It’s been a difficult week for our family. On Fri., March 17, my daddy, Fred Motes went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at the age of 84.

During this time we look back and think about happy memories and special times that we have spent with family and friends over the years.

I think back to when my brothers, Freddy and Mike and my sisters, Kaye and Roxanne were growing up and I see times where I knew that daddy and momma did without things to make sure we had what we needed.

But there is one thing I remember so well: there was never a short supply of love in our home. We never had to worry about daddy and momma’s love for our family. My daddy loved his church and he loved his family. In the days ahead, there will be decisions to be made about what daddy left behind but I would like to share the rich legacy that my daddy left behind for us over the years.

He taught us how to handle adversity, to know how with God’s help to cope with the circumstances that we were going through. He taught us to think to seek God’s will, to ask for guidance and direction. He taught us to see the reality of the situation and to know that we aren’t perfect and we all make mistakes. He taught us to walk with God and the value of truth. Just as daddy prepared for life he also prepared for death. “What will your legacy be?”

Christian love and sympathy is extended to the Nobinger family in the loss of their mother, Brenda Nobinger. Christian love and sympathy is also extended to the Shelton family in the loss of Louie Shelton.

Happy anniversary wishes go out to Chris and Joanna Borden on March 25, L.E. and Betty Tratler on March 25, Lynn and Royce Goree on March 28.

Happy birthday to Brady Anderson, Ed Buckner, Slade Owens, Stephanie Estes, Mildred Ferrell Vannadore and Angela Wilson, all on March 23, Amanda Collins and Jerry Cobbs, both on March 24, Diane Clemons, John Hines and April Richardson, all on March 25, Dorian Cerutti, Caden Childers and Teresa Boyer, all on March 26, Lorene Oden, Ariel Allen and Bruce Shaw, all on March 27, Elizabeth Halbrooks and Graham White, both on March 28.

On behalf of my mother and the entire Motes family, we would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to all of you who was such a blessing to our family during the loss of our loved one, Fred Wesley Motes Sr. Without you we wouldn’t have been able to make it through this time.

To Summerford Rehab and Kindred Hospice, thank you for being so kind and gentle to him. To Bro. Ben Bates and Bro. Jason Bomar, thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement to us, to Peck Funeral Home who helped us prepare the service and thank you so much to our friends, neighbors, New Center Baptist and Shiloh Baptist for preparing food for us. Thank you to those who sent flowers or made donations to St. Jude’s. We ask for your prayers in the following days that God will provide strength to help us through this time.

May God bless each and every one of you who mean so much to us. We love you all, the Fred Motes Family.