He Carried a Burden in His Heart for Addicts and a Vision of Helping them Move Beyond Recovery
Winn Freeman, 59, Passed away Monday morning, March 9, following a period of declining health.
A native of Bakersfield, California, he was the son of the late Gene and Bette Freeman.
He is survived by his loving and supportive wife of 26 years, Rhonda Freeman, four children and seven grandchildren.
A daughter Candy Freeman and four grandchildren reside in California. A daughter Crystal Hawkins and husband Matthew with three children reside in Charleston, South Carolina.
Sons Johnwinn and Seth Freeman reside in Greenville.
He is also survived by a brother, Stacy Macom.
A memorial service is set for 1 pm. Saturday, Mar. 14, at Renfrew Baptist Church, conducted by Pastor Shawn O’Shields.
Winn Freeman followed God from California to Greenville, South Carolina, where he graduated from college, volunteered at the Greenville Rescue Mission, became director of the Mission and oversaw the building of a new state-of-the-art facility to house the Mission.
In 2000 Freeman resigned as director of the mission and stepped out on faith to launch the Wisdom in Living Life Ministry, Inc. Since that time he has worked toward completion of a Residential Training Center in Northern Greenville County.
In South Carolina, Winn Freeman became known as “The Drug Guy”. A drug addict and alcoholic in his young adulthood, he came to South Carolina from the courtrooms and jails of California with a message that individuals and families who are imprisoned by addiction can experience freedom.
He had found freedom from addiction and was passionate about teaching others who were willing to do the same.
Knowing that he would not be able to continue the ministry alone into the future, he taught each recovered addict to duplicate in others what he had learned and experienced.
Freeman’s living legacy is scores of former addicts that are totally free of addiction and are living productive Christian lives. He was strong in his faith with no doubts about the promises of God.
He was courteous but impatient with those organizations and individuals that offered lifelong secular treatment for addiction when a permanent cure was available to the willing for the asking.
The success of his ministry was anchored to II Corinthians 5:17:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.”
A letter from Superior Court Judge Gary Ingle of Kern County, California summarized his observation of the miraculous transformation of Winn Freeman. “In 1988 you were caught up in a miserable lifestyle of drugs, theft and violence, and had hit rock bottom.
“I was totally unprepared for the transformation that seemed to occur quickly in your life, and which was nothing short of miraculous. You were reborn, spiritually, physically, and emotionally. You became a new person, who was articulate, intelligent, compassionate, motivated, hard-working, and on fire for the Lord.”
The work of Winn Freeman has been blessed and perpetuated. Today, there are scores of second and third generation duplicates of Winn Freeman teaching addicts how to apply II Corinthians 5:17 to their lives.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wisdom in Living Life Ministries, Inc., PO Box 150, Travelers Rest, South Carolina 29690.
