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01/22/09 12:06 AM	#995
Chris Stephens RIP CRAIG!! Bud, you will be GREATLY missed!!

01/22/09 07:43 AM	#996
Laura Simpson (Kell) I will be sending flowers from our class. If you would like to contribute, you can send a check. If anyone else has done this, please let me know.

01/22/09 08:01 AM	#997
Chris Stephens Laura where do we send the checks? Any info on Craig too? I know he will be at Flanigans.

01/22/09 08:33 AM	#998
Laura Simpson (Kell) You can send the checks to me at 135 Stonehedge Dr,Buford 30518. No arrangements have been made. I spoke with someone at Flanagan's and she said there should be some information after lunch time today. I'll post info as soon as I know something. Dave, If you check this and have something in mind let me know.

01/22/09 08:39 AM	#999
Chris Stephens Thanks ladies. Keep us informed. I do not know all the details, but I think we all loved Craig, he was a special kind of person.

01/22/09 08:44 AM	#1000
Laura Simpson (Kell) You couldn't help but to love Craig. I only have fond memories!

01/22/09 08:57 AM

#1001

Donna Moore (Whiting)

Laura - remember Epcot and the duck hats. I have a picture of you, Craig, and me wearing those. Scaaaaa

Thanks for doing the flowers. I was on the phone til after 10 last night making calls. My parents got home from the Shomakes shortly after and I haven't had a chance to think about flowers. Mother said right now it looks like there might be viewing tonight and tomorrow with the funeral Saturday. But that is just what was talked about last night. I'll know more later this morning.

01/22/09 10:16 AM	#1002
Laura Simpson (Kell) I thought about that EPCOT trip too! The pictures are so funny. Craig and Robert were fun!

01/22/09 10:21 AM	#1003
Donna Moore (Whiting) Where is Robert?

01/22/09 10:26 AM

#1004

Chris Stephens

let me know when you guys are going to view Craig. I wonder how Ted is doing? Man this is sad and touches your heart. When I got the call last night from Christy I was at the emergency room with my oldest, so I did not get to talk to Christy much about all the details. I just can not believe this...... this hurts a little and is a little too close to the heart. I do not show my true feelings much (since the military), but I must say this makes you think about life! Love you guys and I have prayed and am continuing to pray for the Shomake family (Thanks to Jon Reed, Chris has found the LORD). That's another story for another day! Love you guys a bunch, please be safe it hurts to loose someone!

01/22/09 10:27 AM	#1005
Donna Moore (Whiting) Craig's family is going to the funeral home at 11:00 to finalize details. I should have more info by 3:00 or so.

01/22/09 10:33 AM	#1006
Chris Stephens Thanks Donna. I wonder if Jon knows yet. I know Jon and Craig have had some one on one conversations about Craig problems. Love ya GIRL!!

01/22/09 10:38 AM	#1007
Laura Simpson (Kell) Chris! I am so proud! There is nothing like the Lord's love!

01/22/09 10:38 AM	#1008
Donna Moore (Whiting) I left Jon a message last night.

01/22/09 10:57 AM

#1009

Chris Stephens

I will tell you guys this. I was LOST.....way lost. I was 38 years old, two beautiful daughters, a beautiful wife, a good job, and I had been using some illegal stuff. I had lost 30 pounds, my wife had found out and I was kick out of my home. I had reached the bottom of the barrel. To make a LONG story short.... I did everything I could (rehab and all) and it worked, but I was still missing something. I turned to Jon (love that man). My life has never been this good. I still struggle with some things (the language thing is kicking my butt, thanks to the NAVY), but we are working very hard and praying everyday for that. I still have a long way too go, but the main thing is "I BELIEVE"! When I told Jon that my life between my wife and I had never been this good he said "IT'S JESUS BROTHER"! People take drugs to make them feel better, react different to situations, ect.(legal drugs)..... all you need is JESUS! I feel great now, I don't worry about a single thing anymore, nothing stresses me out (well, the job gets to ya sometimes). I can not fully explain the feelings, but the ones who believe and have gave thier heart to the LORD know how I feel everyday. If you want to be HIGH everyday.......JESUS can make you feel GREAT!

Can you believe this came from Chris Stephens...WOW!! As James Brown said "I FEEL GOOD"! LOVE YA'LL!!

01/22/09 11:03 AM	#1010
Chris Stephens Did not know Craig situation was that bad. I wonder what made him turn to the alchol and how long has it been going on! Man this is SAD. We all knew Craig, he was SMART.....all the good things you can say about a person. Craig had it all! What made him turn? I know Jon tried to help, but I personally had no idea it was this bad.

