Funeral Service - Cheryl Corum

Opening Song - You Are My Sunshine

Prayer

Song - Go Rest High On That Mountain

Obituary

Cheryl Kay Corum, wife of Lewis Allen Corum, passed away on the evening of Tuesday, March 12, 2024, with her family right by her side in Lexington, Kentucky.

She was born on October 30, 1961 to the late John William and Dorothy Frances Hall in Lexington, Kentucky. She loved the beach and was an amazing artist.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John William and Dorothy Frances Hall, and a brother, Paul Wayne Hall.

She is survived by her husband, Lewis Allen Corum, her daughter, Cassie (Jeremy) Manci, her grandchildren, Lewis, Reagan, and Riley Manci, a brother, Johnny (Pam) Hall, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Song - Gone On Before

Sermon

Psalm 40:1–3 ESV

1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.

My name is Brad Pearce. I am the pastor here at Durbin Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington Kentucky. On behalf of the family, I would like to thank everyone for being here today.

It is never easy for us when someone we love passes on.

When a mother, a grandmother, an aunt, a friend is no longer with us, it brings upon strong feelings and reactions. We feel both the pain and confusion of loss.

I want to tell you today, as a minister of the Lord, there truly is comfort even in in the face of loss. Comfort that comes from God and is made known to us through the Word of God. I want to encourage you all in this time to rely on the Word of God and the bonds of love that exist in this family. May each of us here today commit to supporting this grieving family with our love, support, and prayers.

I had the great pleasure of getting to know Miss Cheryl over the course of the past two years. But many of you knew her much better than I. That is why I wanted to read the obituary a few moments ago. In those few short words, we are reminded of the ties of family, the legacy of life.

I asked Miss Cassie for some insight into the life of Miss Cheryl and here are a few of the highlights I’d like to remind us all of today as well as some of my own experience with miss Cheryl:

Miss Cheryl loved the beach and the ocean. She had an affinity for nature. I personally remember her fondness of watching the birds out the window of her room at Lexington Premiere. She loved palm trees and hummingbirds!

She was an amazing artist. She had a huge collection of colored pencils that have now been entrusted to her granddaughters. I was blessed to be the recipient of a few of her coloring pages that graced the walls of her room. *Hold up sign*

This gift made me smile and she was known for making others smile. Before you leave today, there is a collection of her coloring pages by The front door. Grab one and be reminded of the talent god gave to her. She can continue to make you smile when you remember the artistry of life.

Miss Cheryl loved smiles and a good joke. I once had a rousing conversation with her on the comedic genius of Christmas Vacation.

She loved where she came from and was proud of her roots. She worked the land along with Mr Allen and would have a huge garden every year in times past. I only wish I could have tried some of her salsa she would make! I did have the pleasure of sharing an Ale8 with her a time or two. She also loved a good sweet tea.

She loved watching the sunset and appreciated sunflowers. She sang You Are My Sunshine to her daughter who now sings it with the grandchildren.

Her favorite color was blue like the color of Cassies eyes. She loved her family and dear grandchildren. The best gift she ever got for her birthday was her grandson whom shares the same birthday.

She also loved music. Country and classic rock being her favorite genres.

In my visits with Miss Cheryl it was with music that we connected the most. I will never forget just a month or so ago, visiting in her room and singing with her, “What a Day That Will Be.”

If you would, allow me to read us the lyrics:

There is coming a day When no heartaches shall come No more clouds in the sky No more tears to dim the eye All is peace forevermore On that happy golden shore What a day, glorious day that will be

They’ll be no sorrow there No more burdens to bear No more sickness and no more pain No more parting over there And forever I will be With the One who died for me Oh what a day, glorious day that will be

What a day that will be When my Jesus I shall see When I look upon His face The One who saved me by His grace

Then He’ll take me by the hand And lead me through the Promise Land

Oh what a day, glorious day that will be

As we concluded singing the song together, she looked at brother Troy and I and said, “that gave me the happy shakes!”

A few weeks later, I visited again. This time she was unable to sing along with me, but as she heard the words of the song being sung, I saw a tangible peace come over her despite her condition.

