Verneda Jordan

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Verneda Lorene Jordan, 92, of Marble Hill passed away Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Aug. 27, 1924, in Zalma, Missouri, daughter of William Enos and Mammie Brown Crites.

She and the Rev. Paul Milford Jordan were united in marriage Sept. 19, 1946, and he passed away Oct. 9, 2001.

Verneda was a devoted and strong prayer warrior for the Lord and instilled those values in her children and many grandchildren.

She would read a story from the Bible and pray with her children every night. She gave her life over to the Lord at the young age of 18 at a service at Tower Grove Baptist Church and never looked back. She was a faithful member of the Locust Grove General Baptist Church.

She felt blessed by God to have so many men in the family accept the call to preach, and one of her greatest joys came from hearing their sermons and to hear her children and their families sing to her.

Verneda also felt blessed to have lived to see five generations as part of her legacy.

At the age of 3 years, she lost her mother, and when she was married, she prayed this prayer: "Lord, never let me orphan a child."

She was blessed beyond measure, and all nine of her children are still alive to this day.

Growing up, she worked many odd jobs, and at the age of 18, she worked making missile heads for a defense steel factory during World War II.

She enjoyed working in her garden, especially with her flower beds. She loved to fish, sew, color, study the Bible and witness for the Lord Jesus. Her heart's deepest desire was that all her family come to accept Christ and to know the salvation of the Lord.

Survivors include sons, Lloyd (Brenda) Jordan of St. Joseph, Missouri, Paul "Homer" (Kathy) Jordan, the Rev. Phillip (Barbara) Jordan, the Rev. David (Jeannie) Jordan, the Rev. Aron (the Rev. Kathy) Jordan and Steve (Darlene) Jordan, all of Marble Hill, and Sheriff John (Kathy) Jordan of Jackson; daughters, Joyce (Glenn) Weakley of Marble Hill and Deborah (David) Lichtenegger of Frohna, Missouri; brothers, John (Velma) Crites of Cape Girardeau, Samuel "Albert" (Patricia) Crites of O'Fallon, Missouri, and Henry (Marie) Crites of Sutherland, Virginia; brother-in-law, Josh Davenport of Jonesburg, Missouri; sister-in-law, Lily Jordan of Jackson; 20 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, the Rev. Paul M. Jordan; parents; brothers Herman, Herbert and Homer Crites; sisters, Ocie and Ollie Crites; and stepmother, Ethel Umfleet Crites.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Liley Funeral Home in Marble Hill.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jerry Sander officiating.

Interment will be in Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery near Marble Hill.