Just a month before she passed on December 7, 2025, my 92-year-old grandmother, Ms. Thelma Vickery, gave me her testimony on a leaflet she had printed and handed out over the years. If you encountered her anywhere and you asked her how she was, she would confidently state, “I am blessed and highly favored of the Lord, and so are you…” In the local grocery store, she was known as “the blessed lady.” The last thing she said to me when I saw her last was, “Have a blessed forever!”
The following witness is from her leaflet in her own words:
Born a coal miner’s daughter in the hills of Kentucky, one of eight children, we had many chores to do before and after school. At daybreak, Daddy left for work, Mama milked the cow, and we kids drew the wash water from the well so Mama could wash the clothes, which was done by hand on our old scrub board. There wasn’t much time to go to church, so Mama would teach us the Bible at home.
Grandpa was a preacher and would come to Kentucky from Indiana to preach on the street corners. I thought he was crazy when he would start praising the Lord. He sure could get loud! Everyone, though, seemed so happy! Then he would be off to another town to preach. When I was eleven years old, I went to church in town and gave my heart to Jesus.
Mining in Kentucky wasn’t doing too well at the time, so my parents moved to the big city of Cincinnati, where Daddy worked on the railroad, and Mama worked in a war factory. After five years of that, it was back to Kentucky.
At 23, I had a failed marriage, but three lovely children that I thank God for. I really had gotten into sin, and did not think God would 
ever forgive me. Divorce back then was a disgrace; it was even considered an unforgivable sin and frowned on by most. Therefore, the divorcee was alienated from society in many ways.
I had started smoking and really felt big! I went to a revival in Cincinnati, and God really dealt with me during the altar call. I did not give my heart to God at that time, even though my heart was beating so fast that it felt like it would beat right out of me.
Two years later, I was visiting my grandparents in Indiana. I spent one night with my aunt and uncle. They had gone to bed, and I was playing their old records. As the song, “Pass Me Not,” played, I started to weep. The thought came, “What if Jesus came and took everyone and left me behind?”
My aunt heard me crying and came into the living room and said, “Honey, the Lord wants to save you right now.” I cried harder and said, “He won’t save me; I have been too mean.” “Yes, He will,” she said, “He loves you.”
Right there in the living room, I gave my heart to Jesus Christ. Wherever you are, as you read this leaflet, you can invite Jesus to come into your life; it does not have to be in a church building.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:5-6
“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:15-18
God’s plan of salvation is the only plan in the whole earth that promises one a completely new beginning. The past sins can be blotted out completely, and a new life can begin, what the Scriptures call the born-again experience.
Proclaim Jesus as Lord:
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:9-13
“There is no other Name given among men whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
THAT NAME IS JESUS.
“You shall call His Name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” Matthew 2:21
-Thelma Vickery
Grandma Thelma
