Funeral: Naomi Jones

Naomi Jones (Rod Rodriguez’s grandmother)

Ms. Naomi was a rock for the family. She was always concerned for all her children and grandchildren. She was concerned about whether or not households were in shape financially. She wanted all of hers to know Jesus and have a relationship with Him. She had no problem opening up her home if need be to take care for a loved one. When you reflect upon her life, take with you her principles for life. Share them with your children, nieces, nephews. Continue her legacy!

Rod told me that toward the end of her days, she would begin to go back mentally to where she was raised. Columbia, KY (Adair County). She would go through the process of casting with her fishing pole. She’d tell Rod that he wasn’t paying attention. He wasn’t watching his line! This shows you the purity of her heart. That toward the end her reflection was about sometime peaceful like fishing.

So it is good at times like this, in moments of great sorrow, to turn for comfort and strength to the Word of God.

Read

This Scripture speaks of there being a time for everything. This is something that the human heart is torn over. Because we gladly accept the times of pleasantries, births, reaping, building, love and laughter. But when it speaks of it being a time to mourn, and even a time to die, we find that hard to accept. But with the wisdom that the Lord has, which is far above ours, it becomes real and acceptable. ‘To everything there is a season’.

At a time like this we need to remember that in God’s order there is a time to weep, and it helps us to bear the sorrow we feel when we allow the tears to flow, as we face the fact that there is also ‘a time to die‘. The Psalmist said, that there is a season for weeping, “weeping may be for a night,” but there is another season ”but joy comes in the morning‘.

We read in the Scriptures of the God who loved so much that He gave His only Son to die for us. Can there be greater love than that? God cares for you and me! It is at a time like this that we can feel vulnerable, and need reassurance, a time when we hurt because we miss a loved one

Do you remember that Jesus said, “I lay down my life”. He knew that it was an appointed time for him to die. A season, which would dictate his exit from this earth in human form.

Likewise we must note that we also have an exit season.

in The Message Bible says,

13) And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, "Today--at the latest, tomorrow--we're off to such and such a city for the year. We're going to start a business and make a lot of money."

14) You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing.

15) Instead, make it a habit to say, "If the Master wills it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that."

16) As it is, you are full of your grandiose selves. All such vaunting self-importance is evil.

17) In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don't do it, that, for you, is evil.

We are only here for a short period of time. I’ve heard people say, “Well, I’m living it up. I’m on the mountaintop. If I die, I’ll die happy. These people are ignorant of the fact that once this life on earth ceases, there is an accountability session that will take place. You are going to be judged by what you did on this earth.

“…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

Not only did Jesus die but also now he lives ever beckoning us to draw nearer to him. It is in the closeness of His presence that we find encouragement and strength at a time like this.

To be quite frank, when i heard that Ms. Naomi passed and that we was 91, i didn’t think, wow this was tragic. I didn’t say, if she only had more time! But what i though about was, man, she got to see and experience a host of history, feel love, give advice, correct some of you guys, and leave her mark on this world.

But for us, the family and friends we are here left with a void, heavy hearts. Although we have heavy heart today, we also have confidence in what The Apostle Paul said in :

If she were here today, I’m sure she would tell you to be prepared, because you do not know when you are going to check out of life and enter into eternity.

She would tell you not to worry about her. She no longer has to contemplate about who disappointed her. She’ll never have to fight depression again. She’ll never have to contend with any bodily aliments. And, she doesn’t have to worry about trying to please folk!

He wrote in :

But for us, the family and friends we are here left with a void, heavy hearts and questions. “What if… she didn’t have the surgery? What if she had a different doctor? What if she was in a different hospital? Some of these questions we’ll never get answers to and if answered they’ll never satisfy us.

Oh but though we have questions, we also have confidence in what The Apostle Paul said. He wrote in :

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.

She professed Jesus Christ as Lord, and as a Christian she now has victory! She is in the presence of the LORD! Now lets shift from her to you. Will you have victory in Christ Jesus even in death?

It can only happen, if you give your life to Christ.

May each one of you know the Lord Jesus Christ, so you can see the Lord Jesus and hear him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' ( NIV)

May you each one know the Lord Jesus Christ, so you can see the Lord Jesus and hear him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' ( NIV)

In closing, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” And now is the time for you to make Jesus your Lord and savior so that you can see Jesus one day in peace and enter into true eternal rest!

God bless you, and may the peace of the Lord be upon you.

Again on behalf of the family they would like to thank all of those who supported them during this time of sorrow. The cards, flowers, food and other gifts are greatly appreciated. I would personally like to thank the owner and staff of A.D. Porter & Sons.

If you desire to attend the Interment, which will be held at _____________Cemetery, you’re now under the guidance of the A.D. Porter staff.

If you desire to attend the Interment, which will be held at The Green Meadow Cemetery, follow the directions of the Shumake Funeral Staff. At this time you are in the hands of the Shumake Staff.