VIDALIA, La. &045; Family support and prayers have helped the Randall family of Vidalia stay strong while family members serve overseas.

Vernon Randall &045; who on Saturday wore a T-shirt with the photo of his late father, who served in the Army &045;and Shirley Randall proudly display a sign to support the 1086th Transportation Company.

That is the unit with which their niece, Anita Washington, is serving.

Diane Shannon, Washington’s mother, said her daughter was deployed about a month ago. Shannon said she knows God is watching over her daughter.

&uot;I know God is in control and (is) there with her,&uot; Shannon said.

Still, it never hurts to hurt a loved one’s voice on the line &045; and Shannon said she hoped her daughter would call her on Easter Sunday.

During some of the calls Shannon said her daughter has told her about some of her experiences overseas.

&uot;She said she’s experienced things that were heart-touching, Š concerning the people over there and the way they live,&uot; Shannon said.

Shannon said since her daughter has been deployed she pays close attention to the news but feels too much is shown.

&uot;I’ll just be glad when they come back home,&uot; Shannon said.

The Randalls are also praying for their son, Sgt. Vernon Randall Jr., and his wife, Yolanda, who have two young children.

&uot;I gave it all to the Lord,&uot; Vernon Randall said.

Vernon Randall said since his son and wife are both in the military he has taken care of their children on occasion.

Randall said that at one point he took care of his son’s youngest child for the first three months of its life and was able to experience a lot of the baby’s firsts.

Since the Randalls’ son is stationed at Fort Polk, La., Yolanda Randall’s parents, who live closer to the base, are taking care of the children now, Vernon Randall said.

Vernon Randall said he’s not too worried about his son because Vernon Randall Jr. has already served in places like Germany, Macedonia and Afghanistan.

The Randalls have also been very supportive of their only daughter, Theresa Green, since her husband is also serving in the military and she is pregnant with the couple’s second child.

Green’s husband, Dortonyoung Green, is stationed in Hawaii and is not expected to serve in the war effort. But he has been gone for one-and-a-half years, with two more years still to go.

Green has only since her husband two months of the time he has been gone, but she said communication &045; over the telephone, for now &045; has helped keep their marriage strong.