One rainy summer day, on the south side of Chicago; a very attractive young woman was waiting for a CTA bus on her commute to work. When suddenly a car rolled up. The driver politely beeped the horn to get her attention! She waves him off, but he is persistent. He lets down the passenger window and asks her to get in! She proves to be equally as stubborn until the driver points to a sticker in the corner window of the car. They both worked for the same company but in separate departments! She finally concedes and gets in the car! He attempts to make small talk while dropping her off! The next week, the Chicago Transit Authority announced a strike! The young man offered door to door service for the young woman! She politely declined! He reminded her that all buses services were suspended until further notice! So, she agreed to let him drop her off at her mother’s house! For all intents and purposes, the woman seems unmoved by the young man’s advances! In her mind, he is just above teenage years. Her plan is to introduce him to her younger sister! But, the young man noticed her long before that rainy day at the bus stop! She tells her Co-workers that he’s just a little boy! When, her friend Inez says, “Lenora I want to meet him”; “ask him to drive me home” On the drive, all 3 sat in the front seat. As he drove, Inez looked past Lenora over to the young man! As she looks at him, she comes to a different conclusion. That evening Lenora & Inez spoke over the phone. Inez enlightens her young friend with the reality that the young man is fully grown! One day while running late to work and in his haste to dropped her off at her department door, he had a run in with one of her coworkers. “Lenora, that little boy almost hit me in the parking lot”! Lenora’s response, “His name is Lenell, don’t call him little boy”! It was clear to everyone that Lenora’s feelings had changed! By his own admission, Lenell knew that she was the one for him a little before Lenora.

Lenell was ordained a Deacon under the late Pastor Henry Johnson. Years later, he would be ordained as a minister under Pastor Johnson. In 1985, Lenell accepted his calling to Pastor. Several years later, Lenora was called to the ministry. Today, the two co-Pastor the Eureka Missionary Church. Together, they have raised 5 children! With 18 grandchildren & 10 great-grandchildren; Lenell & Lenora continue to service their fellowman through ministry and the years of love they’ve shared!