Dad's Funeral

Introduction

Thanks on behalf of family:

Normally, I give thanks from the family, but today we are the family.. Wife, Sons, Daughters, Brothers, Sisters, Grandchildren, Nieces, Nephews, Great Grandchildren

Read the Obituary.

“Mr. Morris Hamilton Frazier, affectionately known as Moose, age 71 of Sparta, passed away at 10:19pm Saturday, September 7, 2024 in the Emergency Room of St. Thomas Highlands Hospital.

Moose was born on Groundhog Day, February 2, 1953 in Cumberland County to the late Thomas Hamilton and Roby Gaye Blaylock Frazier. He had a 32 year career with Mallory before retiring and going into landscaping and dozer work. Moose will forever be remembered for his beautiful oil paintings and drawings that he gifted to friends, family and coworkers over the years.

In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by siblings Monroe, Paul, Carol, Malcolm, Jack, Bill and Howard Frazier.

Surviving family members left to cherish his memory include his wife of 52 years Sandy Parks Frazier

Daughters: Michelle (Jeff) Moore, Morrisa Walker, Allison (Anthony) Lumpkin and Beverly Frazier

Sons: Steve Frazier, Christopher (Jennifer) Frazier and Robert Frazier

18 grandchildren

8 great-grandchildren

Siblings: Priscilla Conley, Geraldine Walker, Bobbye Sue Holt, Sally Azbill, Edd Frazier and Woodrow Frazier

A host of nieces and nephews also survive”

We are here today to honor a great man, our dad. I am sure that every one of my brothers and sisters sitting here have been thinking the same thing as me… you see

Mom and dad had six children. Our oldest brother Steven, their first child was born February 17th, 1973. Their youngest, Allison was born January 22nd, 1990 three years after I was born on January 23rd, 1987.. she ruined my third birthday. I’m sorry, but I think it had to be said.

But in all seriousness, there is something on all of our minds that need to be said.

In my 37 years on this earth, I do not remember a day when dad ever took a sick day. I imagine if I asked my older brothers and sisters that they would not remember one either.

He woke up every morning at 5 AM, ate breakfast, and went to Mallory Controls for 32 years. He would get home, take a short nap, and we would go work the tobacco fields, or later he would be landscaping, or doing something. He was a hard worker who took care of his family. We all stand here in this room today to testify to that fact. He took care of his family and he did so well. He did so consistently. He deserves honor for that.

Message

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon, the wise king recounts:

Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 NKJV

1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 2 A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; 3 A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; 7 A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; 8 A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.

· You see, God has ordained life to occur in seasons. The very leaves on the trees testify to this fact… to the sovereignty of God. As I was driving here today, I was watching them and thinking how each one has been given an appointed time to change, and when that time comes, they joyously obey Him. I was thinking of this fact and how Solomon later tells us:

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

Each headstone in the grave yard is different, but they all have one thing in common.. two dates and a dash in the middle. To think of daddy, February 2nd, 1953 to September 7th, 2024.

We think of the dates, but what about the dash? Within that dash is a life-well lived. Over the past half a week, I sat silently without reply and read over a hundred comments about dad, and common themes occur: He was always smiling, always asking about people’s families, always caring.. you see, it was a life well lived, but if the dash is the only measure then at death there is found no hope… but the word God tells us He placed eternity in our hearts.. and that this dash too was just a season…

You see in the eternal picture is found the hope of a tree, that if cut down, though its root wax old and the stock thereof die in the ground, that at the scent of water it will bud. The cross of Jesus Christ and His ressurection was the hope of a tree, bringing us living water.. eternity was awakened in our hearts.

It is this same word we stake our eternity on in:

John 3:16 NKJV

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

· You see, When we look at the eternal picture, there is comfort to be found. That comfort is a promise, and He who promised is faithful.

·So if we are to stake our eternity on John 3:16, then we must believe God when he says

John 14:1–4 NKJV

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.”

1 Corinthians 2:9–10 NKJV

9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 15:51 KJV 1900

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

Romans 10:13 NKJV

13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Romans 10:9–11 NKJV

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

I had the opportunity to lead dad to the Lord in the hospital. He confessed with his lips, and believed with his heart and these promises hold true.

OH DEATH WHERE IS THY STING? OH GRAVE WHERE IS THY VICTORY?

You see, those who have accepted Christ have nothing to fear at death. I don’t do funerals without salvation calls. If you are in this room and you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and savior, today is your day. Find me.

You see, everything is in a season. Solomon as I read, says in verse 4:

Ecclesiastes 3:4 NKJV

4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;

I read something not too long ago that stuck with me. It said, “Grief is the tax on loving people, the inevitable price for being loved well; necessary payment on the accrued capital gains of intimacy and time with them.”

Today, we honor this great man… we weep, laugh, mourn, and with eternity in our hearts and the assurance that He is with Jesus,

we dance here in the dash between two dates.

Pray