Sis Ruby Walton's Funeral

Obituary.........

I first like to start today to say that it is an honor to represent Sis Ruby and her family today. Also, I would to thank everyone that has come today to assist in comforting the family and to celebrate Sis Ruby’s Home-going!

My name is Rusty Burnham, I am the pastor at Friendship Freewill Baptist Church, where Sis Ruby worshipped and served for many years. I have been her pastor for 8 years but I have also served with her at our church for many years.

She was truly one of a kind! I been thinking a lot about the memories and “unique” was the word that was brought to my mind! God makes us special in His own special way and that she was!

OBIT.......Mrs. Ruby Louise Harrell Walton age 88 of Wolf Log Road Flomaton, Alabama passed away Friday July 16, 2021 in a Jay, Florida nursing facility after a brief illness. She was a native of Allison, Arkansas, A former resident of Michigan, and a long time resident of Escambia County, Alabama. Mrs. Walton attended the Friendship Freewill Baptist Church, Graduated from Decatur High School in Decatur, Michigan, and was a Homemaker. She enjoyed long walks, flowers, gardening, and sewing quilts and baby blankets.

Survivors: (2) Sons- Dan Hagood Walton, Jr. of Flomaton, Alabama Duane (Frances) Walton of Milton, Florida (1) Brother- Gus Harrell of Marcellis, Michigan Grandchildren- Rhonda (Gary) hall, Regina (Dave) Nolin, Lisa Walton, Douglas Walton, Jr., Amanda Wiley, Michael Walton, Christopher Walton, John Talley, Duane Talley, Cannon Talley Numerous Great Grandchildren ***Preceded in death by: Parents- Gus and Sarah Long Harrell Husband- Dan Walton, Sr. Daughter- Kathleen Walton Talley Son- Douglas Walton, Sr.

Sis Ruby loved her husband and loved her family! Many conversations we had, she deeply cared for her family! I was thinking about this, it is hard for us to know what people are thinking or what is on their heart sometimes and those thoughts are not easily shared by some. However, there are a few occasions where a window opens and you hear the heart speak through the calluses that life has given. I was blessed to experience of few of those open windows! She truly loved her family! She was proud of all of you!

Sis Ruby was devoted to the Lord’s work! She wanted to help and right till the very end she would send her tithes in! When we would have suppers or dinner’s on the ground, she would not come unless she fixed something to bring. We would pick her and she would insist that she was bringing something or she wasn’t coming.

She loved to read and in-turn she was well read in God’s Word! One of my fondest memories was during a Bible study on a Wed. night, before I was pastor. We were studying about Jonah and it was mentioned in the study that Jonah was swallowed by a “great fish” (Jonah 1:17). This has been an argument that has gone on for years and part of that discussion that evening was that this was a “great fish” rather than a whale. Well, this well versed quiet lady, spoke up from midway in the pews and said “Well, Jesus said it was a whale.” Jesus did say in Matthew 12:40 “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” In the Greek Lexicon, the Greek word used for what Jesus said does actually mean whale. She knew her Bible! Sis Ruby has corrected me on multiple occasions on words I left out when I would quote a Scripture.

Sis Ruby was “hoot” sometimes. I remember one day at her house, I came in and sit down at her kitchen table which was covered with a puzzle, and I began to talk to her and she looked at me and snickered. She pointed to her ears and she didn’t have her hearing aids in. She hadn’t heard a word I said. She laughed about that! Tracey and I would take her to Chen’s in Atmore some and she would love to try and steal them little old white peanuts from me. She loved those!

We will miss her and truly we have missed her for sometime now! She was unique, but in this journey of faith, unique is an important part of sharing the Gospel!

My family has something at our home very special to us! It is a quilt made by the hands of all the church, it was made at Sis Ruby’s house, she loved to quilt and she so loved being apart of that. She loved being apart of the body of Christ!

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Over the years Sis Ruby, had a lot of health issues, ranging from a brain aneurysm to heart issues. It was a hard fought battle for her, scary for her at times, but she pushed on through, continuing to trust in the Lord. Which brings to mind the Scripture from the apostle Paul in one of his letters to Timothy. 2 Timothy 4:6-8.........

She did fight a good fight of faith, I remember a lot of those times when her health failed her, I never heard her question God. Much like Job she just continued on believing in God. Job said this when he was going through his physical trial; Job 13:15 “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him:.....” Job maintaining his faith in God, no matter the circumstance. Sis Ruby did that as well.

She would probably get my goat for mentioning this, but I am going to do it anyway, because I believe that it speaks to that faith! There was a time that she was hearing things, she said she thought it was in her hearing aids. She said what she was hearing was Gospel music and she would say that at least it was Gospel music. Her physical trial in this earth she fought with faith and with an endurance that said: “well if I got to go through this I am thankful for the small blessings in the midst of the storm!”

Sis Ruby had some spells during church services, one time in particular, she did pretty much like she passed away a few days ago. She went to sleep and we couldn’t wake her up! We prayed and Sis Brandi Golden, one of our great nurses at our church, went to work. She finally came back to. Sis Ruby later told me, while she was grinning, that my teaching almost put her out for good!!!

What a comfort it is to go through all the things that this fallen world has, with a faith in Jesus Christ! Sis Ruby did that and that was a comfort for her and should be a comfort us as well. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is clear and simple: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God gave His only Begotten Son Jesus for us, He walked perfectly and gave His life perfectly, to be a perfect sacrifice for our sins! Now, our response to this is to repent and believe in this powerful, beautiful Gift! Sis Ruby did that very thing and lived her life according to that faith! She was serious about His Word and took it to heart and that is a call for all of us!

There is a passage of Scripture that I love, it provides so much truth and comfort for us today and will also give each believer comfort as the draw closer to this day in their our own life: Philippians 3:20-21 “For our conversation (citizenship) is in Heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His Glorious Body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” Sis Ruby’s has fulfilled the first part, her citizenship while on this earth was in Heaven, she did look for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Let me paraphrase verse 21: “Jesus has taken her weak mortal bodies and change it into a glorious body like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control.” No more pain, no sorrow, no tears, no more death! Perfect peace!!!

There is no greater comfort than that! She believed that, she trusted that no matter what! Now, as we quoted from Paul earlier, that there is laid up for her a crown of righteousness, which the only qualified and capable Judge Jesus Christ can give and He has given that to her and she is now in perfect peace with God the Father and God the Son! I can only imagine her as she is around that throne, along with the other saints, declaring the Goodness of God! Singing “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, riches, wisdom,strength, honor, glory, and blessing!!” This is available for all who love the appearing of Jesus Christ as Sis Ruby did!

On Friday July 16th, 2021 she went to sleep, listening to folks singing about Jesus, and she woke up in eternity singing around the throne singing praises to Christ and she heard well done thy good and faithful servant!!!!

Pray....................