Funeral Service Fred Paulk

07-08-2023

Mt Zion Baptist Church

2:00 pm

Prelude Music-Barbara McKinley

Scripture

Psalms 27:1 “1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalms 145:18 “18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.”

John 11:25 “25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”

Welcome & Invocation-Pastor Luke

On behalf of the Paulk family, Mrs. Betty, daughters- Cathy & husband Coggin, Brenda, Sons- Johnny & wife Janise, Terry & wife Mitzi and all of Mr. Fred’s extended family; the family shares their appreciation for the food, the calls, those of you who stopped by and your many expressions of love. Thank you for your outpouring of love shown to Mr. Fred. And, they especially thank you for your presence here today to encourage them and lift them up in these days ahead.

Let us Pray:

Oh Heavenly Father, Sovereign God of the Universe, we thank you for Your Son Jesus that offers us hope in times such as these. Lord Jesus, thank you for Your sacrificial death that we may escape death because You suffered at Calvary’s cross on our behalf. Thank you for loving us that much and by accepting You that we may know life eternal.

Lord, we thank you for the life of Fred Paulk. Lord, Your Word states that “you came that we may have life more abundantly” and we thank you for the abundant life that was manifested in Mr. Fred. Thank you for the blessedness of 53 years of marriage to Mrs. Betty. Lord, thank you for the gift of children and grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren. You are the giver of life and You breathed life into this family and placed Mr. Fred right in the center of it. Heavenly Father, when we are all reminded that we have been created in the image of God, we thank you for the fond memories, those attributes that Fred stood for, the wisdom he instilled in this family, his consistency and commitment to his work, his family and His Savior. Lord, we thank you that He loved as You loved him.

Lord, be with this family. Be with Mrs. Betty and these children, grandchildren, the great grandchildren, his brothers and sisters and all the extended family. May they sense your presence, your comfort, your love, and sustaining grace. Be with us in this important time as we reflect upon the life of Mr. Fred and reflect upon the blessedness of You Lord Jesus. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen.

Song It’s Never Been-The Crabb Family

Scripture

Psalms 23:1-6 “1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads 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 You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs 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 Forever.”

John 14:1-6 “1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Song No Scars in Heaven Casting Crowns

Eulogy

Other Speakers-Payton, Ena

Pastor

Luther Frederick (Fred) Paulk of Ramer, Alabama passed away Tuesday, July 4, 2023. My formal name is Luther and I imagine that is why we clicked so well. Mr. Paulk was born April 7, 1926 and lived to age 97. And all the people said, Amen. What a blessing. Note that over that long course of life, the only major health issue came about since last November.

He was blessed with great health, great strength and great stamina. And, he went to sleep on the 4th of July eve without pain and He woke up in heaven on the 4th of July Morning. Mr. Fred passed away in his sleep. Oh, isn’t the Lord gracious.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Josh and Lottie Paulk; and daughter, Sue Mainor and her husband, Bill Mainor. He leaves behind a large and loving family beginning with his wife of over 53 years, Betty Paulk; his children: Two daughters, Cathi and husband (Coggin) Wingo, Brenda Caballero, and two sons, Johnny and wife(Janice) Brooks and Terry and wife (Mitzi) Brooks. Also 29 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren and 30 great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters: Florence Thompson, Francis Gardner, Patsy Miles and his brother Ray Paulk and a host of nieces and nephews. He was a faithful member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Ramer. He loved his church family and was loved by them as well. His beautiful smile will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Pallbearers are Bill Suhr, David Miles, Rick Lewis, Donald Edwards, Wayne Miles and Brandon Hartsill.

Mr. Fred was raised on the very road and lived on Paulk Road most all of his life. He went to school at Ramer.

He enlisted in the Army and served in the Korean War. Terry tells the story that when his time was up and they were coming home on a ship through the Panama Canal that Fred said, “If I can get off this boat, I will walk home.”

From his time in the military and onward, Mr. Fred discovered a real love for mechanical work. At some time very early in life, Mr. Fred bought a dump truck and delivered asphalt as an independent contractor all these many years.

Mrs. Betty laid eyes for the first time on Mr. Fred around age 29 and Mr. Fred was 37 years old. Some of the girlfriends from the community said, “Oh, he will never marry,” “Oh, I’m going to marry that man.” She hung in there and 8 years later, she finally wore him down or won him over. Nobody will ever know which way that went.

We all know that Fred was a man of few words. Betty was working down town at H. L. Greens and she had a lunch break and her and Fred had lunch together. Busch’s Jewelers was across the street. And Fred’s proposal went like this. “let’s go get a ring” and that is all he said.

Mrs. Betty said a argument was very one sided in their marriage because Fred would never say a word. She would say what was on her mind, get it off her chest, and everything would be fine. She tells a funny story on Fred. One day as he was walking in the house, she had propped up a broom at the front door just inside the house and it crossed the path of the entrance when he was coming in. She said, “pick up the broom” and he responded, “I do not do inside work.” All we can assume is that Mrs. Betty never forgot that. A few months later, he had built a shed out in the yard to hold his tools and a strong storm had come up and blew the doors of the shed open and blew some of the items in the shed out of place. Mr Fred shouted out to Mrs. Betty, “come out here quickly and help get these items back in the shed.” You know what comes next. “I do not do outside work.”

Mitzi said-sweet & kind, silent.

Monica remembers that he laughed all the time.

Shannon-hardworking, committed

Brenda-loved company, listened, but did not talk.

Terry-”y'all don’t need to run off.”

Mrs. Betty stated that he was a quiet man. He would say what he wanted. She never could remember a time that he was mad or frustrated.

Johnny-said that he could do anything he set his mind to.

Jason was the only grandchild that ever got a spanking from Mr. Fred, yet Jason said of his grandfather. He was my super man. He named his son after Fred.