Friends, Today, we gather to honor and celebrate the life of Cheryl, a cherished soul. As we come together in this time of mourning, we are reminded of the bittersweet beauty of life — a journey filled with both joy and sorrow, laughter and tears. In the midst of our grief, we can find solace in the timeless words of the hymn "What a Day That Will Be,"

I want it to be understood that “What a Day That Will Be,” is not just a simple comforting song to sooth us And then be forgotten. It may very well have a soothing effect, but it also captures the truth of Scripture. It captures the promise given in God’s Word for all those who know Christ Jesus as Lord. During one of my final visits with miss Cheryl I stood at her bedside and read her the following Scripture from Revelation 21.

Revelation 21:1–8 ESV

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I 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 the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Revelation 21:1-8 paints a beautiful and breathtaking picture of a new heaven and a new earth, where the former things have passed away, and all is made new. There is no more pain! There is no more disease! There is no cancer! It speaks of a city adorned as a bride, prepared for her husband — a city where God dwells among His people, wiping away every tear and banishing pain and suffering forevermore. It's a vision of hope, of redemption, and of the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises.

In times of loss and grief, it can be difficult to see beyond the veil of sorrow that shrouds our hearts. But even in the midst of our pain, we are reminded that there is a day coming — a day when all things will be made right, and every tear will be wiped away. It's a day of reunion, of restoration, and of eternal joy in the presence of our Creator. That was a message from the Word of God that brought peace to Miss Cheryl in a season of difficult trial and pain. That is a message that can bring you peace in a time of reflection on the fleeting nature of this life.

As we heard in Larry Cordle’s Song, “Gone Before” directly before this message, he sang, “I can’t come back you, But you can still come to me. There are no tears in heaven and once you get here then you’ll see.”

Mr. Cordle’s song is posed from the perspective of a saint in glory speaking to us on this side of eternity.

“What would Cheryl say to us if she were to stand before us today here at her funeral service? Being on the other side of eternity, she would certainly have a better perspective on the purpose of this life. I believe she would tell us:

- Everyone we meet is of great importance. They all are made in the image of God; they are immortal souls. And their destiny rests on whether they believe the gospel or not.

Jesus Christ is the sole hope of every soul.

Christ’s death was sufficient for the sins of anyone who comes to him.

The gift of forgiveness comes from grace alone, not by works: “If it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace” (Rom. 11:6).

Salvation comes by faith in Christ: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:8–9).

She would urge us to give first priority to these matters, as Jesus said “for what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul“( Mark 8:36). As for Cheryl herself, she would tell us certainly What a Day That Will Be when sin is vanquished, every knee bows, and proclaims Jesus is King.

In times of loss and sorrow, it's natural to seek solace in the promise of something greater — something beyond the confines of this earthly realm. And it's in moments like these that the gospel invitation rings true with renewed significance.

Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, extends an invitation to each and every one of us — an invitation to experience the fullness of life found only in Him. In John 10:10, Jesus declares, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." His invitation is one of hope, of redemption, and of eternal life.

Friends, in the midst of our grief, Jesus stands as a beacon of light in the darkness, offering comfort to the brokenhearted and hope to the despairing. He understands our pain, for He Himself experienced the agony of death on the cross, bearing the weight of our sins so that we might be reconciled to God.

And now, as we remember Cheryl’s life and legacy, we are reminded of the urgency of this gospel invitation. For none of us knows the hour of our own departure from this world, but we can take comfort in the assurance that Jesus has prepared a place for us who believe in Him in His Father's house.

So, I extend to you today the most profound invitation you will ever receive — an invitation to come to Jesus, to surrender your burdens at His feet, and to find rest for your weary souls. He stands with open arms, ready to welcome you into His loving embrace, regardless of your past or present circumstances. To help you understand what a Day that will be when your Jesus you shall see.

If you have never truly understood Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I urge you not to delay. Today is the day of salvation, and there is no greater decision you can make than to entrust your life to Him who holds the keys to eternal life. To turn from your sins and receive His forgiveness. Without Christ, eternity is bleak, but with Him it is glorious!

And to those who already know Jesus as their Savior, I encourage you to cling to Him more closely than ever before.

As we prepare to say our final earthly farewell to Cheryl, let us do so with hearts full of faith and hope in the promises of our Lord Jesus Christ. And may we leave this place today with a renewed sense of purpose and a deepened commitment to living our lives in a manner that brings honor and glory to His name, readily awaiting when peace is forever more on that Happy Golden shore. What a Day, glorious Day that will be.

Let us pray.

Prayer

Background hymns as people are dismissed