Kay Lynn Williams (October 10, 1952 - January 21, 2025)

Introduction

Welcome & Gathering

Jesus said, I am the resurrection and I am life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

Friends, we have gathered here to praise God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the life of Kay Lynn Williams. We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss. May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow….hope, in death….resurrection.

Pray (Ruth Ann gets in place)

Special Music

Where her heart has always been - Alan Jackson

Old Testament Scripture

Psalm 23 NIV

A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Pastoral Prayer

O God, who gave us birth, you are ever more ready to hear than we are to pray. You know our needs before we ask, and our ignorance in asking. Give to us now your grace, that as we shrink before the mystery of death, we may see the light of eternity. Speak to us once more your solemn message of life and of death. Help us to live as those who are prepared to die. And when our days here are accomplished, enable us to die as those who go forth to live, so that living or dying, our life may be in you, and that nothing in life or in death will be able to separate us from your great love in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Add prayer for family:

Family: Siter Sue

Sons: Scott and Dustin

Grandkids

Friends and entire family

Amen.

Special Music

Have I told you lately that I love you - Rod Stewart

Celebration of Life

Kay Lynn Williams passed away peacefully on January 21, 2025, in Medina, Texas, at the age of 72 due to heart failure. Born on October 10, 1952, in Houston, Texas, Kay brought warmth and joy to all who knew her. She is survived by her sister, Sue Stevenson, and her two sons, Scott Beckham and Dustin Beckham. Kay was deeply cherished by her family and friends, who will remember her as a loving mother and a devoted friend. Her affection for those around her was evident in every interaction, and she had a remarkable ability to bring laughter and fun into any moment.

Chris Chassee, Family Friend

New Testament and Scripture

1 Corinthians 13:1–13 NIV

1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Pray.

Kay Williams

It is an honor to be with you today and celebrate Kay’s life. It was special for me to listen to Scott about the impact of a beautiful and sacrificial life. This moments can be difficult, no doubt as they press upon us the reality of our own mortality.

They can also be clarifying. The finality of it all forces us to ask questions, to bring into light what we feel, how we experience others, our loved ones, and what life is all about.

There is a measuring of sort that takes place in us but also of the life that we are honoring. I do not think God measures a life in the same way we do and it is not our roll to consider worthiness or make judgements based on subjective standards….but this moment requires us to ask…what did this relationship mean to me? Who was mom, friend, grandma Kay. Why exactly does this hurt?

You have and will make your own observations, no doubt ones more meaningful and personal than mine, but allow me to frame some for us….

Kay was a nurturer:

Kay raise Scott and Dustin, was mother to Dave’s girls, grandmother. She was also momma Kay in the neighborhood. Mother to any friends, anyone that would come to the house. You could not ask for a better friend, someone that you could call in the middle of the night…always wanted to help.

Comment from the funeral home website….

I don't remember the year but I hung out with the family while steaks and sauted mushrooms were being made. We pulled out the bopit game and laughed all the way through. Iir was a lonely Christmas that year for me but Mama K invited me to her home as always, and made sure I had a gift under the tree. Love you Mama K, from Carrie

Kay was adventurous

Evident by a picture i saw with full mardi gras costume or the sporadic road trips. Inviting a friend or a child to jump in the car…presented as a chance to escape to something fun, but really continue to care with the medicine of adventure and companionship.

Momma Kay was down for anything.

Finally,

Kay was tough

I won’t call her momma Kay now, but Ms. Kay as she was known in the oil field. I grew up with my dad in the oil field. That is a colorful place, a tough place, an intimidating place, but she earned respect through her skills and her tenacity. Ms. Kay endured difficulties…watching loved ones face difficulty and of course her own battle for 15 years with illness. Ms. Kay was one tough lady.

Now, those are beautiful within themselves but for them to be lived in tandem is special….

Scripture from Paul

This scripture from the apostle Paul is a great snapshot of what made Kay’s life special.

What is interesting is this chapter is most popular because it is often shared at weddings. But this passage, though appropriate for a man and woman to model the love described here, that is not the primary focus....

