Most people knew him as Bishop Lewis A. Jennings. They knew the pastor who preached with conviction, prayed without ceasing, and loved God's people with his whole heart. Many knew him as their shepherd, their mentor, or the person who helped carry them through life's hardest seasons.
To the world, he was Bishop Jennings.
To me, he was simply Daddy.
One of my favorite memories takes me back to when I was a little girl. Daddy was in the military, and staying in shape was just part of who he was. Sometimes he would take my sister, Dee Dee, and me outside to the parking lot. He'd give Dee Dee a two-parking-space head start, give me one parking space, and then he'd smile and say, "Ready... set... go!"
We would take off running as fast as our little legs could carry us. I'd look over and see Daddy fly past me, and then a second later, he'd pass Dee Dee too. No matter how hard we tried, we could never beat him. Back then, I was convinced my daddy was Superman. Looking back now, I still kind of believe it.
Another memory has stayed with me all these years. I was probably in the fourth grade when I slipped and fell down a few steps leading to our basement. I wasn't badly hurt at all. But the moment Daddy picked me up and held me, I cried harder than I ever had. Looking back, I realize I wasn't crying because I had fallen. I cried because I knew I was safe. There was something about being in my daddy's arms that made everything okay.
As a child, you don't realize you're collecting memories that one day will become treasures. You just assume your parents will always be there. Then one day, those ordinary moments become the memories you hold onto the tightest.
Today, when I think about my daddy, I don't think first about the sermons he preached or the titles he held, even though I'm incredibly proud of the man he was. I think about the little girl who believed her father could outrun anyone, fix any problem with a hug, and make the world feel safe.
If I could tell him one more thing, it would simply be, "Thank you for being my Daddy. Thank you for making me feel safe, loved, and seen. I miss you every day, and I hope you know that I am still trying to live a life that would make you smile."
Some heroes wear capes.
Mine wore combat boots, carried a Bible, and showed me what God's love looked like long before I understood the words.
Treceia Bazemore
Daughter of Bishop Lewis A. Jennings