Pray for Brent

[Stephani]

i know several of y'all have met my friend Brent. well, he just found out today that his great grandmother died. she didn't just pass because of old age-someone broke into her home and killed her. he told me that he was talking to her just last week, asking her why she wouldn't move closer to his mom. she said, "oh, i just love my house!"

he found out about it through a "loop;" his close family didn't even call him. his grandmother in houston (his dad's mom, who he's not close to) sent him an e-mail w/ a news article abt it and that's it.

please be in prayer for him and his family. i know it's got to be a difficult time for his mother and grandmother, let alone him & his 3 siblings.

he drove down to our hometown this afternoon to be with his family. please pray for them to have peace during this time. and also pray for the crime to be resolved quickly & smoothly...especially pray that the person (or people?) who committed the crime will get a fair punishment, yet one he/she deserves.

Brent is an awesome brother in Christ and he could really use as much prayer as he can get.

thanks y'all.

[Stephani]

Brent's great-grandmother's obituary just came out in the Port Arthur News today. i've posted it at the bottom of this message. i have not gotten to speak w/ Brent to see how he's doing. i tried his cell phone yesterday but got a message saying the number has been disconnected. i'm going to try and reach him at his grandmother's house tomorrow.

please continue to be in prayer for Brent and
his grandmother: Valda
his parents: Valarie & Steve
his siblings: Jason, Chris, & Valyn
and all of his extended family

Dorothy E. Barrett
PORT ARTHUR - Dorothy E. Barrett, 82, of Port Arthur, Texas, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, April 18, 2005, at her home.

A celebration of her life will begin at 2:00 p.m. Friday, April 22, 2005, at Community Christian Church, 3400 Martin Luther King in Orange. Officiating will be Reverend Jerry McNeil. Burial will follow at Autumn Oaks Memorial Park in Orange.

Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. Thursday at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Mrs. Barrett was born on May 11, 1922, in Knox City, Missouri. She was the daughter of Bert and Sylvia (Mathena) Davis. She was a 55 year resident of Port Arthur. Her joyful exuberance for living life to it's fullest was only surpassed by her grace and compassionate love to all she knew.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert E. Barrett, Sr.; twin brother, Donald Davis; brothers, Virgil Davis, Garland Davis and Howard Davis.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Valda Simon of Orange; grandchildren, Valarie and Steve Faulk, Shea and Hope Simon, Tiffany and Doug Loncon all of Orange, Herbert Barrett, Jr. of New Hampshire, Michael Barrett, Linda Baribeauit, Sammy and Pam Simon all of Orange, Leslie and Mike Miller of Houston, Michelle and Bobby; great-grandchildren, Brent Faulk, Jason Faulk, Chris Faulk, Valyn Faulk, Caitlen Simon, Chelsey Simon, Carley Simon, Cassie Simon, Kayl Simon, Eric Simon and Danny Simon; sister and brother-in-law, Hazel and Robert Daniel of Missouri; sisters-in-law, Bea Davis of Lousiana and Norma Jo Davis of Missouri; nieces and nephews, Dorothy Burroughs McHaney, Gary Davis, Betty Davis, Sylvia Davis, Bill Davis, Steve Davis, Karen Davis, Carla Davis, Larry Davis, Mickey Davis, Ricky Davis and thingyey Davis.

Serving as Pallbearers are Shea Simon, Jason Faulk, Brent Faulk, Paul Ortego, Chris Faulk, Doug Loncon, Steve Faulk and Sammy Simon. Honorary Pallbearers will be Steve Carlton, Don Burroughs, Kayl Simon, Danny Simon and Eric Simon.

[Stephani]

hey prayer-warriors,

i spoke w/ Brent briefly today. he sounded like he was doing okay, but i know it's a sad time for him.

the funeral was at 2pm today. now his great-grandma is at rest.

he told me the person who killed his great-grandma was caught this morning. praise God! apparently, the guy killed two other women around that same are, and both of them were elderly. he attacked another woman, but she screamed and got away. she was able to pick him out from the mug shot profiles.

but anyway...just keepin y'all updated. please continue to pray for our brother Brent & his family.

[Stephani]

this is a news article from today's Port Arthur News regarding Brent's great-grandmother's life & funeral.

Serial killer's first victim laid to rest[/size]

ORANGE - Laid to rest on the same day the Port Arthur Police Department announced the arrest of Gary Sinegal, the suspect in her murder, Dorothy Barrett's family gathered to celebrate the life of their mother, grandmother and best friend.

Family, friends and neighbors congregated at the Community Church in Orange for Barrett's funeral Friday afternoon. Barrett was found earlier in week murdered in her Port Arthur home.

Jerry McNeil, reverend of the Cross Mountain Church in San Antonio, presided over the services and in his words, described Barrett as a virtuous woman with faith in her God.

"We cannot begin to find understanding in this death," McNeil said. "But we can be comforted that this woman, so full of grace and beauty, is now dancing around the Throne of God."

Praised for her pie-baking skills and her kindness to all those in need, Barett's family members and neighbors took a moment each to share their fondest memories of their beloved Dot.


"My mother is my best friend," Valda Simon, Barrett's only child, told the mourners. "She is a precious person. I thank you, God, for my mother."

Following her emotional rendition of "How Great Thou Art," dedicated in honor of her mother, Simon turned the microphone over to members of the audience.

A series of mourners rose to share their tales of Barrett's strength, quest for independence and her tendency to be stubborn.

"She was stubborn like an old Missouri mule," McNeil said. "She was going to have things her way. Recently Dot went to Missouri to take care of a family member. She jumped on a plane, took her wheelchair with her, and set out to do what she did well, taking care of others."

Barrett, 82, was found dead in her home in the 3600 block of Sixth Street on Monday. PAPD Criminal Investigations Division Commander Major Raymond Clark said autopsy results have shown that Barrett died from massive trauma to her chest and facial area.

"She had either been kicked or punched to death," Clark said.

Appearing to be an isolated incident at the time of her death, by the end of the week Barrett's murder would be linked with two other Port Arthur women's deaths and another's attack.

Barrett's neighbors have all commented on how kind and sweet the elderly woman was, Clark said, and those characteristics may have made her attractive to a violent assailant.

"This is the kind of person a violent person would prey on," Clark noted. "That kind of meek person is what they are looking for. They are not looking for a fight or a struggle. I suppose you could say they are looking for the path of least resistance."
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[nini]

wow...that's horrible. will be praying

[Stephani]

thank you...i'm sure it will mean a lot to him.