“Jesus said… ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die’” (John 11:25-26).

Sister Essie M. Newman, 78, of Bogalusa, departed this life Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, at her residence surrounded by family.

She attended Central Memorial High School in Bogalusa and graduated from 33rd Avenue High School in Gulfport, Miss.

She was married to the Rev. Theodore Newman for 58 years and to this union three children were born.

As a young adult, she attended Mt. Bethel Baptist Church under the leadership of the Rev. A. L. Owens, where she served as a Deaconess from 1998-2005. She served as First Lady of Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Uneedus, where her husband served as pastor. She would later re-unite with Pleasant Valley and serve there until her passing.

She is survived by her husband, the Rev. Theodore Newman; a son, Stanley (Terry) Newman of Webster, Texas; a daughter, Angela Newman of Baton Rouge; two grandchildren, Stanley Theodore Newman of Webster, Texas, and Chelsie Adams of Baton Rouge; her sisters, Claudette (Eddie) Howard, Yolanda (Michael) McNeil of Mobile, Ala., Melody Love and Glenda Little of Columbia, Miss.; her brothers, Sam (Rossie) Love of Mobile, Willie Love of Bogalusa and Donald Love of Decatur, Ga.; sisters-in-law, Wandra (John) Seward and Alma Dennis of St. Louis, Mo., Bernice Newman of Chicago, Ill.; brothers-in-law, Thaddeus Newman II of Los Angeles, Calif., and Sylvester Hill of Seattle, Wash.; godson, Willie Holloway; and Malcolm Adams, a son-in-law that she loved as a son. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Simon Love and Ludie B. Love; a daughter, Sondra Newman Adams; three brothers, Melvin, Julius and Jewel Love; and a sister, Brenda Hollis.

Visitation will be held Friday, Jan. 11, at Crain and Sons Funeral Home in Bogalusa from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., with a family hour from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m.

The funeral service will be held at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Uneedus on Saturday, Jan. 12, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Harold Celius officiating.

Crain and Sons Funeral Home of Bogalusa is in charge of arrangements. Sign the guestbook online at www.crainandsons.com.