01/22/09 11:18 AM	#1011
Kris Giroux I hate to hear this about Craig, and we will be praying for him and his family. I am glad to hear my old friend Poo is doing so well though.

01/22/09 11:20 AM

#1012

Chris Stephens

Donna, we have a lot more in common than you may think. Seems we have traveled the same road. Let me tell you, there is no better HIGH than being HIGH on life. Life is way more important than having a GOOD HIGH! If we all learn anything from Craig, it should be LIFE! I am not trying to preach to you, because I know how you feel about people trying to throw the LORD on you....I felt the same way. Call Jon, that's one thing he will not do. Jon is our friend and if you want to know more about the LORD.....Jon is the man, but if you just need to talk to a GREAT HUMAN....call Jon! We all remember Jon in school, he is still the same funny guy, but the LORD has found him. Donna we love you (always have), deep down you know what is right.....try it! Find a support group to help if you need too! I DID! Never ever think that people will think less of you for finding the LORD, your life is the most important thing. There is a huge difference between drinking and drinking to get drunk!

01/22/09 11:31 AM

#1013

Chris Stephens

Thanks Kris. Still the same crazy POO, just don't do anything real crazy! I can laugh and carry on with a COKE instead of a drink or drugs! I would rather have some good ol' sweet tea, the sugar gets me going! LOL!!

Wasn't a good life for my daughter to see. When your oldest daughter comes to you and tells you she knows you smoke the STICKY ICKY.....kind of touches your HEART! My question was, HOW DO YOU KNOW? Well she is 15, and when she tells you she knows what it smells like. MAKES YOU THINK!! My daughters are 15 and 5....and they just stepped in the CHURCH for the first time in thier lives about 3 months ago......SAD isn't it! What a GREAT father I was being! SELFISH was what I was being. I was thinking about nothing other than myself. I will have to tell you the whole story some time!! Being kick out of the house I pay for and moving back in with Mom and Dad. And then having to listen to my Mom lecture me everyday AGAIN!! Liz is BRUTAL!! Barry just sat there and laughed at me....because Liz was lecturing me and not him! LOVE YA MOM!!

01/22/09 11:38 AM	#1014
Chris Stephens Amen Donna. He is in GREAT HANDS now. We can only hope that we all get to see his smiling face again! RIP CRAIG, we love you!!

01/22/09 11:47 AM

#1015

Dave Brummel

As I am still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing, I'm going to keep this brief. Craig to me was like chicken noodle soup. He gave you a warm feeling when you were around him but there's nothing you can do to chicken noodle soup. It's just chicken noodle soup. As such, Craig was just Craig. No matter who loved him, he just wasn't getting bigger inside. I guess now, he'll get to see just how many people loved him and that will make him happy.

I will be attending the viewing tomorrow and the funeral on Saturday. I'll also update this site once I have concrete information. Thank you to Donna, Patrick and Michele for updating me yesterday.

Thank you to everybody for your prayers and thoughts.

-Dave

01/22/09 12:15 PM

#1016

Erica Martin

Chris Thanks for sharing!!! Reading your testimony has been the only bright spot in last two days, and Jon keep up the good work. You and your ministry are in my prayers. Donna, just remember the church doesn't matter it having the LORD that matters. He is what makes the change and grants us peace. I want all of you to know if you ever need anything . . . please feel free to call me anytime. We shared something so special growing up. I truly believe we have been bound together for a reason. I love you all, and will miss Craig dearly. I hadn't spoken to him in a long time, but I think of him often. His sweet mannerism, sense of humor, and brilliance will sorely be missed!!!!

01/22/09 01:12 PM

#1017

Michelle Amos

Hello everyone, I just heard about Craig.He will be missed.I am so thankful, We got the chance to see him at the class reunion in September. He always seemed to be Happy, when I would see him. Chris, I am so proud to hear you have given your life to the Lord. That is the most important thing in this walk of life.I have had pastors over the years say in their sermons When, you find the Lord you don't stop drinking, you just drink from a different fountain.It's a well of living water springing up into everlasting life.I will say Living for the Lord over the years has not been easy (He doesn't promise easy)One thing, that I do know is the emptiness, that I used to feel is gone.And, that is something only the Lord can do.I am so proud of you Chris. I love you all so much.And, you all are always in my prayers.
God Bless you all,
Michelle.

01/22/09 01:35 PM	#1018
Donna Moore (Whiting) CRAIG INFO: Visitation tomorrow 4-8, Funeral Sat 2:00 Flannigans

01/22/09 03:27 PM	#1019
Laura Simpson (Kell) Donna, We are all unworthy. That is what makes God's love so amazing. He doesn't care about the past. He cares about you and me and everyone else. He only wants us to come to Him. If(when)we stray He only wants us back.

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