We’re gathered here to day to honor a great woman, a beloved mother, dedicated wife and unselfish caring friend to all. Wanda lived a humble life never wanting more than God had provided but always making the best of what she had. She always stretched every penny to make sure her children had everything they needed. She and her family lived a simple life but because of her, her children lived a rich life. She put her children’s need above her own, taking the smallest portions for the meals she prepared every day so her kids could have enough to eat. She would take the heel of the bread or the neck of the chicken so her kids and husband could have the best parts. Being a military wife, she followed her husband and his Air Force career from Amarillo, Texas throughout the southern states, to Lompoc, California then back to Bossier, where they finally put down roots and retired from military life. Or should I say her husband Jack retired. This is the time when Wanda started her own career at Bossier Medical Center, after she had raised her children and at a time the family needed a 2nd income. During those first 18 years of Jack’s Airforce career they lived in a trailer, moving it from state to state. On one of those moves they even pulled their trailer home behind their Lincoln station wagon from Louisiana to Florida. Wanda never complained or at least within in ear shot of her children, until it came to moving overseas. Each time Jack came home and told her he was being transferred overseas, to Germany, Korea, or Thailand, she would put her foot down and say she didn’t want to uproot the kids and take them to a foreign country where she thought it would not be safe. So, Jack would go alone and serve his one or two-year tour of duty overseas. This meant Wanda would become a single parent for those years. All told, about 5 of their military years were spent apart, on separate continents during which time she raised her four kids alone. She was a good parent, never sparing the rod or spoiling her children but along with strict discipline always providing love and guidance based on her faith and undying love of her Savior Jesus. She taught her kids straight from the bible to love God first, others second and themselves last. She taught them that no matter how bad a situation was or how bad they had screwed up, God was always there to help them through it. She would say, if you turn to Him, He will always fix it. She taught them to look for the good in everything and everybody no matter how much people would hurt you. She was great mother and has received her crown with many jewels for the enormous about of faith she had and the sacrifices she made for others. In the words Will Rogers, she “never met a person she didn’t like”. She had this ability to see right passed all of the negative and pain of a person and see right into their heart, where she took up residence to be their friend for life. She was unselfish and caring to a fault, but because of that unselfishness and unshakable faith she instilled in her children those same values and faith in the one and only true God. She followed in Jesus footsteps and lived a life that was all about forgiveness. Despite all of the pain and hurt people burdened her with she always forgave them. She held no grudges against anyone. Wanda strived to live her life more like Jesus each and every day. Anyone that had the pleasure of knowing her was touched by her love and her spirit. Although we will miss her dearly, we are truly thankful that she has been called to her heavenly home to be in the presence of GOD, the one true KING. This past Sunday, she was welcomed home into the loving arms of Jesus where she can now truly be happy and at peace forever and ever.
Wanda Ming is preceded in death by her:
Husband: Virgil Henry Jackson (Jack) Ming; Parents: Marie and Lee Hinson; Sister Bonnie and her husband Asa; and Grandchildren: Joshua and Angela Ming.
Wanda Ming is survived by her:
Four children: Kenneth Ming and wife Tu-Anh, Stuart Ming and wife Peggy, Linda Elgin and husband Jerry and Timothy Ming and his wife Pam.
Seven grandchildren: Taffney Ming; AnnMarie Elgin, Andrew Elgin and wife Chelsea, Austin Elgin; Rachel Sheppard and her husband Tim; Jimmy Ming and Jaime Ming along with a host of great grandchildren and a few great-great-grandchildren.
