Biography

Ms. Ethel Lee Kendrick was born on September 29, 1930 to the late Wash Tatum and Rosia Shelby Tatum. She was a graduate of Lincoln Consolidated High School in Mt. Olive MS. Ethel accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of the Mt. Zionell C.M.E. Methodist Church. She moved to Gaston Point, MS. in 1955 where she joined the Little Rock Baptist Church. She found her final church home upon moving to the Forrest Heights Community in Turnkey, MS in 1969. At that time church services were held in the Community Center where she assisted Rev. Lawrence C. Collins with the Sunday School program. The Forrest Heights M.B. Church was organized on October 22, 1971 and made official November of the same year, and she joined shortly thereafter. Ethel Kendrick passed away Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at the age of 81.

Ethel was a faithful servant of God who served as a missionary worker even in childhood. Some of her works include: usher board finance secretary, Sunday school teacher, matron of the choir, member of the BTU congress, assistant matron of the youth usher board (Forrest Heights M.B. Church), youth class Sunday school teacher (Shiloh Baptist Church), graduate of the Mississippi Baptist Seminary, and member of the Alumni Association Seminary of Jackson, MS, chairman and bible teacher of the Kendrick family Prayer cell. She was also a member of the Twigs of Gulfport Memorial Hospital and served as a volunteer for several years. Ethel’s first marriage was to Robert Percy McCullam on January 2, 1953. Later she married Wiley B. Kendrick. Her final marriage was on June 3, 1983 to Arthur Kemp who passed away shortly after.

She was preceded in death by Mother Rosia Shelby Tatum, Father Wash Tatum, brothers Bennie C. and Nathaniel Tatum, sisters Bradisteen Myers and Rosie Lee Croft, son Joshaway Kendrick, daughter Emma Lee Nash, grandsons Alvin Nash and Antonio Carr, one son and daughter who died at birth.

She is survived by daughters: Mary Ann Magee, Patricia Carr and Kathlean Kendrick all of Gulfport, MS; sons: Robert Lee McCullam of Baton Rouge, LA; Emmett and Frederick Kendrick of Gulfport, MS. and Joseph Kendrick of Chicago, IL; sisters: Ora Lee Marlow of Trinton, NJ and Arlena Bennett of Gulfport, MS; brothers: W.M.C., Joshaway and Joseph Tatum of Mt. Olive, MS; grandchildren: Doward Gardner Jr. of Gulfport, MS, Jacqualine Gardner of Ocean Springs, MS, Ethel Polk Killeen, TX, Joanna Mason of Gautier, MS, Emmanuel, Keisha, Devon and Shalanda Carr, Jeremy Nash, Tara and Tremale Kendrick, and Demtriea Thomas all of Gulfport, MS. Fredrick Kendrick Jr., Maurice Lewis (Baton Rouge, LA), and a host of great grandchildren, relatives and friends.

Haste -

That sad day has finally come to pass. My beautiful mother, Ethel Lee Kendrick has gone on to be with our Lord. As I sit here thinking of my mom I am flooded with so many memories but amidst them all there is a recurring theme. I remember how mom would always remind me that this world is not our home. We are just passing through. She'd always say that she wanted everyone to give her flowers while she yet lived and when the day came that she would go home, her true home, she wants no tears but if you must shed tears let them be tears of joy because she won't have to suffer anymore and her journey here on this earth would finally be over but her journey up above would be just beginning. She'd always tell me to love my brothers and sisters, to love my neighbor because God is love and he wants us to love one another as he has loved us.

I recall that my mom loved GOD and she loved to honor him in any way she could, big or small. She loved to sing his praises and one of her favorite songs was "May The Work I've Done Speak For Me". Well, mother, if the works we do speak for us then I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that your reward shall be the GREATEST!!! If ever there was a soul that deserved to be with the angels it is you.

After completing mom's program and reading through her tributes I noticed one terrible mistake. My name was nowhere to be found. No words of farewell, no references to her at all from her baby son. In my haste I lost sight of myself for I know how important it would be for mom that I get it right. I do apologize to all of our family and friends for such a wordy entry but to leave myself out would be a tragedy indeed. My mother would never hear of it. Even though I felt we said our goodbyes while she lay on her deathbed in our home I can't imagine that she wouldn't want me to be there every step of the way until the very end. Life is too short my friends. Don't let it pass you by. Take time out to stop and smell the roses. Take time out to enjoy what time you have left in this world. Never lose sight of what you have or take it for granted. This life we are living is a gift to us from God. Don't squander it.

My mother, Ethel Lee Kendrick, was and will always be my hero. There was never any sacrifice too great for her to make for us or favor too small for her to fulfill and I've always felt that she deserved the same in return. At least that. I have never seen another work so hard and I strive every day of my life to be more and more like her.

I love you mom. Until that day I see you again keep smiling.

Your son, Joe Joe

Visitation

Saturday July 21, 2012, 8:00 Am at Forrest Heights Baptist Church
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Services

Saturday July 21, 2012, 10:00 AM at Forrest Heights Baptist Church
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Burial

Saturday July 21, 2012 at Zionell C.M.E Church Cemetery
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