By Dr. Joan Schrysen
During the past weeks, the Living Waters Board lost two of our colleagues, Jackie Sommerlad and Toni Jordan. Between the two of them, they logged forty years on the Board.
Jackie joined the Board in 1996 when we were brand new and trying to fig-ure out our ministry. Her sister, the late Ginger Aspy, a charter member of the Board, suggested Jackie as an ad-ditional Board member if we wouldn’t consider it “nepotism.” Fortunately, we didn’t, and what a blessing she was! It was Jackie who came up with the name Waves for our newsletter. For many years, Jackie, husband Phil, and their son Lin-coln prepared a multitude of envelopes to mail out Waves. This involved printing and applying the address labels to about 250 envelopes three times a year as well as updating the mailing list with each mailout. No small feat. Sadly, in 2015, ill health forced Jackie’s retirement.
Toni joined the Board in 2001 and was still a member when she succumbed to a heart attack recently. Toni was a true prayer warrior, faithfully attending our monthly Times of Pray-er. Occasionally, it was only her and one other, but always there were at least two. We leaned on the promise that where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them. Mt. 18:20 Toni served as our social chair and helped in the bulk delivery of Waves, taking packets to a number of schools in the New Smyrna Beach area. She was also our treasurer for several years.
Toni never ceased to amaze us. Every year she made Beef Wellington, a gourmet roast wrapped in puff pastry, for her family’s Christmas dinner. No one makes Beef Wellington, but Toni didn’t think anything of it. Also, she and her husband built (not contracted to have built but built with their own hands) a barn with living quarters in New Smyrna Beach. When the barn was finished, they built a beautiful house where Toni lived the rest of her life. She continued faithfully attending Time of Prayer and deliver-ing Waves until her arthritis and other health problems kept her home.
These were two very special ladies, and we shall miss them greatly.