The son of a pastor who died after a snake bit him has vowed to do as his father did and continue to handle serpents as part of their church tradition.
Jamie Coots died on February 15 after a poisonous snake bit him at the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name church in Middlesboro, Kentucky.
His 21-year-old son Cody said he will now take the helm of the church – holding about 20 people – and continue to practice their long-held beliefs and traditions.
He told WBIR: ‘I didn’t want this. I told my dad, I said “I don’t want to be pastor. I’ve seen the way things have happened and I’ve seen things you have had to take care of. I don’t want it.” He said, “You’re next in line. The lord is going to call you anyways”.’
Cody said that following his dad’s wake, a small group of friends and family went to the church to handle snakes and speak in tongues to celebrate his life.
Jamie had a permit to possess poisonous snakes, though according to WBIR it is illegal in Kentucky law to handle them.
Cody said his ‘outspoken’ dad went the way he had always wished.
‘How many people can pray that that’s how they wanted to die, and got exactly what they pray for? Not many.
‘His next request was “when you come to my funeral, pack my snakes, and handle them over my corpse”.’
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