Funeral for Marvin Williams
Funeral for Marvin Williams
8/2/01
SONG BY TRAVIS
(In the Garden)
WELCOME
On behalf of Dorothy and the family I would like to welcome you today as we celebrate the life of Marvin Williams.
PRAYER
OBITUARY
Marvin Lee Williams was born October 23rd, 1916 in Warren County, Missouri. He died on July 29th, 2001 at the Harry S. Truman VA Hospital in Columbia, Missouri at the age of 84 years and 9 months. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Dorothy Williams from Warrenton, also by 2 sons and their families, Loyd F. Williams of Houston, Texas, and Steven R. Williams of Dallas, Texas, 2 brothers, Elmer J. Williams of Melody Lake, Kentucky, and Charlie T. Williams of Louisiana, 5 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.
Marvin was preceded in death by his mother, Candus Williams, his father, Earl Williams, and his sister, Etta Groeber.
Marvin served in the United States Navy during WWII. He retired as an inspector from McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company. He was a member of Faith Christian Fellowship and served as an Alderman in Warrenton for 14 years.
SCRIPTURES
1 Thessalonians 4
13 ¶ Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.
14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord for ever.
18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
1 Corinthians 15
47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven.
48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.
49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.
50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
51 ¶ Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed--
52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
STEVE WILLIAMS
SONG BY TRAVIS
(How Great Thou Art)
VICTORY IN DEATH
-It is always tragic to lose someone to death.
-Whatever the circumstances or no matter what their age, it is still a very difficult thing.
-We are going to look to the only place we can look to find some hope and comfort today. That place of course is the Word of God.
-We are going to talk about Victory in Death.
Ps 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Pr 14:32 ¶ When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous have a refuge.
2Co 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
-God always leads the Christian in victory, even when it doesn’t look like it.
-Marvin is a victim of Victory, even today.
1. VICTORY IN LIFE
-Marvin lived 84 years.
-He was married to Dorothy for 58 years.
-He served in the Navy in WW2.
-He was a community leader.
-The good news is:
HE GOT TO LIVE
-It would be wrong to let the tragedy of his death overshadow his life.
Pr 10:7 “ The memory of the righteous will be a blessing,….”
-You have a choice to focus on all of the good times and memories you had with Marvin.
-I was thinking about what I remembered most about Marvin this morning and it was his smile and his humor.
-He had a very active sense of humor before he became so ill.
-The Bible says about Abraham,
Ge 25:8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people.
-Marvin has lived a full life.
-He lived to see his children and his children’s children and even a great grandchild.
-Thank God for his life!
2. VICTORY IN DEATH
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
-How can death be swallowed up in victory?
-The reason is that Jesus defeated death.
-He died for us and rose from the dead and took the keys of death and hell.
Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Philippians 1, 21 ¶ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
-If you believe the Bible, you believe that Marvin is in a better place than he has ever been before.
-Jesus said that if you believe you will live even if you die.
-The question for us is, DO WE BELIEVE THAT?
3. VICTORY IN THE FUTURE
-It is appointed to all of us to die once, then to face the judgment.
-Are you ready for that?
-This is a great time to get ready.
-Marvin got ready by trusting his life to Jesus.
-Because of that his future is bright/is yours.
-Will you experience victory whether you live or die?
PRAYER
SONG TRAVIS
(I’LL Fly Away)