Rev. Bobbie Joyce Lively

Over the years, I’ve been known by many names. Those mentioned are just a few. But in all my 85 years on this earth, my life has truly been defined by one turning point: the moment I met Jesus. There’s the life I lived before Jesus—and the life I’ve lived ever since.

Before I found Jesus, I ran with the wrong crowd—and not just any crowd, but truly the worst of the worst. I worked in places many would be afraid to enter. During that time, I endured abuse, struggled with prescription drug addiction, dropped out of school, and chased what I thought was a "good time."

Yet even in those dark days, God gave me two of my greatest blessings—my children, Richie and Joy. They were the light in my life long before I ever knew what true Light was.

When I finally opened my heart to Jesus, everything changed. The addiction was broken. I felt a strong pull to complete my education and went on to earn my GED. From there, God began to reveal talents in me I didn’t even know I had—gifts He would use in His church to meet needs and fill voids.

Not long after, God brought a kindred spirit into my life—Joyce Trimble. We were both on fire for the Lord and became inseparable in our pursuit of His presence. We were always the last to leave the altar, and we never missed a brush arbor meeting, tent revival, or church service if we could help it. We even printed our testimonies and took them to the roughest streets of Little Rock and North Little Rock, witnessing to those who, like us, were once lost and broken.

One day, my dear friend Sister Trimble and I were invited to be present as her sister, Joann Meredith, gave birth to her first child at home. The midwife attending the delivery was Sister Richie. As the labor progressed, serious complications arose—both mother and baby were in grave danger.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the midwife reached out to a man she knew as a true servant of God—Rev. John Scheel from Beebe, Arkansas. He arrived quickly to pray over them. The baby was stillborn. But when Brother Scheel prayed over that lifeless infant, the miraculous happened—the child came back to life! And both mother and child recovered without a trace of harm.

That miraculous moment stirred something deep in both Sister Trimble and me. We wanted to know more about this man of God and the faith he represented. We soon attended a service in Beebe, where we were introduced to the blessed Apostolic way of life. It was there that everything changed for me. I came to understand, through the Word of God, the necessity of being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of my sins.

From that point on, I experienced an anointing like I had never known—one I didn’t even realize was possible. God began to use me in ways I had never imagined. He opened doors for me to travel across many states, preaching, teaching, and praising Jesus for the joy of my salvation.

My heart has always been in children’s ministry, but over the years, God has expanded my calling in ways I never imagined. He has allowed me to help many adults who were illiterate learn to read and write—and even, in some cases, to play the piano under my guidance.

I've had the privilege of teaching young ministers, starting church works, serving in Christian schools, and ministering in both jail and nursing home settings.

For many years, I hosted a worldwide shortwave radio broadcast called Walking Through the Land of Promise. Later, with my daughter Joy’s inspiration, I co-hosted a blog talk radio show alongside both of my children. What a blessing it was to share God’s Word as a family!

God also opened the door for me to work within the court system as a Christian counselor. One of the most meaningful initiatives I led was “The Clubhouse”—a safe and welcoming space for local children. There, they were fed, counseled, and most importantly, introduced to the love of Jesus.

As a missionary, I was blessed to travel to the Arctic on three separate trips with Evangelist Linda Kyzar. During our time there, God enabled us to learn the native Inuit language, allowing us to more deeply connect with the people we were called to serve.

I’ve been blessed to write more than 60 original songs, produce two gospel albums, and release five gospel CDs. For many of the roles I’ve taken on throughout my life, specific skills were required—and I sought to honor those responsibilities by completing the necessary training and earning certifications. When formal degrees were needed, God enabled me to pursue and obtain them as well.

Whenever I saw a need, my prayer was simple: “Jesus, use me.” I didn’t just ask God to open the door—I applied myself with the skills He had given me, doing my best to be a vessel of help and hope to those around me.

In my 70s, when I felt I could no longer serve with the same physical energy as before, God opened an unexpected new door—Gospel rap. It was unconventional, especially for someone my age, but I felt a clear calling. At the same time, God cautioned me: this could become one of my greatest tests. With the success of the Gospel rap CD came attention, opportunities for money, and invitations to popular TV and radio platforms. But the Lord kept bringing to my mind the warning from Scripture about the error of Balaam, reminding me to stay humble and focused on Him.

For over two years, the Gospel rap CD became something of a novelty. Some people embraced it, others laughed at it, and a few questioned my intentions—wondering if it was self-promotion. But even on a fixed income, I continued to purchase CDs and hand them out for free, using them as a tool to share the Gospel with people who might never step inside a church.

Then, something astonishing happened. One day, I handed a CD to a young man at a local service station. The track “What Does the Word Say?” went viral on the internet—within a single day. Suddenly, I was flooded with offers to appear on major radio and TV shows. But I remembered God’s warning and turned down every opportunity.

Because it was never about me. It was always about planting the good seed—the eternal Word of God—in the hearts of those who needed it most.

Rev. Bobbie Joyce Lively passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on Monday, May 26, 2025, in Brandon, MS. She was 85 years old. The family will receive friends and extended family for visitation from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 30, 2025, and again on Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at Jesus Name Tabernacle in Florence, MS. The funeral service will follow Saturday’s visitation at 12:00 p.m. Burial will be held at the Garden of Memories following the funeral service.

Pallbearers are Jared Haney, Bill Mullinax, Jr., James D. Mulliamax, Jonathan D. Borazjani, Jordan Wayt, and Willam Powell aka “Little Bill”.

A part of my heart has always belonged to fundraising for my church, Jesus Name Tabernacle in Florence, Mississippi. Over the years, I’ve been honored to be known as one of the church’s most dedicated fundraisers, consistently leading successful efforts to support a variety of projects whenever a need arose.

Upon my passing, in lieu of flowers, I kindly ask those who are able consider making a donation to the Jesus Name Tabernacle Building Fund. Your contributions will support my church’s vision of building a new Family Life Center to serve the community and, in time, a new sanctuary where the entire congregation can gather together in worship.

If you wish to honor my memory, I invite you to follow the example set by my son and his wife by making a monthly pledge. Your ongoing support would mean so much. In lieu of flowers, the family requests for donations to be made by visiting the following link:

https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=8987500b-4fb3-47bb-a5f4-88d10d656cca