How do you talk about Tammy Faye Bakker Messner and not talk about the clown make-up and the millions that unsuspecting religious followers gave her and Jim Baker.
You can't -- even in death!
The former televangelist who helped lead a huge television ministry before its collapse in a sex and corruption scandal, has died, her Web site reported on Saturday.
She leaves behind a son, and a host of family and friends.
Messner died on Friday at age 65 after a long battle with cancer. CNN's Larry King, who interviewed Messner on his "Larry King Live" talk show on Thursday night, said her family had asked him to make the delayed announcement of her death.
"She died peacefully," King said on CNN's Web site.
"I believe when I leave this Earth because I love the Lord, I am going straight to heaven," Messner told King in the interview.
Born Tamara Faye, Messner was more than simply a televangelist. She was a Christian singer, entrepreneur, author, talk show host, and bigger than life television personality.
Messner was the former wife of televangelist, and later convicted felon, Jim Bakker, and she co-hosted with him on that sham known as The PTL Club from 1976 to 1987.More recently, she was a participant in the 2004 season of the reality show, The Surreal Life.
Known for her outrageous over-the-top makeup, Messner was the poster child for why sometimes less is more. The heavy mascara, the thick, incredibly long fake eyelashes, the eyebrows that were tattooed on... she could have been the host - hands down - for BET's "Hot Ghetto Mess."
On May 8, Messner, who recently moved to the Kansas City area from Charlotte, North Carolina, posted a message on her Web site, , saying she had withered to 65 pounds and that doctors had decided to stop treatment, leaving her fate "up to God and my faith."
Messner was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1996 and announced in 2004 it had spread to her lungs.
In a "final note" posted on her Web site on Monday, Messner said: "I have times when I feel good and times when I feel really bad. But, I have learned one thing about feelings. They have nothing to do with faith in God!!
"He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He never changes. That is what the Bible says and God's word does not lie ever."
You were a mess Tammy Faye. You and Jim stole millions from naive, unsuspecting folks who believed that you were doing God's work. While you exploited these people, you lived a lavished life at their expense.
That said, you were still our mess and a no better example of how we all -- at some point -- must bow down.
Rest in peace!
Reuters/Wikipedia