Seymore White Service

John 11:25-26

Welcome! First off, thank you to everyone that has come today to support the family, to encourage the family. I know I speak for them when I say thank you, Emily was trying to figure out what to call this service today. And she settled on a Celebration of Life in which I think fits very well For Mr. Seymore. So we are celebrating his life. It is said that action speaks louder than words. And I believe you can see that in the lives of this family, Mr. Seymour with the love that he gave, and the love that was returned, stands as a powerful testimony of the relationship with the family and friends of Seymore White. And that is what we're celebrating here today

Mr Seymore White, age 87 of Flomaton, Al, passed away peacefully on October 25, 2025 at home surrounded by his loving family.

Mr White was a native and life-long resident of Flomaton. He was born to the late Earbie Lee and Emma (Beasley) White on September 25, 1938.

‘A father like you is rare, one that’s so generous, smart and kind. A father like you is what everyone needs, full of smiles and laughter, always doing great deeds. Nothing can replace a father like you, but when you get to heaven, God will be lucky to have you too’

Mr Seymore was a devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He spent countless moments spending time with all his loves. Whether it be ballgames or just walking in the yard amongst his fruit trees. He made sure each person knew how much he cared. Mr. Seymore was a hard worker, after retiring after 40 years at Masland, Mr. Seymore made sure he tended to his fruit trees so he could share with others. He was of pure heart.

Seymore was preceded in death by his parents, Erbie Lee and Emma (Beasley) White; Brothers, Roy White, Narvie Lee White, Wilber White, Charles White and Joel White; Sisters, Dorothy White Barnes, Marguerite White Newton and Jewel White Amerson and one daughter, Vickie Madden Baker.

Seymore is survived by his daughter, Emily (Chris) Burnham; sons, Gary Madden, Lee (Melissa) Madden and Terry Madden; his twin brother Cecil White; sister Annie Bell White Malone; 14 grandchildren, 20 great grandkids and numerous nieces and nephews.

Seymore’s greatest gifts of love were his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren and his two beloved furbabies Roxie and MamaDog, whom all will greatly miss him.

Prayer............

The goal for us today is good memories and hope of eternal life!

One of the verses that I think fits well for this time, I have used it many times is Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ......Paul is most definitely speaks of Jesus Christ, however, I believe we can use it for our time of grieving. As Emily said it is a Celebration of Life!

Think on the good things......It seems that bad things, sickness, death, etc., dominate our thoughts. Paul is telling us that if there is anything praiseworthy and anything that is good think on those things! From what I have heard from the report of Mr. Seymour is the good things.

Seymore White was a man that loved his family and friends. His animals too! Chris told me the other day that at one time Mr. Seymore had 26 dogs and he fed each one their own can of dog food.

Emily said that all the times at the hospitals and rehabs, folks would call him Paw Paw.........The all grew to love him.

He loved his grandkids and great grandkids....Emily said he would bring biscuits on Sunday and bring the kids money for the offering at church.

I did not know Mr. Seymore personally at all, but the report of him that i have heard was on worthy of praise and good!

One of the things that I have thought about in my years of preaching funerals is when I hear the family and friends say “We are going to miss them!”.......On the surface of that statement seems negative, but that is the best thing that we can say about our loved ones! What that means is that your family (Seymore) made such an impact on you that they will be missed, it means you meant a great deal to them and in turn they meant that much to you. It is probably one of the greatest things you can say about someone!

In the Obituary, it is said of Seymore is he made sure everyone knew he cared, that is such a powerful testimony of a man! He worked hard to share to others........Those are the things that we should remember, the good things!

Song.........Go Rest High On That Mountain........

A week ago, I met Mr. Seymore, not at his best physically. I had come to have prayer with him, as he was struggling in his health. Emily introduced me, saying this is Rusty Burnham. I told him that Chris and I have the same last name, but we are not kin, but that we are kin by the blood of Jesus. Brothers in Christ! I asked Mr. Seymore if he knew about that blood that was shed by the Lamb of God for our sins and he said “yes”! The blood shed on the cross for our sins, that we might come to the Father, our Creator! As I asked him these things he said yes to the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. It seemed to me that he already knew about this powerful Gospel of Jesus Christ.

