P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }

Aug. 5, 1925 – Dec. 31, 2014

FERRIDAY — Services for the Rev. Freddie D. Schiele, 89, of Ferriday, who died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, at the Trinity on Laurens Nursing Home in Aiken, S.C., will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Harvest Baptist Church in Ferriday.

Burial will follow at the St. James Baptist Church Cemetery in Frogmore, La., under the direction of Concordia Funeral Home in Ferriday.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home and from 9:30 a.m. until service time Friday at the church.

Rev. Schiele was born Aug. 5, 1925, in Frogmore, the son of the Rev. Benjamin J. Schiele and Eliza Sena Schiele.

Rev. Schiele accepted Christ as his Savior at an early age and joined St. James Baptist Church where he maintained his membership the remainder of his life. He also appointed as a deacon at St. James and served for 38 years.

He was united in holy matrimony to Mable Saulsberry March 27, 1946, and they raised one son, Jimmy Schiele. At age 20, he moved to Ferriday to work for his uncle, J.P. Schiele’s grocery business. Over the years, he expanded his business interest to rental property and a coin laundry, which lasted nearly 40 years.

In 1983, his life changed — God called him to preach. He attended United Theological Seminary and Bible College in Monroe, La., where he received his doctorate degree. He later became dean of the Ferriday extension of the seminary. Soon after he was called to preach, he became pastor of Rose Hill Baptist Church in Ferriday. His pastoral ministry expanded to include Mercy Seat Baptist Church in Ferriday and King Solomon Baptist Church in Natchez. As his pastoral ministry expanded, he began to divest himself of his business interest. His ministry lasted for approximately 30 years until failing health forced him to retire in 2013.

Rev. Schiele was preceded in death by his wife; four brothers, Joseph, Robert, Benjamin and James Schiele; and four sisters, Mary Jones, Lillian James, Benola Miles and Lucille Ellis.

Survivors include one brother, Roosevelt Schiele and wife, Alberta, of Ferriday; one son, Jimmy Schiele and wife, Nancy, of Aiken, N.C.; one grandson, Michael Schiele and wife, Donna, of Indianapolis, Ind.; two granddaughters, Cheryl Schiele of Charlotte, N.C., and Jessica Schiele-Hick and husband, Nelson, of Alexandria, Va.; two great-grandsons, David and Daniel Schiele of Indianapolis; a number of nieces and nephews, including Eliza McKeel who provided tremendous family support over the years; two goddaughters, Justina G. Cook and Porshia Matthews; and a number of other relatives and friends.

Online condolences may be sent to concordiafuneralhomeinc.com.