'When I Die, You'll See a Smile on My Face': A Special Tribute to a Beloved Father and Preacher, from a Friend of the Ministry

Aimee Herd : Sep 6, 2022
Kelita Deems-Elijah List

"He was always smiling, always happy, always a joke to tell..."

Kelita Deems, a longtime friend and frequent writer for the Elijah List, sister ministry to Breaking Christian News, wrote a beautiful tribute to her father—James L. Wilson, "Mr. Kroger," of Belpre, OH—who recently went home to Heaven. Her father poured his life into his calling as a beloved preacher and the 2nd-longest Kroger employee, who "loved people ... loved making them smile. If they didn't smile, he would take it as a challenge." (Image: Courtesy-Kelita Deems)

Kelita says in her tribute to her dad that he once told her, "When I die, you'll see a smile on my face because I know where I am going."

She notes that they will "never know how many people he touched, who touched others—only God knows—but I know this: many people are better off for knowing my dad ... my dad never filled a stadium or had his name on TV, but he was kind to people. He loved them, and shared Jesus with them." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

We wanted to share Kelita's very moving tribute to her father with our readers:

Click Here to listen.