Sudds, Bertha (Mrs. James)
5/25/1979
August 5, 1902 - May 25, 1979 |
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| On August 5, 1902, God breathed the breath of life into the daughter of the late Louis and Isabella Toliver, whom they later named Bertha. The place was north Ouachita Pansh in the town of Sterllngton, Louisiana. At the age of nine she accepted Christ, and began her spiritual walk with Christ under the pastorate of the late Reverend James M. White in Sterlington’s St. James Baptist Church. Bertha served the Lord faithfully in the St. James Baptist Church until 1930. In 1930, she united in holy wedlock to the late Reverend James Sudds of former Conference B. Bertha transferred her membership to The United Methodist Church upon their unification in holy matrimony. Like Ruth in the Old Testament, she still is and will always be remembered to her husband’s former parishioners as a Christian lady with the gentleness of a velvet rose. Bertha’s heart gave out kindness and love in immeasurable amounts. Following her husband’s death, she returned to Monroe, Louisiana, and continued her Christian walk through faithful membership in St. James United Methodist Church. Before the failure of her health, she was a faithful member of the Communion Stewardesses Board and the United Methodist Women in the St. James Church, as well as the Parsonettes of the Monroe District. In the community, she was a member of the Silver Leaf Aid Society, Court of Calanthe #41, Counsel Sister, Nora Moore Order of the Eastern Star, Lydia Chapter #45. Her name remained on the rolls of all of the above-mentioned organizations until the inescapable knock of death called her home to rest with Jesus on May 25,1979. On June 2, 1979, the family, friends and fellow church members of Mrs. Bertha T. Sudds gathered together in the chapel of Monroe’s Miller Funeral Home to thank God for her beautiful life. Reverend Alonzo J. Campbell, District Superintendent Dr. James J. Caraway, Reverend Robert S. Murray, and Reverend Robert Addison led her beautiful and inspiring funeral service. She leaves to cherish her memory: two brothers, Willie Toliver of Chicago, Illinois, and Jessie Toliver of Monroe, Louisiana, nieces, nephews, stepchildren, other relatives and friends, and her church family. |
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| Source: Journal of the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church, 1980, Pages 172, by Alonzo J. Campbell. | |
