She’s dressed to the nines for Jesus!
An 82-year-old Oklahoma woman has dressed up every Sunday for 52 weeks to attend virtual church service, The Daily Mail reports.
Dr. Laverne Wimberly is a retired teacher, principal, school administrator, and avid churchgoer. When the pandemic hit her home church, Metropolitan Baptist Church, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, began holding virtual services online like many others across the nation. It was then that Wimberly decided she was going to stick to her routine.
“I just decided at that point I’m just going to get dressed as if I was going to church, so I would not get into the habit of just slouching around,” Wimberly told reporters.
Photo Courtesy of KTUL/Dr. Laverne Wimberly
Since then, she has not missed a service, or an opportunity to dress head to toe in her Sunday’s best. She’s even kept track of her outfits in a journal so she can make sure she doesn’t repeat any of them. Every Sunday, Wimberly gets dressed with her hat, accessories, and sometimes even a face mask included, and gets ready for virtual church service. She posts pictures of her ensembles to her Facebook page, complete with a word of encouragement.
Photo Courtesy of KTUL/Dr. Laverne Wimberly
“I wanted not only to keep myself motivated, but I wanted to help keep others motivated as well, to inspire them, encourage them, and kind of eradicate some types and forms of depression, isolation, fear, and despair,” Wimberly said.
Photo Courtesy of KTUL/Dr. Laverne Wimberly
Many have loved her weekly uploads, including the Minister of Worship at Metropolitan Baptist, Merton Huff.
“I don’t think she has missed a Sunday of just devotionals, encouragement. It’s like she gives you a sermon before service even starts. It gives you something to focus on. And, you know, of course, the dressing up, it made my kids get dressed,” Huff said.
Photo Courtesy of KTUL/Dr. Laverne Wimberly
Churches across the country are starting to reopen, but Wimberly says she will give it a while before she returns in person. For now, she’ll be right at home, styling, and profiling on Facebook.
Photo Courtesy of KTUL/Dr. Laverne Wimberly
“As soon as the health officials and the scientists give us the green light that everything will be safe, I’ll probably be the first one in the door,” Wimberly said.
Photo Courtesy of KTUL/Dr. Laverne Wimberly
Thank you for being a light, Dr. Wimberly!
Photo Courtesy of KTUL/Dr. Laverne Wimberly