Walt Thompson's Funeral

Conway Twitty isn’t the first place one might look for songs which might be appropriate for a funeral.

I don’t know how such things work, but it might be nice, one day, for Walt to greet Sandra with a “Hello darlin.”

There was one Conway Twitty song which I thought might be appropriate.

“That’s My Job”

[Verse 1] I woke up cryin' late at night, when I was very young I had dreamed my father, had passed away and gone My world revolved around him, I couldn't lie there anymore So I made my way down, the mirrored hall, and tapped upon his door [Chorus] And I said, "Daddy, I'm so afraid! How would I go on, with you gone that way? Don't wanna cry anymore, so may I stay with you?" And he said "That's my job, that's what I do Everything I do is because of you, to keep you safe with me That's my job, you see." [Bridge] Every person carves his spot, and fills the hole with life And I pray someday I might, light as bright as he [Verse 3] Woke up early one bright fall day, read the tragic news After all my travels, I settled down, within a mile or two I make my livin' with words and rhymes, and all this tragedy Should go into my head and out instead, as bits of poetry [Chorus] But I say, "Daddy I'm so afraid How will I go on, with you gone this way How can I come up, with a song to say, "I love you." "That's my job, that's what I do Everything I do is because of you, to keep you safe with me That's my job, you see." [Outro] "Everything I do is because of you, to keep you safe with me."

Walt Thompson embodied that fatherly ideal for his own daughter, grandchildren, Mrs. Sandra, and so many others in the community. He is remembered by us and God as a helper. As the deacon in charge of benevolence he helped hundreds of people. Beyond that, the community recognized him as someone who would help them get a job and so many other necessities of life. As the obituary says, “He was also known to have a heart of gold, wanting to help anybody and everybody regardless of their situation he wanted to help anybody in need. He was a member of the Lomax Church of Christ where he served as a deacon and oversaw the benevolence. He was also a big supporter of MidSouth Youth Camp, where he volunteered yearly helping with the fish fry, he always said he was the only one who knew how to mix the fish meal. In the recent years he pulled some of the young men together from the Lomax Church and taught them how to "properly" mix the meal, telling them he wouldn't always be around.”

Walt helped so many because he relied on the Rock of ages. says, Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.” Walt was not like those who of whom Isaiah wrote, “For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge” (). Isaiah said, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock” (). He was a wise man who built his house on the Rock ().

What does the Rock of Ages say? “I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”

What do we say? “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though this body shall be destroyed, yet shall I see God.” And “If we live, we live unto the Lord; and if we die, we die unto the Lord. Whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”

Anyone whose life is built on the rock should certainly enjoy Rocky Top. “Rocky Top, you’ll always be home sweet home to me.” Every time I sing or hear Rocky Top, I’ll think of Walt. It must have been great to be a part of the Rocky Top Ramblers.

Now Walt is, by God’s grace, with the Rock of ages. It truly is a perfect place—a Divinely prepared place for a Divinely prepared people. John saw that place and said, “I saw a new heaven and new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself shall be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord; even so saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labors.”

Prayer:

O God, whose mercies cannot be numbered: Accept our prayers on behalf of thy servant and grant him an entrance into the land of light and joy, in the fellowship of thy saints; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.[1]

Into thy hands, O merciful Savior, we commend thy servant N. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech thee, a sheep of thine own fold, a lamb of thine own flock, a sinner of thine own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of thy mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.[2]

In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our brother N; and we commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. The Lord bless him and keep him, the Lord make his face to shine upon him and be gracious unto him, the Lord lift up his countenance upon him and give him peace. Amen.[3]

[1] The Episcopal Church, The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church (New York: Church Publishing Incorporated, 2007), 470.

[2] The Episcopal Church, The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church (New York: Church Publishing Incorporated, 2007), 483.

[3] The Episcopal Church, The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church (New York: Church Publishing Incorporated, 2007), 485.