In memory of Dewayne E. Nettles

Gift: $50 By: Friends
Ulogy 1:

Dewayne E. Nettles
July 5, 1935 ~ January 31, 2015
Video Talk By: David Risener

I am sadden to say that a very dear friend and Christian Brother passed away. But I can also be comforted to know a Brother Dewayne Nettles from Brookhaven MS is now at rest. For the past several years Dewayne struggled with all sorts of health issues and endured gracefully through the pain.

I was on the phone with Dewayne the day before he died and could tell in his voice that he was ready to leave this world. It is not my place to preach Dewayne into heaven, but am so thankful for a loving God and His Son that can save us from sin. I can say that over the years, Dewayne has shown so much Christian love and encouragement to me and I will miss him greatly. On behalf of the family, I would like to thank all the Brothers and Sisters who, over the years, sent to Dewayne and Louise encouraging emails, cards, (items such as blankets, afghans ect.), and even sent both of them large print Bibles. Your Christian love touched their hearts and made a difference in their lives. Please continue to pray for his faithful wife Louise and the family.

My dear friend and Brother in the Lord loved the Church. During the past eight years, Dewayne was never in the best of health, yet he traveled different times over 1,000 miles each trip to encourage me and the website’s evangelistic efforts. The last Internet communication I had from him was a simple short encouraging note: “Keep up the good work. In Christ, Dewayne”

The New Hope Congregation in Brookhaven, MS where he attended has also been a tremendous help to me both financially and even the more through counsel and their strong love of the Brotherhood. The members of his home congregation were always lovingly doing things for Dewayne and Louise (from bring food to things like a lift-chair).

One thing I really liked was the conversations Dewayne and I had about the Bible. Dewayne and I agreed on most things, but as it is with everyone, we had our differences and would engage in fervent Bible discussions. As I also did with other dear members of the Church such as the late Charles Pruitt. The wonderful thing about Dewayne and Charles was no matter how strongly we felt about a Bible topic, when the debate was over, we loved each other even the more because we knew we all were God’s Children, our hearts were in the right place and we were striving to know His Will and help each other to Heaven. In today’s world, it seems like we are straying from profitable daily Bible discussions and that will hurt us all. Dewayne was always willing and wanting to talk Bible… and I greatly admired how he shied away from rumors and those attempting to belittle the Lord’s Church.

Dewayne and Louise didn’t have a lot monetarily and their illnesses didn’t help financially. But they still did what they could for others and felt blessed in the Lord and gained their comfort in His arms.

It bothered me greatly that I was sick with fever and could not travel to attend his funeral services and to be with the family. Sometime back, Dewayne and I walked behind the New Hope church building where the congregation’s cemetery was located. He showed me where he and Louise would be buried and spoke of wanting to make Heaven his final home.

Dewayne loved his family and in our conversations spoke often of them. His biggest concern was the saving of their souls. Dewayne and Louise also took in a young man named Austin Wallace and loved him as only family could.

Dewayne and I talked about making a video of him to play at his funeral to encourage his family to draw closer to God and the Church. I am sorry that we never got to complete that task. Several times I had the honor of meeting Delores, one of his daughter’s, and it was so easy to see her love and care for Dewayne.

The short while leading up to Dewayne’s death is a precious story in itself. Dewayne ask Louise for some homemade soup she had already made for him and while he was in his recliner sipping on the soup, his daughter Delores came in to see how they both were doing. She came over to the recliner and told him she love him and kissed him. He in turn slightly reached up and kissed her cheek. Delores then went over to the table and visited with Louise for about 10 minutes and then went back to say goodbye to her daddy before going back to the skating rang. She realized something was wrong and ask Louise to “please wake him up.” The emergency medics arrived there within 10 minutes and expressed to both Louise and Delores their sadness that there was nothing they could do. Dewayne passed away peacefully.

In times past, Dewayne told me how he appreciated his children’s enduring love even as he loved them and how privileged he was to have Louise as his wife. Some of Dewayne’s family I have not met like his daughter Vickie Webb whom he dearly loved and both Dewayne and Louise spoke her of often. I did have the opportunity to meet Dewayne, Jr. and it was plain to see that Dewayne loved his son and always tried to show “Jr.” the path to peace and blessings by way of the Church. His brother (Lester) met often with Dewayne for coffee and set and talked for long periods of time. I had the pleasure to set in on a couple of those conversations.

I cannot say it any better than Dewayne loved all of his family including 18 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. Dewayne truly loved his home congregation and all that attended were very much family to him. Through his actions, deeds and conversations; there is no question in my mind that Dewayne loved the Church.

I will miss this dear Brother and my heart goes out to one of the kindness, sweetest, Christian ladies I know, his wife Louise. She was always there for him. Waited on him as only a loving wife could. Even through her cancer treatments and other health issues of her own, Louise always did what she could for her man. She respected and loved her husband dearly. Louise will always be in my eyes a good example and a Pearl of Great Price.

Brother Dewayne, may you rest in peace after a long hard fought battle. Your friend, your brother in the Lord, David Risener

Ulogy 2:

Obituary of Dewayne E. Nettles

(July 5, 1935 – January 31, 2015)

Dewayne E. Nettles, Sr., 79, of Brookhaven, MS, passed from this life on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at his home in Brookhaven, MS. Visitation will be on Monday, February 2, 2015 from 5:30 PM until 8:00 PM at New Hope Church of Christ in Brookhaven and continue on Tuesday, February 3, 2015 from 10:00 AM until the time of the service at 11:00 Am at New Hope Church of Christ. The graveside service will follow in the New Hope Church of Christ Cemetery. Bro. Joel Smith and Bro. Chad Yarbrough will be officiating the services. Brookhaven Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Pallbearers are Larry Moreno, Bill Sykes, David Poole, Alan Poole, Turner Havard and John Wayne Havard. Honorary pallbearers are Robbie Nettles, Austin Wallace and Glenn Duke. Mr. Nettles was born July 5, 1935 in Franklin County, MS to John Henry and Mable Laird Nettles. He was member of New Hope Church of Christ Church. He was the owner and operator of Brookhaven Skating Rink for over 52 years. He also owned and operated Jerry’s Drive-In and Nettles Used Cars.He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Henry and Mable Laird Nettles; and sister, Marita Nettles. Survivors are his wife of 25 years, Sarah Louise Nettles of Brookhaven, MS; daughters, Vickie Nettles Webb and husband W.R. of Summit, MS, and Delores Nettles Havard and husband Ronny of Brookhaven, MS; son, Dewayne Nettles, Jr. and wife Terri of Brookhaven, MS; sisters, Geraldine Nettles Ashmore and Lorraine Nettles Smith; brother, Lester Nettles; 18 grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

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