Funeral Nana (Odessa Bagwell Ray)

Landon Rowell

Funeral Service • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

Proverbs 10:7

Funeral

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Funeral for Odessa Tillman Bagwell Ray, who died at 96 years of age.

Notes

Transcript

Introduction

Order of Service:

Obituary Read by Jim Stevenson

Song: Victory in Jesus

Prayer by Donald White

Song: Because He Lives

Song: Do You Know My Friend Jesus

Eulogy

Song: Beautiful Prayer

I’ll Fly Away

Closing Remarks

Memories Are A Blessing

Why Are They A Blessing

Have you ever noticed that when a loved one dies, the only memories you focus on are the good ones?

That is by design because memories, especially for the righteous, are a blessing.

Proverbs 10:7 (ESV)

7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing…

We have been blessed by our Creator to have memories especially of those that are righteous.

Odessa, Nana, was one of those righteous each of us here today are blessed to remember.

Memories Of Nana

Everyone here, who spent even just a moment with Nana, has a fond and lasting memory of her.

I do believe there was no one ever created that was as gentle and encouraging as she was.

Don’t get me wrong she could be very feisty when she needed to be.

Uncle Henry had “a few” stories of mischief he “might have been involved in” and he told us how when she grabbed the fly swatter to pop him he never knew which end he was going to get the licks from because she was just grabbing and going.

Nana also just had a beautiful innocent about her.

Like when she had to drive Papa from the farm to Amarillo because he was having heart complications and told us she sped the whole way hoping a cop would stop her and help her. When we asked how fast she was going on I40 she said “I was all the way up to 75mph and not a cop in site.”

Or like when Shay would jokingly say to her, when bringing her her pills the “her drug dealer was here with her drugs” and Nana would tell her “oh don’t say you say that.”

This again doesn’t mean she could be onory

Papa when most of his adult life thinking he could tell the difference between caffeinated coffee and decaf yet she had been pouring decaf into his coffee can for ever. It was only after he retired & started going to the store with her that he found out.

Now no trip down memory lane could be complete without a memory or two about her cooking.

You each here have a favorite I’m sure like each of us in the family do as well like her love of brightly colored jellos, her famous chocolate pie, or pancakes & waffles.

One time we got a small pumpkin pie pumpkin on Thanksgiving & I begged Nana to make me a real pumpkin pie. That next day we got home from school I went into the garage, where Nana put all the pies on dad’s 69 Z28 Camero, & found 6 or seven pies. Nana told me she didnt realize such a small pumpkin could make so many pies and then turned & whispered “don’t get another one of those again.”

Summary

Memories are a blessing and as the days and months pass by comfort each other in those memories.

They will help us each to handle the deep struggle we will have in her loss.

And even though we hurt today and will for a long time to come…

We Are Not Without Hope

Because We No What Lies Ahead.

The great apostle Paul declared in 1 Thessalonians 4:13…

1 Thessalonians 4:13 ESV

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

Why do we not grieve for our loved one that was faithful unto to death (Revelation 2:10)?

Because the Holy Spirt declared long ago…

Psalm 116:15 (ESV)

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

Summary

My joy today is in God’s promise that Nana has found her rest in paradise with my mom & all the others that have fought the good fight of faith and finished the race.

My hope is that each one here will heed the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:21…

Matthew 7:21 ESV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

The only way we can find rest in the next life is if we live for Jesus in this life, which is why Jesus said in John 14:15…

John 14:15 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Conclusion

Odessa Ray, Nana, on Monday, March 6th at 96 years of age went to be with her Lord.

I can’t wait until that glorious day when we can all rejoice & be together again.

Will you pray with me.

Father as we humbly come before you this day we thank you for the blessing you bestowed upon each of us by having Nana in our lives. We are so thankful that you are our God and that you are Faith to keep your promises. What hope, what comfort, what joy, what love there is in that. I pray that you will place your comforting hand upon us and flood us with those precious memories as we go throughout the rest of this day and the following weeks. We praise you, honor you, and glorify your name and it is through your Son’s most excellent name we pray, amen.