Courage Under Fire
First Lady
Survives Horrible Attack
at Church and Gives God the Glory!
Survives Horrible Attack
at Church and Gives God the Glory!
First Lady Attacked With Box Cutter in Church
Forgives Her Attacker
“She was my neighbor in church,” said Lady Whitfield.
“I never thought she would do a thing like this to me... but I forgive her.”
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Though small in physical stature, Theresa Whitfield is a big woman. On July 22, 2007, the First Lady endured a harrowing ordeal in the bathroom of the Church where her husband is the Pastor. Over and over, the attacker (Yolanda Cooper, 40) slashed her face, neck, chest and thighs with a box cutter while her 16-month old daughter looked on.
First Lady Theresa Whitfield (38) is the wife of Pastor Jonathan B. Whitfield of Trinity Baptist Church, Hackensack, NJ. Their membership is in the neighborhood of 2,000 members. Lady Whitfield sings in church and works with the youth department. This proud mother of six has a heart for youth and for people.
Incident Details
Sunday Morning Worship Service (11am) – Lady Whitfield entered the basement bathroom to attend to her 16-month old daughter. The assailant entered and went into a stall. “I said ‘Good Morning’ to her, but I noticed she didn’t speak back,” said Lady Whitfield. “I knew her. She sat next to me in church. She was my neighbor. She had eczema, just like my baby, and she used to kiss her hand in church. I never thought she would do something like this to me.”
But she did attack the First Lady. Several parishioners said they noticed her leaving the sanctuary when Lady Whitfield walked out to attend to her baby. They thought it was just a coincidence, but in hindsight realize Cooper was stalking the First Lady.
According to Lady Whitfield, the attacker peeked out of the stall and then went back in. Then, without warning, she came out of the stall, grabbed Lady Whitfield’s hair from behind, turned the First Lady to face the mirror and slit her throat with a box cutter. She continued slashing her in the face, neck and chest.
The First Lady struggled to defend herself, but the box-cutter wielding parishioner wouldn’t stop. There were no words between them during the struggle, said Lady Whitfield. Then the Lord allowed a teenager (15 years old) to enter into the restroom and see the battle. She ran screaming for help.
Help arrived quickly and Lady Whitfield lay bleeding profusely against the door of the bathroom while Cooper continued slashing her thighs. Lady Whitfield had slipped and fallen in her own blood. Her all-white linen dress was soaked in blood, said parishioners who heard the commotion coming from the basement as Gospel music filled the sanctuary.
“STOP IT!” said the teen's mother who was the first to arrive at the scene. “Only the whites of Cooper’s eyes were showing,” recalls Lady Whitfield, “but at the command to STOP... the black part of her eyeballs came back. Then she ran away.”
Parishioners used cell phones to call for help and one brave worshiper followed Cooper to point her out to police. She was charged with attempted murder and held on bail for $1.1 million dollars.
During the attack, Lady Whitfield prayed that the Lord would keep her baby safe from the attacker. She had endured many slashes on her hands and arms. The left hand lay open like a flower. Lady Whitfield was rushed to Hackensack Medical Center, where she underwent emergency surgery and received over 2,000 stitches to close up all the wounds.
Police have no motive for the attack. However, shared Lady Whitfield, the assailant had attacked four others, similarly, in the past. She had been institutionalized and released months before the attack on Lady Whitfield. She had been attending the church for many months before the unprovoked attack.
The Whitfield’s are considering legal actions against the institution responsible for releasing Cooper out into the public. In addition, Pastor and Lady Whitfield are pushing the issue of church security within the Christian community.
Lady Whitfield has forgiven her assailant. This is proof that we can do all things through Christ which strengthens us. (Philippians 4:12) Without Christ, forgiveness would be nearly impossible after such a horrendous, unprovoked and undeserved attack.
There is a lot to be said about the courage of Lady Whitfield. She is an all-star in God’s Kingdom, a modern heroine of the Christian faith. Pastor Jonathan Whitfield is also to be commended as overseer of a church which is producing fine Christians like his beautiful wife. The members of his church are blessed by his leadership.
By God’s grace and mercy, Lady Whitfield is still here. She is still teaching and she is still singing. Says Lady Whitfield, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for God is forever with me.” (Psalms 23:4) The First Lady strongly believes that when all is said and done, God will receive all the Glory. Colossians 3:23-21
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First Lady Theresa Whitfield was born and raised in Jamaica Queens, New York. Lady Whitfield is known as the small woman with a powerful voice for the Lord. Theresa has a warm smile that touches the hearts of many. Lady Whitfield is married to none other than the Great Pastor Jonathan B. Whitfield of Trinity Baptist Church in Hackensack, New Jersey, where they fellowship together. Their marriage is approaching its third year celebration. They share the joy of raising 6 children in their home.
Lady Whitfield worked as a staff accountant at Corporate Mellon located in Ridgefield Park, NJ, for over 13 years. She now owns and operates her own Family Day Care and believes in showing young children the Lord, even within their play. Deuteronomy 11: 19.
Lady Whitfield is currently enrolled in Trinity Theological Seminary where she is studying for a degree in Youth Pastoring. She is currently assisting her husband with restructuring the Youth Ministry in their church by teaching and instilling purpose within the Youth Ministry. Throughout her ministry, Lady Whitfield has supported and participated in activities and programs within her community with song, mentoring or fellowship in the Tri-State arena dealing with women and youth.
Lady Whitfield is available for speaking engagements. Please contact Trinity Baptist Church, Hackensack, NJ at (201) 487-3656.
Sources: Interview with First Lady Theresa Whitfield and NY Daily News (Chrisena Coleman, 7/24/07)
by Tracey Smith
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Live Television Coverage of First Lady Whitfield and husband, Pastor Jonathan Whitfield, of Trinity Baptist Church, Hackensack, NJ.
Yolanda Cooper, the attacker. Incarcerated and being held on $1.1 million bond.
Lady Whitfield in emergency room immediately following the attack.
Courageous Lady Whitfield shows scars. God has great plans for her.
Theresa Whitfield
Theresa Whitfield
Copyright 2008. First Lady Magazine. Do not reproduce without written permission. FLM, PO Box 1233, Mableton, GA 30126 or email us at: FLMezine@gmail.com
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