“Mama Wan” as she was known to many, as sheradiated the love of God with her every glance and smile. She epitomize the gift of hospitality, opening her home to anyone in need, and especially for times of prayer and ministry.

She became my “spiritual mom” in 1990 when I stumbled into her bookstore in Annandale. She then invited me to her church which began a lifelong association for us. I was a baby Christian at age 41, and once a month I would go to the bookstore and say here’s $100 tell me what to buy. I needed a course in Christianity 101,  and she would send me home with my next reading and study assignment.

She encouraged my growth in righteous living, as I slowly shed away the years of drug sex rock ‘n’ roll. She always encouraged the godly path without belittling one for having previously taken the worldly path.

When I felt God calling me to make arrangements to take care of my mom who had had a stroke, Van encouraged me to take the job in Louisville so that I could be closer to my mom… so in 2011 we began a long distance phone relationship.  And I was very fortunate to bring my birth mom to meet my spiritual mom in 2015! I was delighted that they enjoyed each other, because each had contributed to my growth in entirely different but extremely significant ways!

Anything about me that is godly or wise is founded on Vans teachings and council. It’s almost as issues raised three or four families… The birth families that she’s raised, the bookstore, family, her new harvest, family… And then the phone family.

Just as my birth mother, Dewey, will always be Mommy, Van will be my spiritual Mom wherever she is in God’s universe! And I look forward to being with her in eternity!