Fred loved animals. The only time they remembering him tear up was when his Yorkie dog was hit by the car. He was happiest when working in his shop working on a car or truck doing some form of mechanical work. There was nothing he could not fix.

He loved working with the cows and loved gardening.

One of the heights of their retired life was traveling. They had a new car and they traveled for a solid month touring the United States and Canada. He was thankful for that time that they were able to travel and see our great country.

My name is Luke Finkelstein and I was Mr. Fred’s pastor for 8 years. Mr. Fred came to know Christ in his late 60’s. He was faithful to God’s church and served as a greeter at our church. Now you would say that Fred would have been too quiet and of too few words to be the role of greeter.

He was one of the first ones you would see with his radiant smile and gentle loving demeanor and the Lord used him at Mt. Zion and our people loved him. One of our pallbearers, Bill Suhr attributes Mr. Fred for the very reason why he greets at church today. Bill would congregate in the back with Mr. Fred and Mr. Fred placed most of the bulletins in his hand and said, “if you are going to be back here, hand these out.” Another member of our church called Mr. Fred a “gentle giant.” All of these things we would all agree were true about Fred if you knew Fred. Fred would want me to share about that change that took place in his life and share about His Jesus.

Scripture

Romans 8:28–37 NKJV

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Funeral Sermon

Philippians 3:12–14 NKJV

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul writes a “thank you” letter to the church at Philippi for helping him in his hour of need. Paul’s words challenges us as we journey the race called life. The Holy Spirit provided Paul a life directive to put on paper while sitting in a jail cell. We find hope in God’s Words written by Paul.

Paul wrote this letter with the imagery of athleticism, specifically a runner running the race. Dear Friends, life is not how you start, but how you finish the race.

1 Corinthians 9:24 “24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”

Paul writes of “reaching forward to those things which are ahead. ” Reaching forward is a picture of a runner stretching out and finishing strong the race.

This afternoon, if Mr. Fred were sharing with you right now a few words-a man of few words after receiving his reward, that prize with a crown of glory in heaven communing with Jesus I could just hear him saying something like this:

“children, grandchildren, great grand children, family and friends, how are you running the race?

Perfected

Mr. Fred would say, “I’m not asking about your past. I’m not asking if you are perfect?” How are you running the race right now?

“not that I have already attained, or am already perfected” . Paul began with an honest assessment of his life up to the point he wrote the words. “I have not arrived. I am not perfect. I have had my failures.”

Romans 3:23 “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Paul’s life was gloriously changed when he met Jesus on the Road to Damascus and accepted Him as His Lord and Savior.

MY past does not define me. Paul was a good man, but not a perfect man. Mr. Fred was a great man, but not a perfect man.

Dear friends and family, it is not how you start the race, but how you finish.

Pressing toward the goal

Isn’t it interesting that Mr. Fred was later in life fulfilling the desires of his heart? Late getting married, late having a family, late getting saved and his life would say, it’s not how you start, its how you finish.

“I press on that I may lay hold of that which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me.”

Prize

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

There was a day that former Pastor, Trevor Perry offered Mr. Fred the plan of salvation and He accepted Christ as His Lord and Savior. Oh dear family and friends, on that day it changed the course of the race and Mr. Fred won the victory.

God’s Word says that on that night on the eve of the 4th of July as he was in the final stretch as He was on oxygen, confined to a hospital bed and stated his last words on this earth, he was making the last leg of the race and he came to the finish line with his shoulders back and his neck and head extended as he cross the finish line around 6:30 am on the 4th of July.

God’s Word says that :

2 Corinthians 5:8 “8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

And as Jesus met him on the other side of the finish line, the Lord said,

Matthew 25:21 “21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”

I’m not asking about your past, or if you are perfect. There was only one who was perfect and His name is Jesus. Are you pressing on? Will you receive the prize the day you are called from this world? Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Will you have a home in heaven?

How are you running the race?

Hebrews 12:2 “2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Song Rest High on the Mountain Vince Gill

Prayer

Oh gracious Savior, thank you for the time you shared Mr. Fred Paulk with this family and these friends. We are all the better for those of us that knew him. Lord, be with Mrs. Betty and this family. I know they hurt, I know they mourn, but I pray they hurt differently knowing Your precious promises. Love on them as only You can. Lord, your promises bring comfort.

Your Word says that:

Psalms 46:1 “1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 “6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.””

John 14:27 “27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Oh Heavenly Father, we thank you for the many promises we can hold on to with a relationship with You. Lord, I pray that this family will remember Mr. Fred. They will reminisce of the good times. Reflect upon what he stood for. And be challenged to run the race and finish the race as Mr. Fred did. I pray that we all will win the prize in the upward call of God in Jesus Christ. In Jesus precious name we pray.

Graveside Service

Scripture

Mrs. Betty, children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters and extended family along with friends; we gather here this afternoon to commit to rest Mr. Fred Paulk, this earthen vessel over into the Lord’s hands.

Psalms 27:4 “One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.”

2 Corinthians 5:1–11 NKJV

1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

Revelation 21:1–7 NKJV

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

Oh family and friends, we each have shared a companionship and friendship with Fred. WE are thankful for the time we had to know him. This family is thankful for the love they both gave and received in Fred. Love them. Under gird them. Comfort them.

Let’s pray.

Prayer: On behalf of this family and these friends, we thank you Lord for sharing Mr. Fred with us, the wonderful memories, his walk, his example and his steadfast love. Fred was the man he was because of the God he served. You reigned in His life and we praise you this day for allowing him in our lives. Lord, wrap your loving arms around this family. Be their peace and strength. Be merciful on them in these days ahead and comfort as only you can. We love you. IN Jesus’ name. Amen.

Numbers 6:24-26 “24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’”