With that belief Bro Seymore and all those that believe are given hope, that our faith is not in vain! Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Without faith we must believe it is impossible to please God our Father. Our faith must be in God and that He is a Rewarder of those that diligently seek Him........Jesus said it this way in John 14:1–6 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Let not your hearts be troubled.......This is what believing in Jesus Christ does, it quells all of our fears. We live in hope, not anxiousness!

You believe that there is a Creator, God Almighty, well then believe also in Jesus, God’s Son........I have heard the phrase that Jesus was fully God and fully man..........That is the only way our redemption , could of happened.

I have heard it put this way: “God’s Perfect Man, Man’s Perfect God!” That is who Bro Seymore put his faith in!

In that hope we will never be ashamed!

John 11:25–26 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

In My Father’s House are many mansions........that word mansions has been debated......in the Greek it is literally dwelling places........

Let us not be troubled by that either way, because what truly makes Heaven, Heaven is the Presence of God.

If it were not true, Jesus nor God would of ever promised it, because it is impossible for them to lie, just as it is impossible for them to change!

This part of the verse is so good to me............Jesus is preparing a place for us.......Scripture says ever living to make intercession for us....then Jesus says that He will come again and receive those that believe in His Person and Work unto Himself......Now, here is the part where I am there you maybe also.....

This is a powerful promise.......Everyone that believes can and will be in the same place as Jesus......Where He is we will be!

Romans 8:17 “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” .....

Glorified together........Can you see that with Mr. Seymore?? Glorified, because of his faith in that Blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead!

Thomas asked the question.........We don’t know where you are going, how can we know the way????/

Jesus answers and when He answers, He knew that He was the answer!

He is the only way, the only life, and the only truth!

I said all of that to give us confidence about the day when our time on earth comes to a close, that the confession, the faith in the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for me is enough and brings into the presence of God, not as an acquaintance or slave or whatever, but as a joint-heir of Christ, we will be glorified!

So, when the time comes, our hearts and our families hearts, does not have to be troubled, because we can celebrate the gift that the Lord has given us in the life of Mr. Seymore and the life that he is experiencing as we speak as a joint-heir of Jesus Christ!

Jesus goes on in John 14:19 “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.”

Because He lives, we will live also!

Our comfort is not in sentiment or wishful thinking—it is in the finished work of Christ.

Jesus entered into our death, bore our sin, and conquered the grave (1 Corinthians 15:55–57 “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ).

I would like to share with you a few more things: Romans 8:18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

The sufferings of this life are what they are, some intense, some not as much, but whatever they are those sufferings seem big at the time we are going through them.

Paul says in this powerful verse that these sufferings in how intense they seem to us, cannot come close to the greatness of the glory that will be revealed in the believer, when they go to the Abode of God and Christ!

2 Corinthians 4:17 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;”

Our sufferings our light and quick compared to the weight of the Glory that is revealed in us of Jesus Christ!

We have a glimpse of the Presence of God, Heaven, Revelation 21:22–23 “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” ...… John tells us in Revelation 22:3–5 “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”

One more.....Revelation 21:3–5 “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

God’s abode is with men, He dwells with them and they will be His people......all the tears of fear, sorrow, and worry are gone.....no death, no pain......Jesus has made all things new!.......That is the promise and hope that we have in Jesus Christ, that is what Mr. Seymore confessed that he believed and this is the reward!

1 Thessalonians 4:13 “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.”

We mourn, but not as those without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

We do have hope, it is in the Faithful Hands of our Savior!

And if He cares for us that much then we know He cares for us!

He is the God of all comfort, who invites us to cast our cares on Him.

Our comfort is not that we forget our loved one, but that we rest in the truth that they are safe with Christ!

Song........Beulah Land.......

Invite folks to eat and pray to close and for the meal.....