Geynell Coby's Funeral Service

Introduction

Good Morning/Afternoon everyone, I am honored to be here with y’all today. and Though many of us have spent a lifetime together in one way or another, with a family as large as ours there is a chance that there are some of you who are wondering, “Who is this guy?” Well My name is Matt Coby, and i had the privilege of growing up with dear saints like Aunt Gey. Not only did i have the pleasure of being her great nephew, but from a young age she always told me i was “her little boyfriend”.

But’s that’s just my story. One of a million. There are so many other stories that we either have already, or will share with one another in the days and weeks ahead.

Aunt Gey was a Mother, a Grandmother, a Sister, a Daughter, a friend, a Walmart greeter, but most of all she was an example.

Exegesis

At the moment that i received the phone call, the Lord brought another woman to mind. A meek often forgotten woman from the Bible named Naomi. Naomi was the Mother-in-law to Ruth in the Old testament, and lived a life that we wouldn’t wish on our worst enemies.

In a culture where women had no voice or rights, Her husband died. At that point, Her two sons took on the leadership role in the family. Then they died as well.

Naomi is then left to care for her two daughter in laws. Orpah and Ruth. However, due to the times there was no way to care for herself, let alone these young women. So she tells them to return to their families. There was no guarantee that they would receive them back, but it was the only move that she had. And while this move could save the girls, it most certainly meant that she would have no help and her life would likely be over.

Orpah left, but ruth stayed.

So they traveled to Bethlehem, the land of Naomi’s late husband. They had no food or place to call home. So Naomi sent ruth to gather food in the field of a relative. A man named Boaz. This was dangerous, but they had to do something. If ruth were to go to the wrong place, the eyes of cruel men would have fallen on her, and the outcome would have been bad.

In the same way that we’ve seen God work so many times before, He takes these two women who are marked for death, and He brings them life. Boaz sees Ruth, learns about her familial connection, and becomes what we know today as the Kinsman Redeemer. The one who saved Ruth and Naomi’s life by taking Ruth as his wife.

Memorial

You’re probably wondering what this has to do with Aunt Gey.

While Ruth is the main Character in this story. She doesn’t survive without the guidance of Naomi.

Not only do these women die, but the Hope of the Messiah(Jesus) dies, because Jesus comes from this family line. There’s a lot riding on this!

I would venture to say many of us have received some much needed advice or encouragement from Aunt Gey over the years.

One of the things that i will always remember was that she was present. When we would have our talks, it was like i was the only person in the world. Though we didn’t get to talk as much as i would have liked, she always seemed to be up to date on what was happening in my life, because she cared. And she always wanted to know more. She never wanted to talk about the things going on in her life, but wanted to know about the adventures of ours. She was truly alive when she was experiencing life with her family and friends!

She was a Walmart greeter for years. This was her element. Because in this role she was able to meet new people, and reconnect with others. Aunt Janet told me that she would often be so excited about encounters that she had during the day that she would recount them with her after her shift was over.

Aunt Gey Loved People.

But you know she didn’t have too.

In much the same way as Naomi, Aunt Gey had lived a life full of peaks and valleys. A life that could have caused her to become callus and cold.

But Her life was an example for all of us.

Even when life wasn’t easy, she didn’t give up

There may be things or people in your life that have caused you to act like or become something that you aren’t. Keep pushing. Don’t give up. She didn’t.

Even when it meant going without certain things, she Loved people

There will be times when we are posed with the opportunity to go without, so that others don’t have too. We know what she did.

Even when it seemed like hope was lost, she Believed that it’s wasn’t.

Praise that Lord, that in the same way that Jesus never gives up on us, neither did Aunt Gey.

Closing

In writing to the church at Corinth from prison, Paul wrote these words

1 Corinthians 15:55–57 ESV

55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul wasn’t afraid of Death, because that meant He got to see Jesus, and be healed of all of the bad things in this world.

In Christ, We have Hope. Hope that moments like this are not the end of our Journey, but the beginning of an eternity of peace and Joy with the Father.

Do you have that Hope?

Aunt Gey, We love you. We cry because we miss you. But we Pray that one day in Christ, we will see you again.

Pray.

Graveside

Psalm 23 KJV 1900

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.