July 2007 - Southern Adventist University

South Atlantic NewsSouth Atlantic Remembers a Gospel SoldierPastor Gary JamesJouett was born October1, 1952, in Covington, Ky.,the tenth of 11 children.He was baptized into theAdventist faith at the age of19 at Ethan Temple churchby Walter Pearson, Jr., inDayton, Oh. He sensed thecall of God to enter theministry at an early age.He graduated fromJefferson High School inDayton, Oh., in 1972, andthen attended OakwoodCollege in Huntsville, Ala.,to pursue a bachelor’s degreein theology.While attending Oakwood,he left for two yearsto work for the ChristianRecord Braille Foundation.He then returned to Oakwoodin 1982 to completehis studies.In 1984, he joined theSouth Atlantic Conferenceteam as an assistant pastorat West Broad church inPictured are Kathy Cox (left), GeorgiaState superintendent of schools; FranchisCook, school counselor; and WilliamBradley Bryant, Georgia State boardmember from the fourth congressionaldistrictSavannah, Ga., from 1984-1986. From there, he servedas the assistant pastor atBerean church in Atlanta,Ga., from 1986-1989. Itwas a joy for him to serveat Berean with WalterPearson, the senior pastorwho baptized him. Afterhe was ordained into theGospel ministry in 1988, hepastored Bethel church inClinton, N.C., and Bereanchurch in Lillington, N.C.,from 1989-1994. He wenton to pastor Mt. Hebronchurch in Wilson, N.C.; theSmithfield, N.C., church;Gethsemane church inRaleigh, N.C.; and Shilohchurch in Charleston, S.C.In 2003, he became thepastor of Ebenezer churchin Augusta, Ga., where heserved until the time of hisdeath.Pastor Jouett possessedso many admirable qualitiesand traits. He was sucha friendly, congenial, andhappy person. He lovedhis wife, Vanessa, and theirthree children, beyond theability to express verbally.After returning from arecent trip to Paris, France,he said the most beautifulsight he saw there was hiswife. He was very proudof his children and theiraccomplishments. He andDecatur Member ReceivesNational Leadership AwardThe DeKalbCounty’s Guidanceand CounselingDepartmentrecognized FranchisCook as a masterschool counselorduring the firstcounty, state, andsouthern regionMaster CounselorInduction Program.Cook has beenemployed withDeKalb CountySchools since August,1999, and has workedthe last four years at SnapfingerElementary School.Snapfinger is one of 15schools in the nation, andthe first in the state of Georgia,to achieve a recognizednational model programsince the program’s inceptionin 2004. This modelensures all students attendingSnapfinger are beingserved by a comprehensive,data-driven school counselingprogram, which showshow students are differenthis wife taught them thatthe power of education wasimmeasurable, and it was alesson they took to heart.Their oldest daughter,Adoraeu, recently completedlaw school; Brandi, themiddle daughter, graduatedfrom medical school in May;and their son, Gary, II, isa professor in the businessdepartment at OakwoodCollege.The South AtlanticConference and the Augustachurch family mourn thelost of this vibrant, energeticpastor, and his infectioussmile. His untimely deathon May 16, 2007, at theage of 54, is a reminder forthose who loved him andwho knew of his passionfor God’s people, to fullyembrace the message of1888, of Righteousness byFaith.—BY JAMES K. LAMBas a result of what schoolcounselors do.Cook has been a memberof the Decatur, Ga.,church since 1986. In herquest for continued professionaldevelopment, she hasbecome a national certifiedcounselor, a nationally certifiedschool counselor, anda licensed professional counselor.She not only worksin the public sector, but alsooperates a private practiceas well.—BY JAMES K. LAMB18 T IDINGS • J u l y 2 0 0 7