Elijah Grisham Efferson

Elijah Grisham Efferson was born unexpectedly on November 10 at only twenty-three weeks gestation. From early in the pregnancy, there were challenges in his development. He was diagnosed with a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia at seventeen weeks. It was an uphill battle that would come with many risks. He was scheduled to be born in Houston with specialists ready to take care of him. All of that changed on November 10 as he was born early due to complications. From the moment of his birth, he was described as a fighter. He did better than the doctors expected him to do. This began his thirty-nine-day journey in the NICU. He had many more good days than bad. Ultimately, the complications from his hernia were too much for his little body and he passed away at 1:30pm on December 19.

A thirty-nine-day life seems like a life too short, but for such a short life, he has a great legacy. Elijah taught us what the Church should look like. As his daily updates were shared, prayer was lifted up across churches, states, countries, and denominations. Prayers were given on his behalf from Arkansas, California, Buenos Aris, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Spain, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Zambia, and many other places. People thousands of miles apart were in one voice praying to one God on behalf of Eli and the Efferson family. The impact he had on us through this short life is one that we pray does not get lost. He taught us what it looks like when the Church is one.

Elijah was preceded in death by his grandfather Randy Grisham. Left to remember his amazing thirty-nine days are his parents Steven and Jennifer Efferson, his siblings Lance, Riley, & Blake Efferson, his great-grandmothers Vaudine Grisham and Kathleen Swain, his grandparents Carroll & Evelyn Efferson and Marilyn Grisham, his aunt Chelsea Grisham, his aunt and uncle Rusty & Charmaine Efferson, and his aunt and uncle Scott & Leslie Marien.

The family would like to thank the many doctors and nurses at the Willis Knighton South NICU for their tireless efforts to give Eli the support he needed to have his best chance. We would also like to thank our church family at Woodridge Baptist Church for all the love, support, prayers, and food that they have so lovingly provided during this difficult time. We would also like to thank everyone else who has offered support from many other churches around our city. A memorial service will be held to celebrate his short, but impactful, life at 10:00am at the Woodridge Baptist Church worship center on January 6, 2024.

Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”

He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

2 Samuel 12:20–23

“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, may the name of the Lord be praised.”

Job 1:21