Jean Halstead

(SONG)

Family and friends we have gathered together today, to celebrate the life and home going of our dear friend Ms. Eugenia Marie Halstead, simply known to us as Ms. Jean.

Ms. Jean was a lifelong resident of the Union Hill Community of Cottonwood Alabama, she went home to be with the Lord on March 18th 2019, at her residence. She was in the company of members of her loving family.

Jean lived an honest life of hard work and Christian service. She farmed along side her family and worked with them at their business, the Halstead Store on cottonwood Road.

She later worked for General Electric, retiring in 1995. A lifelong member of Union Hill Baptist Church, Jean was faithful in serving her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Although she had no children of her own, Jean was a mother figure and mentor to many.

She is preceded in death by her parents, former Houston County Commissioner James Harlie Halstead Sr. and Linnie hollon Halstead; two brothers, Johnny Earl Halstead and James Leadon Halstead; one sister Betty Merle White.

She is survived by her by her sister Laura Lounette Halstead; One brother Harlie Halstead Jr. (Ouida) 11 neices and 2 nephews; 22 great nieces and nephews; and 18 great-great nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the staff of First Light Home Care and Kindred Hospice.

(prayer)

(SONG)

We come this morning to pay respect to Ms. Jean Halstead. While this is a very difficult time for us because someone we love is not here with us, we must remember what a blessed day Mrs. Jean is having today, she did not wake up this morning because in the glories of Heaven there is no need for sleep.

The body does not get tired or worn out, there is simply perfect peace and rest. She no longer has to listen to songs about Jesus she is seeing Him face to face and this morning has joined the choir of angels and saints in glory.

What can I say that would honor Ms. Jean Halstead and the Lord she served?

Her life preached this service...

In the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest. In we see Jesus showing His followers something about greatness. He quietly took of His outer garment, wrapped a towel around His waist and began washing the disciples feet. Serving them.

That kind of humble action was on display in the life of Ms. Jean Halstead. While others were trying to get recognition, she was serving. She served in the church and at home.

She lived life never looking back, but always fully there for those around her. If there was one thing that you could say about Ms. Jean she cared about other people.

I have four small children, at every one of their births there was one thing I could be certain of, my parents would leave and before anyone in the church showed up, Ms. Jean and Ms. Lounette was going to be up there at the hospital to check on us and see that baby.

She cared deeply for her family, there were many stories circling around the other night in the home and heard of the many ways she cared for her Nieces and Nephews and how she kept them in line. That’s kinda who she was if something wasn’t right she was going to tell you it wasn’t right, but she did it because she was a person who cared deeply.

There isn’t anything she wouldn’t do for her family. She was a hard worker who I heard could work circles around any man, perhaps some of that was working on the farm but I think alot of that was Ms. Jean herself she just had this grit and spunk about her, you always knew where you stood with Ms. Jean.

When I first became the pastor of Union Hill I learned really fast that there were a couple of things I could always count on, Wednesday and Sunday were always coming and so were Ms. Jean and Ms. Lounette.

I shaved yesterday, every now and then I like to grow a goatee but I remember being a young preacher and having Ms. Jean come up to me and saying, You got something on your face, looks like you got some dirt on your chin.

I didnt know what she meant she just chuckled and walked off I went to the bathroom trying to figure out what she saw on my face only to realize she was talking about the beard I was trying to grow.

She liked to pick at me, and I liked it when she did. I could always count on her saying something that would catch me off guard and be so direct and blunt that i couldnt help but laugh.

She told it like it was.

I think summarizes Ms. Jeans life

Matthew 5:14 NKJV

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Matthew

“You are the light of the World”

a. Not try to become light

b. Not “you have the light”

c. The light is not placed in our hands to minister

d. the light describes the followers themselves

e. Jean Halstead was a light in her whole existence.

2. It is the nature of light to shine

a. You cant remain hidden, even if you desire to do so

b. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden

c. People who follow the Lord Jesus are easily noticed. Their relationship with Jesus is seen in their love for others and their actions.

There was no hiding the eternal life that was in this dear lady.

3. Jesus gives light to everyone in the house

Ms. Jean gave light to everyone in the house

What house? Whichever one she was in!

She gave light to her church and with her family.

Now she is living in the house with the greatest light of all, she is living with the Lrod Jesus Christ. You see the beauty of knowing Ms. jean is a child of God is knowing that today she is not dead but more alive than she ever has been before seeing the face of her Savior, not having to worry about physical pain any longer.

She has reunited with her loved ones her mamma and daddy, her sister Merle her brothers. They welcomed her to a house that was not built by human hands but a house that was built by the hands that created the whole world.

The hands of Jesus Christ.

She is shining brightly today so we may look at her body today but this is not Ms. Jean Ms. Jean is kicking up goldust in glory right now.

As I was thinking of what Ms. Jeans life verse could be, one came to my mind that I think epitomized her.

1 Timothy 2:2 HCSB

for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

1 Timothy

“That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and dignity. This is good and it pleases God our Savior.”

Ms. Jean lived a simple life but her life was far beyond simple, she impacted others with love and care and there is no greater legacy to be left behind than that.

The Bible teaches us that the light of Jesus shines before others and results in others praising God.

a. People are not to see the followers of Jesus but their good deeds.

b. Those good deeds are those that the Lord Jesus himself created inside of them.

c. When others see those good works they praise the Lord for them.

It was easy to see the goodness and care inside the heart of this sweet lady and we have alot we can learn from her. That it is ok to be yourself, that hardwork is the only way to achieve anything in life, that dedication and committment to your family is something to be embraced not something to shy away from, and most importantly that Jesus Christ is the only way to go to the paradise she now enjoys.

She wouldn’t come back here if she could, it is a glorious day of rejoicing for her and we should try our hardest to remember that.

This one thing we know that if we have trusted in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will see her again one day on that beautiful shore.

I hope you have trusted in the Lord Jesus and that you will see Ms. Jean again one day, I hope and pray that you know the peace she lived with, and that you strive to live a peaceful quiet honest hardworking life, caring for the needs of others in the same way she did.

BEcause that is what living life is all about, and she was one of the best people I have known.

(Let’s Pray)