Newsletter #9

On Nannies and Church Revitalization

Greetings and prayers go out to the McDowell-Burgess family this week as I remember one of the most special women I’ve ever known.

Remembering Janie Mae

From the time I was two weeks old until around 12 years old, our home was graced with the presence of Virginia “Janie Mae” Burgess. She was our nanny.

Janie Mae (or Jannie Mae, as some in the family spell it) has been on my mind lately. Had she lived to see her birthday this past Friday, she would have been 95. She passed away last August. Let me share something I posted on my wife’s Facebook page back then:

On Thursday, August 26, a precious lady departed this life and entered the next. Virginia "Janie Mae" Burgess passed away at the age of 94 after having blessed countless families like mine with cooking, cleaning, and most importantly, childcare. Before I could form conscious memories as an infant, Janie Mae was my nanny. She was with us until I was around 12 years old. She cared for my brother and me while my mother was working to hel…