Irvis Everette

Irvis Dale Everette was born Sunday, June 24, 1945, to Winfred and Dina Mae Everette in Leakesville, Mississippi. He received the Holy Ghost on Saturday, September 5, 1964, at First United Pentecostal Church of Leakesville. The church was pastored by Robert Crocker who would later become his father-in-law. He had made his most recent trip to the altar on Monday Night after Easter Sunday in 1964, then being baptized in Jesus Name. Thankfully, God filled him with His Spirit around Labor Day that year. At the age of 19, he became the fourth man in the church.

Irvis and Sharon Crocker, the pastor’s daughter, started dating on a regular basis and upon him receiving the Holy Ghost, he began doing all he could to help with the upkeep of the church property. It was not long until Pastor Crocker asked him to teach one of the younger classes in Sunday School. He was teaching the Junior Class of Sunday School when Uncle Sam decided he wanted him in the United States Army.

After being inducted into the Army in Jackson, Mississippi, on October 5, 1965, he was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia for basic training. While undergoing basic training, at Irvis’s request, the Secretary of the Army, the Honorable Stanley R. Resor, reclassified him to a noncombatant soldier. Upon completion of basic training, he received orders to report to the Medical Training Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

During his leave time between stations, Irvis proposed marriage to the love of his life. He asked Sharon on Saturday Night, got a yes, asked her parents on Sunday Night, and after a lecture from his Pastor, his Father-in-law to be, he got another yes. Irvis and Sharon were married the following Friday evening in her parents’ living room.
After completing medical training, Irvis received orders to the First Infantry Division in Vietnam. So much for the noncombatant classification. He served his unit without carrying a weapon. He stayed on missions for ten of the twelve months served in Vietnam. He received his Honorable Discharge on October 5, 1971. Irvis stated, “I have no regrets of serving in the military for my country for I’m Proud to be an American.”
When he returned home from the military, he became known as Bro. Everette. He started teaching the Youth Class at Church and was asked to be the Youth Director. Bro. Everette stated, “I appreciate these two positions because they caused me to study hard and be ready for the Inquisitive Youth.”
When he began to feel that God may be trying to take him in the direction of ministry, he was afraid. Pastor Crocker told him to pray and keep the door open, and if God wanted him in ministry, He would let him know. He preached his first sermon in September 1973. From that point, he assisted his father-in-law for three years, the church elected him Associate Pastor for a term of three years and then elected him Co-Pastor where he served for five years, until his father-in-law went to be with the Lord in June of 1984. He has served the church as Pastor for over 35 years.

During his tenure, he stated, “We have experienced great times, and of course, valleys. At one time, the church had three Nursing Home services each weekend. The church experienced great revivals, remodeled the sanctuary three times, added a drive through with covered walkway, paved parking lot, added foyer, rest rooms, and office. A few years ago, we remodeled the sanctuary, expanded the fellowship hall, and remodeled the restrooms connected to the fellowship hall. We also have an active jail ministry in place now.”

Bro. Everette considers it a privilege to have served Section Eight and the Mississippi District as: Sectional Youth Director, Sunday School Director, Secretary, Presbyter, representing Section Eight on the District Board, Campground Committee, Committee Chairman, and as Campground Director for 18 years. He also serves as Chaplain to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.

The Everettes have enjoyed over 50 years together and look forward to many more great years together. Bro. Everette stated, “God has been good to me, my wife, and family. I owe my all to Him, and I want to work for Him until He comes.”