The First Letter to the Corinthians b. Love Is the Most Perfect and Only Eternal Way to Worship God, 13:1–13

The chapter is primarily about living in Christian community in a way that glorifies God, and that is by learning to treat other members of Christ’s body the way God has treated us—with self-sacrificing, other-oriented love. This is what has come to be referred to as agapē love, based on the Greek word used for it here. That word is used ten times between 13:1 and 14:1. Many Christians seem to assume that the word agapē was invented by Christ or his followers and always meant divine, Christ-like love. Although the word did come to be the preferred word among Christians for the love shown and expected by Christ, its basic meaning, as indicated by BDAG, is “warm regard for and interest in another.”1

Today is not the time to get into the weeds here about what Paul is doing with Spiritual gifts, but I will sum it up this way....Spiritual gifts and skill sets given to us from God for the work of ministry, they are important, but not nearly as important as love.

If we can prophesy, or speak in a certain way, or have special leadership gifts…they are good, but what is transcendent is love. Kay’s life is transcendent because of love.

This is a tough list to consider:

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 NIV

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Now, Kay, no doubt failed, dishonored at some point. kept record of wrong, or got angry easily.

But the Kay we knew, it would have been hard to find examples. I look at this list and it is overwhelming. But see Paul in this text is talking about the love of God that never fails. And when that love pervades all that we are....we can begin to live into this calling. Kay did that. And she can be an inspiration of us all to live that way too.

Finally, there is reminder of our eternal promise here in the text that gives us great hope this day:

1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV

12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

For as beautiful the life of Kay was and for as sacrificial and loving as she was…she was still only living with part of the promise. Only seeing the reflection of God like in a mirror. Today we have great hope because she now sees face to face. She is known fully and knows fully the God who created her. We have hope today in grief, because we know that Kay is with Jesus. The love that was poured out into her and through her is now complete in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Hymn

Softly and Tenderly

Benediction

The peace of God He which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Graveside

A SERVICE OF COMMITTAL – Edwina Jane Saul

July 1, 2023

Greeting

Listen, I will tell you a mystery!

We will not all die, but we will all be changed.

For this perishable body must put on imperishability,

and this mortal body must put on immortality.

Then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:

"Death has been swallowed up in victory."

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

But thanks be to God,

who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(1 CORINTHIANS 15:51, 53, 54 b-55, 57)

Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;

my body also dwells secure.

You, [Lord,] show me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy,

in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (PSALM 16:9, 11, UMH 748)

The following prayer is offered:

Let us pray.

O God, you have ordered this wonderful world

and know all things in earth and in heaven.

Give us such faith that by day and by night,

at all times and in all places,

we may without fear commit ourselves

and those dear to us

to your never-failing love,

in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

Scripture

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled and unfading,

kept in heaven for you.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you suffer trials

so that the genuineness of your faith may prove itself worthy

at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Without having seen him, yet you love him;

though you do not now see him,

you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy.

As the harvest of your faith you reap the salvation of your souls.

(ADAPTED FROM 1 PETER 1:3-9)

Jesus said: "Very truly, I tell you,

unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,

it remains just a single grain;

but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Those who love their life lose it,

and those who hate their life in this world

will keep it for eternal life.

Whoever serves me must follow me,

and where I am, there will my servant be also.

Whoever serves me, the Father will honor." (JOHN 12:24-26)

Commital

Standing at the head of the coffin and facing it (preferably casting earth upon it as it is lowered into the grave) the pastor says:

Almighty God,

into your hands we commend your daughter Edwina,

in sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This body we commit to the ground

(to the elements, to its resting place),

earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. (TRADITIONAL)

One or more of the following or other prayers is offered:

Eternal God, you have shared with us the life of Edwina Jane Saul.

Before she was ours, she is yours.

For all that Edwina has given us to make us what we are,

for that of her which lives and grows in each of us,

and for her life that in your love will never end,

we give you thanks.

As now we offer Edwina back into your arms,

comfort us in our loneliness,

strengthen us in our weakness,

and give us courage to face the future unafraid.

Draw those of us who remain in this life closer to one another,

make us faithful to serve one another,

and give us to know that peace and joy which is eternal life;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The pastor dismisses the people with the following or another blessing:

Now to the One who is able to keep you from falling,

and to make you stand without blemish

in the presence of God's glory with rejoicing,

to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,

be glory, majesty, power, and authority,

before all time and now and forever. Amen. (JUDE 24-25, ALT.)