TRIBUTES
TRIBUTES
Although You’re Gone... Although you’re gone, it feels like you’re still here. I wish you never left. I wish you could have stayed to see me graduate. I wish you could have stayed forever, but I know now we all have to go. I know you will watch over me and be with me in my heart. I will always love you and you will be truly missed — Ja’Koryan Wess
The day the news came I thought I would go insane. But God said there will be rain but the sun will shine again. You’re still here in my heart and mind, still making me laugh cause your stories live on. I hold you in a thought and I can feel you. I feel you and this gives me strength and courage. The tears I have cried for you could flood the earth and I know you have wiped each one away. For you Brother, I promise you this I will go on with my life and make you proud. I will always hold you in my heart. I promise you I will be missing you every day till the end of time, but this is not my end and I can’t hold my head underwater… I need to breathe. I need to love and miss you, but I also need to live because through me you will live, you will still laugh and love, you will still sing and dance, you will still hug and kiss. You will forever be in our lives, you will forever be a brother, a son, an uncle and friend. I am going to miss your shining face I think of you and wonder why? I might cry or smile, but at the end of day I am one day closer to you………. — Tina
A Tribute To My Awesome Brother. Although your voice is hushed and your heart beat stilled, the place you’ve left in my life can never be filled. I loved you so much Reddie, but God saw fit for you to rest. My tears will be many as I climb life’s hills, but I humbly submit to God’s will. Reddie you shared with everyone your special spirit of love and determination. I Love you my Only brother. You will be missed, but never forgotten..... — Janice
To many he was known as “Reggie”, “Aldo” and “PawPaw”, but to me he was my Lil Brother “Redman”.
He was a good man with a big heart that was always ready to help. He was loved by many from all ages and all races. He never turned down an opportunity to be a blessing . He would sit up and listen to my Uncle Tommy lie about almost anything and my brother would be in agreement with that lie; Because he would always do something that would make you laugh, no matter what. I always think about all the fun times we had together. So I’m giving tribute to the man that always had my back. He always looked out for me. Over the years, I am and I always was my brother’s keeper, now my brother is my keeper. He is my Angel and I have a lot of them, but now my brother is my number one Angel. God gave me him to be my lil brother for a minute and now God has told him that it is time for him to take his rest. So he’s gone home and I miss him with all my heart. I am going to remember the good times and all the joyful times we shared. I made a point to tell him that I loved him each and every time we got off the phone or we saw each other. He would always say “I know you love me Sis, and I know you Love me the best.” I am going to miss you and I wish I could just kiss that bald head of yours just one more time. “ I am my brother’s keeper!” Your oldest sister Sheila Wess-Pearson. Loving you always until we meet again. Rest in Peace My Love
You showed me a lot of things, I learned a lot I didn’t know. But you forgot to teach me one last thing and that how to let you go, I know you didn’t mean to leave me. Sometimes we have no choice. I miss being your little sister. Hearing my name called by your voice, but I know you are in heaven with Mom and she probably said soon as she saw you Reggie what took you so long to get here. But I wish I got to say one time “I Love You” before you were given to the sky. If God could grant me one last wish I’d ask to say “Goodbye”. You always meant a lot to me. I could never love you less. I know it’s true when they say HE ONLY TAKES THE BEST. Now I have two angels in heaven to watch over me R.I.P. Mom (Bertha Davis) R.I.P. (Reginald Wess). I’ll wear y’all memories proudly. May my love for both reach Heaven above….Until we meet again. — Love JD
Honorary Pallbearers Ja’Koryan Wess Jeremy Wess Jerald Mergerson Jarrod Mergerson Freddy Davis David McCollough Howard Pearson
Keith Wess Anthony Frazier Kevin Davis Rodney Clyde Frazier David Rochelle Anthony Rochelle Elton Trim
Celebrating the Life of Reginald
“Redman Reddie” Wess
Active Pallbearers
Kenneth Adams Anthony Monroe Reginald McCarter Ernest Hawkins Kenneth Pearson
Clifford Gray Douglas Stewart Billy Kilgore Kevin Perry Charles Moore
Flowerbearers
SUNRISE
September 25, 1964 SUNSET
January 16, 2015
Class of 1982 • New Pilgrim Rest
Choir & Usher Services
New Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church • Arcadia, LA
Service Entrusted to Paradise Funeral Home – 3201 6th St. Arcadia, LA 71001- (318) 263-2568
Interment
New Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Cemetery
