Ministry is serious business, but taking yourself too seriously is a fast track to burnout and division. In the high-stakes environment of church leadership—where opinions run deep, emotions flare, and expectations are sky-high—a well-timed sense of humor is one of…
Author: Free Press
Our City, Our Community
By Marie Brown August is upon us, and those of us who are football fans can start planning for all the fall games, including high school, college,, and professional. There is absolutely nothing like sitting in the stands on Friday…
Tuskegee got it right, being sloppy is not Black culture
Black culture and ethnic pride cannot be used as an excuse for sloppy dress, absenteeism, and poor performance. So, we agree with Tuskegee for being among of the first HBCUs to raise the standard for its students. For decades, Historically…
Women Unite in Fellowship
On Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 8:30 a.m., King Jesus Worship Center hosted the Women United Fellowship Program. The speaker was Co-Pastor First Lady Rose Grant. The theme was “What’s Your Purpose?” There were 64 guests in attendance. The event…
Thousands attended Watermelon Festival in Farmerville
Thousands filled the Union Parish Courthouse Square this weekend for the 63rd Annual Louisiana Watermelon Festival, celebrating North Louisiana’s cherished summer tradition. Organized by the Farmerville Jaycees, the two-day event kicked off Saturday with hundreds tackling “Watermelon Mountain” in the…
Death Notices for the week of July 27th
Erica S. Hicks, 43, transitioned from this earthly home on July 20, 2026. Funeral services will be at 11 am on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Refuge Healing Church, 506 South 6th Street, Monroe, Louisiana. Burial will immediately follow at…
Two-year-old dies, is an organ donor. Services set
LunaEve Nicole Thurston died on July 18, 2026, at the tender age of 2. She was born on November 14, 2023. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 pm, Friday, July 31, 2026 at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in West Monroe.…