Dr. William Jackson Fritts, ThD, will always be one of the top of God's Warriors in our lives, and in the lives of many, many others. Known to many of his church members simply as "Brother Jack", as he would always preferred to be called, he was the first pastor we were privileged to have when we came to this area of East Texas in 1985 when as Christian believers, Brenda and I along with our very young sons, joined Oakland Heights Baptist Church where Brother Jack was the senior pastor.
Under Brother Jack's tenure as our senior pastor at Oakland Heights Baptist Church, I was privileged to have served as his Director of Texas Baptist Men and one of his deacons when we had our monthly prayer breakfasts in the "Family Life Center" and in our service projects to the community. It was also under his leadership that he had me begin serving as Coordinator of Church Safety and Security due to my regular occupation with Public Safety and teaching in that same field of service.
I was truly blessed to witness how Brother Jack touched many lives and led many to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Among those were our two sons, Jack Lanier, III and his brother Brent Andrew Lanier, both whom he also baptized as pre-teenagers.
Brother Jack was my, and my family's pastor, a faithful mentor, and a dear friend, his memory will always be in our hearts, and we will will rejoice in having fellowship with him again in the direct presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To Faye and their children whom we also are blessed to know, we are praying for you today and for the days, weeks, and months ahead. May the Lord richly bless, provide for, and comfort you.
In His Name,
Jack H. Lanier, Jr. and Family