Saturday, January 24, 2015 • 2:30 PM New Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, Inc. 2697 Elm St. • Arcadia, LA 71001 Pastor Noah Banks, Jr. • Officiating
Order of Service Musical Prelude Processional......................................................Minster and Family Selection.................................................... New Pilgrim Rest Choir Scripture...................................................... Minister Jessie Adams Old Testament & New Testament Prayer.............................................................Pastor Eddie Murphy New Faith Baptist Church • Houston, TX Solo.................................................................Pastor Adrian Nelson Woodlawn Baptist Church • Farmerville, LA Acknowledgments/ Resolution ........Laquetta Ballard Anderson Words of Comfort ............................. Minister Charles Owens Jr. Obituary ...................................................................... Read Silently Solo.............................................................. Pastor Norah Banks, Jr “I Won’t Complain” Eulogy......................................................... Pastor Norah Banks, Jr New Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, Inc. • Arcadia, LA Paradise Funeral Elite Recession Postlude
Obituary
TRIBUTES
Reginald “Redman Reddie” Wess passed away on Friday January 16, 2015 at the age of 50. He was born on September 25, 1964 to the late Bertha Lee Davis and Jimmy Smith. He accepted Christ at an early age and was member of New Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, Arcadia, LA. While in Shreveport, LA he fellowshipped with Eden Worship Center under that pasturage of Pastor Gregory Jones and also attended other churches. Reginald attended Crawford Elementary School and Arcadia High School where he graduated May 1982. He also attended Grambling State University. Reginald was a skilled craftsman that one would say he is jack of all trade and mastered them all. Up unto death, he worked diligently for Cellxion where his supervisors loved him dearly. Reginald was blessed with two beautiful children and one child that he raised as his own. Reginald is preceded in deaith by his mother, Bertha Lee Wess Davis; his daughter, Jessica Michelle Jackson; his devoted grandparents, Cleveland and Johnnie Bell Wess; two brothers, Jimmy DeShawn and Armond Smith; four uncles, Theodis Orain Sr., Willie Jr. (Sedalia) and Tommy James Wess; and one newphew, Antonio Gaston. Reginald is survived by his loving son, Ja’Koryan Wess of Minden, LA and the son he raised, LyDarrius King of Bastrop, LA. His father Jimmy (Claudia) Smith of Arcadia, LA. His grandmother Mary Lee Martin of Los Angeles, CA. Seven sisters Sheila (Howard) Wess-Pearson of Bethany, LA, Marcelle Wess of San Bernardino, CA, Tina Wess of Sylmar, CA, Jacqueline Davis of Ruston, LA, Janice Gaston of Houston, TX, Ari and Andrea Smith of San Francisco, CA. Two uncles William Martin, of Los Angeles, CA and Bobby Martin of Milwaukee, WI. Six aunts Patricia Basquez of Los Angeles, CA, Jessye G. Wess of Cullen, LA, Lettie Rochelle of Arcadia, LA, Adell Chatman, Ella Frazier and Hattie Odom all of Arcadia, LA. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins and a special cousin Sharon Frazier of Garland, TX, other family members, friends, church members and co-workers who loved him dearly.
Reginald Wess is my little caring and loving brother The world is at a lost because he’s like no other, Birthed by Bertha Davis, but Johnnie Bell Wess raised Meaning... Yes you’re going to church and Yes you best behave, You better Sit down, be still and cut all that foolishness out Don’t play in church and spit that gum out, Because of that spiritual foundation, If you would happen to stray away You knew how to pray and ask the Good Lord to please make a way, You had a few trips, slips and at time you would fall But you fought the good fight, and overcame them all, You always had a smile when you would come on the scene Looking for some chicken, hot water cornbread and yes some kind of greens, Thanks for the laughs, the tears, the love and the valuable lessons We will keep celebrating your life because to know you is truly a blessing, So go on Lil Brother and take your well deserved rest, We know that God will only call home his best Beause he called home my brother, Reginald “Redman” Wess! I wish that heaven had a phone so I could hear your voice once more This is a tribute from your Sister, Marcelle “Nett” Wess, loving you forever more!— Marcelle
RED MAN You gave no one a last farewell, Nor ever said good-bye You were gone before I knew it, & only GOD knows why A million times I will miss you, A million times I will cry If love alone could have saved you, You never would have died ! In life I loved you dearly; In death I love you still...... In my heart you hold a place, No one else can fill It broke my heart to lose you, But you didn’t go alone, A part of me went with you, When GOD called you home We will meet again someday, I know in a better place I thank GOD he made you my brother, While you were on this earth — Love always your baby sister Drea