dearly departed.
Keith Baylor, a long-term friend and best friend of Antoine M. Ward, said, “When you see him, you see me.” To those who were hurting, Baylor added and encouraged the broken-hearted,
“Even though we will miss him, he wants us to remember those beautiful moments we shared on Earth. Reach out to your loved ones. Hug them tighter. Make your phone calls. See your friends. Come closer to your friends. You can’t get that through a cell phone. Make sure you trust in the Lord. Baylor admitted, “I am blessed for him to be a part of my life.” He said his goodbye when he said, “You will be missed. Rest easy, my friend.”
Keith Baylor
Pastor John Wesley McVicker, Sr., was appreciative and thankful to those who spoke on Anotine’s behalf—his friend, Keith Baylor, and Family, Regina Williams, and Theresa Guy. Pastor McVicker admitted that he did not know Antoine, but he knows his devoted and loyal parents, Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Harold and Drexella Ward. His sermon added a word of encouragement and consolation for those who know Jesus Christ and comfort for those who want to get to know him. His remarks came from Jeremiah’s book, “Sunset at Noon.”
“The untimely death of Antoine, 43 years old. A young man in his prime of life. The sudden death. Death came to claim Kobe Bryant and Chasnick Bostwick. Shocked, So young and in the prime of life.”
Pastor John Wesley McVicker, Sr.
The setting of the sun. Life comes, grows, blooms, shines, and then it is gone.
The sun goes down at noon—the unexpectedness of death in the zenith of life at the high point. We must come to understand the sun goes down.
” And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
Hebrews 9:27
We made a vass of appointments. One appointment we can’t change.
From our perspective, God has his day planner; the sun goes down too soon. Stuff we want to do. Places we want to visit. More achievements we want to aspire
Tomorrow is a promissory note.
Today is cash in hand.
I have to do the work now while I have health and strength.
The sun will set. No matter how much we work out, we change our diets; the sun will set. When the sunset comes soon, we want to know why? The sun goes down by the appointment of God. For this appointment, you don’t get a notification.
Be ready; you don’t know the hour the son of man is coming. When the sun sets in mid-noon, it’s unfair and unnatural. The sun rises again. Although the sun sets at a brief interim, God the Father of Life does all things well. The sun goes down in the morning, midday, or noon. It doesn’t set to stay. It puts in one place only to rise at a distant horizon. One night no more nights.
St. Francis of Assisi was hoeing his garden when someone asked what he would do if he suddenly learned that he would die before sunset that very day. “I would finish hoeing my garden,” he replied.
Pastor McVicker Quoted
Pastor added, “I’ll keep doing what I’m doing. Make Christ your choice. Tomorrow is a promissory note.
Today is cash in hand.
I must do the work now while I have health and strength.”
Reporter Jude 