~ Interment ~ ~ Repast ~ Acknowledgement from the Family

Acknowledgement from the Family
We would like to extend a special thank you to everyone that sent cards and
letters, wrote poems and made speeches at the candlelight vigil, and those that
called and posted messages of condolences. We have been overwhelmed by the
outpouring of love support and are deeply touched by your thoughtfulness.
Please continue to pray for us.
Love,
The Family of LaVell Southern
~ Interment ~
Immediately following services
Homewood Memory Gardens,
Homewood, IL
~ Repast ~
Immediately following Interment
Grace Apostolic Faith Church
Noble Funeral Home, Inc.
8158 South Exchange Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60617 | 773.731.8797
www.noblefuneralhome.com
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Organ Prelude
Processional
Family and Clergy
Master of Ceremony
Elder DeAndre Patterson
Senior Pastor, Destiny Worship Center, Chicago, IL
Prayer
Suffragan Bishop Winston Thompson
Scripture
Isaiah 53:6-12, Sis. Michelle Harris
John 15:13, Bro. Josh Hampton
Remarks — Guest Ministers
Bishop Charles Davis, Bishop William A. Ellis,
Bishop Larry D. Trotter, Bishop Willie James Campbell
Mass Choir
I Love The Lord (Whitney Houston)
Remarks
Principal Danielle Splicer
Caldwell Academy for Math and Science
LaVell’s 8th grade teacher
Father Tony Mazurkiewicz, President Mt. Carmel High School
Remarks GAFC Ministries
Seniors (Mother Tonisteen Williams), Parking (Min. Elvis Terry),
Hospitality/Greeters (Sis. Katina Dean), Asst. Pastor (Min. Dorian Hampton)
Deacons and Trustees (Dea. Mark Harrell), Singles (Sis. Shatiana Gardner)
Mass Choir
I’ll Fly Away (Hezekiah Walker)
Remarks GAFC Ministries
Outreach (Sis. Kimberly Holeman), Security (Dea. John Creggett),
Women’s Dept. (Sis. LaKeisha Stone), Youth Dept. (Sis. Conchetta Cross),
Missionary Dept. (Sis. Shirley Creggett), Ministers (Evan. Catherine Hobson)
Acknowledgements
Evangelist Chrystal Trice
Remarks
Select Friends
Mass Choir
Remarks GAFC Ministries
My Life Is In Your Hands (Kirk Franklin)
Baptismal (Sis. Lynn Benton), Music Dept. (Sis Delores Terry),
Sunday School (Sis. Franchell Harrell), Ushers (Sis. Patricia Jenkins),
Nurses (Sis. Nicole Johnson), Finance (Sis. Cynthia Langston),
Ministers and Deacons Wives (Evan. Regina Hampton)
Obituary
Sis. Tracy Powe
Expressions of Love
Family of LaVell Southern
Mass Choir
Eulogy
God Will Take Care of You
Pastor Cordelia Wallace
Sr. Associate Pastor and First Lady, Agape Cathedral, Brooklyn, NY
Final Viewing
Processional
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L
aVell Carron Southern
was born on December 7, 1991 to the proud
parents of Maurice and Rhonda Southern. He was the second of three children. LaVell
graduated elementary school in 2006 from Charles P. Caldwell Academy of Math & Science and
graduated in 2010 from Mount Carmel High School - both schools are located in Chicago. He
received an athletic scholarship from Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin where he played
football. LaVell went on to attend Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. He later received another
athletic scholarship from Indiana Dabney University in Hammond, Indiana where he played basketball. He
has always been athletic and continued to work out in the gym on a regular basis.
LaVell was currently working as a security guard at the BlueCross BlueShield building. He recently acquired a
second job delivering groceries because he wanted to earn additional money to get his own apartment.
All of his life, LaVell attended the Grace Apostolic Faith Church where he was baptized in Jesus’ name and
filled with the Holy Ghost under the leadership of his grandfather, the late Suffragan Bishop Cornelius
Southern. When his father became the Pastor, LaVell was a big part of that ministry and continued to work
by his father’s side, assisting with finances and security and working within the men’s organization. He began
to cultivate his own ministry of mentoring the youth. He was able to take his experiences in academics and
athletics and couple that with his street credibility to guide, advise, and support children – from infants to
young adults. It was not uncommon to see LaVell at a children’s festival with his nephews and god children
in tow, to look up in the football stands and see him cheering for his god brothers or in the basketball stands
rooting for his god sisters, or to bring a tween to the gym with him for an unexpected work out, or to just
grab a kid and start a random wrestling match. He loved to interact with the kids and supported them in any
way he could and was careful to present himself as a good role model for them.
Several family members preceded LaVell in death: his paternal grandparents,
Suffragan Bishop Cornelius Southern and Evangelist Gussie Southern; his maternal grandfather,
Clarence Millington; three uncles, Glenn Millington, Charles Southern, and Earl Triplett; and a god brother,
Calvin ‘Jack’ Cross.
LaVell leaves to cherish his memory the following: his father and mother,
District Elder Maurice and First Lady Rhonda Southern; one brother, Cornelius Southern; two sisters,
Elisha Southern and Paula Easter; two nephews Malik and Maurice Southern; one grandmother,
Dawn Millington; two god-children, La’Nyah Stepheny–Brenston and Kamia Dakota Herring; five uncles,
Cornelius Suttern, Larry Southern, Trevor (Maureen) Millington, Dereck Millington and Ronald (Lisa) Kimble;
eight aunts, Betty Triplett, Veronica Southern, Beverly (Larry) Green, Nakita Southern,
Dr. Belinda (Kerith) Millington, Kim (Jeffrey) Millington, Portland Southern and Tracy (Jerry) Powe; a god
mother, Colie (Felix) Gills; god-brothers, Jerry, Jalen, and Jarrett Powe and DeMario Easter; god-sisters,
Trenise Powe and Alexis Easter; special brothers and sisters, Orville (Nyeisha) Cross, Arkeem Williams,
Corey (Katie) Harmon, Richard Harmon, Robin Easter, Amethyst Shane and Dyeasha Deish; a special friend
Nia Crawford; close friends, Kevon Herring, Leonard Brenston, Alim Muhammad and Angelo Self; and a host
of other uncles, aunts, cousins, special brothers and sisters, other relatives and friends, both the
Charles P. Caldwell Academy of Math & Science and the Mt. Carmel High School families and the entire
Grace Apostolic Faith Church family.
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Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends
This is how LaVell lived his life, even until the very end.
He made sure everyone was taken care of before he took care of himself
And when all was settled he’d partake of whatever was left.
With a handsomely chiseled face and a radiant smile
Mild manners, maintained physique and fashion forward sense of style.
A role model, a mentor, one on whom you could depend
An obedient son, a loyal brother, a Christian man and a trusted friend.
An ideal role model because he patterned himself after Christ
Showing the same Christ-like attributes of love, patience, gentleness, and peace
Those were the qualities that LaVell displayed during his life.
We were blessed with his presence for just a short time
Nonetheless the impact LaVell made will live down the line
Of this generation and the next to come
Fulfilling the prophesy of ‘thy kingdom come’.
And although our hearts ache, we can still find joy
Because to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
Whereas we reminisce and remember him in all things
Our spirits are uplifted to know LaVell will be celebrating with the King.
Oh death where is thy sting, oh grave where is thy victory
A promise of a more glorious life for LaVell for you and for me.
He will swallow death up in victory and the Lord God will wipe away tears
Let’s remember God’s promise and thank him for LaVell’s 23 years.
We will always cherish and remember LaVell.
Love, Cornelius, Elisha, and Paula
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