2022 Lifetime Achievement Award
Irvis received the Holy Ghost on Saturday Night, September 5, 1964 at First United Pentecostal Church of Leakesville, Mississippi. The church was pastored by Reverend Robert Crocker who would later become my father-in-law. Irvis had made my most recent trip to the altar on Monday Night after Easter Sunday in 1964 being baptized in Jesus Name shortly thereafter. He did his best to live a Christian life even without the Holy Ghost. Thankfully
God filled his heart with His Spirit around Labor Day of that year. At the age of 19, he was the fourth man in the church. His wife, Sharon, and he had started dating on a regular basis and he said, “I am happy to say all that worked out great”.
Upon receiving the Holy Ghost, he began doing all he could to help out with the upkeep of the church property. It wasn’t long until Bro. Crocker asked him to teach one of the younger classes in Sunday School. Needless to say, he started there and began to work his way up the ladder. He was teaching the Junior class of Sunday School when Uncle Sam decided he wanted him in the U. S. Army.
After being inducted into the Army in Jackson, MS on October 5, 1965, he was sent to Fort Benning Georgia for basic training. While undergoing basic training, the Secretary of the Army, the Honorable Stanley R. Resor, reclassified him to a noncombatant soldier. Upon completion of basic training he received orders to report to the Medical Training Center at Fort Sam Houston Texas.
During leave time between stations, he proposed marriage to the love of my life. Irvis asked her on Saturday night, got a yes, asked her parents on Sunday night and after a lecture from the Pastor, his Father-in-law to be, he got another yes. They were married the following Friday evening in her parents living room. They have enjoyed 53 years together and it couldn’t have been any better done any other way.
After finishing medical Training, he received orders to the First Infantry Division (The Big Red One) in Vietnam. So much for the noncombatant classification. Irvis served his unit without carrying a weapon. We stayed on missions nine or ten of the 12 months he served in Vietnam. He received my Honorable Discharge dated October 5, 1971. He said, “I have no regrets of serving in the military for my country for I’m Proud to Be an American”.
When Irvis returned home from the military, he started teaching the Youth Class at Church and was asked to be the Youth Director. he appreciated these two positions because they caused him to study hard and be ready for the “Inquisitive Youth”.
When he began to feel that God may be trying to take me in the direction of the Ministry, he said, “I was afraid”. Pastor Crocker told him to pray and keep the door open and if God wanted him in the ministry, He would let him know. He preached his first message in September of 1973 and assisted his father-in-law for 3 years. The church congregation elected him associate Pastor for a term of 3 years and then elected him Co-Pastor where I served 5 years. Pastor Crocker, his Father-in-law went to be with Jesus in June of 1984. At such time he became pastor and has served the church from then to the present having recently completed 36 years as Pastor.
Under the leadership of Pastor Everette, the church has experienced great times and of course valleys. At one time, he led three Nursing Home services each weekend. The church experienced great revivals, remodeled the sanctuary three times, added drive through with covered walkway, paved parking lot, added foyer, rest rooms and office. Within the past two years the congregation remodeled the sanctuary, expanded fellowship hall and remodeled restrooms connected to the fellowship hall. He also leads an active Jail Ministry and serves as Chaplain to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.
Other offices that he has served in the Mississippi District: Sectional Youth Director, Sectional Sunday School Director, District Presbyter, District Campground Committee Chairman, and District Campground Director for 18 years.
Pastor Everette said, “God has been good to my wife, me and our family. I owe my all to Him and I want to work for Him and serve Him until He comes.
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