Graveside Notes

Mr. Irving Bigham

Wife: Deceased Frances

Kids:

Linda

Gary

David

Short term memory

Welcome

Pray

Share Memories

Funeral Message 

Prayer

Irving Bigham

Memories

"I spent some time yesterday after speaking with David and Karyn trying to think of the perfect memory of Irving.  One that shows his compassion, his respect, his wit, his kindness, and his humor.

In just thew few moments I spoke with them it was made apparent to me that Irving was a man that loved his family. Dave expressed his love and admiration for his father multiple times.

Irving was a man that could be described as a simple man. He loved his life. At a young age he volunteered to serve his country by joining the Army Air Corps during WW2. This time of service played a major role in his life.

Irving was a story teller and many of the stories he would share would be of his time in the military. He would share about the shenanigans of the small town boys traveling across the ocean on a Liberty Ship. He would share about the time a young man put a dead fish in the air vents and other pranks they would pull.

He was a witty man that never met a stranger and could easily put a smile on your face.

He loves his wife Frances was happy to provide for her the best he could. He built a house with his own hands from the ground up. He began digging the foundation with a shovel until a neighbor had pity and offered their backhoe.

He and Frannces only knew each other three months before they were married but in those three months he decided who the love of his life would be and he was a faithful loving man until her passing in 2001.

They enjoyed traveling cross country together and visited all 48 states.

He seems to have been a man that truly lived and loved the life he had.

a gospel message

The passing of a loved one, a close friend, a family member is never an easy event.

Tears that fall are expressions of love.

Heavy hearts speak of how she will be missed.

Days like these are difficult.

And yet, days like these can be tools in the hand of a Sovereign God for good.

The Scriptures tell us in Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God

God can take even days like today to make something good out of it.

We cannot do anything more for Ms. Diane, she has left this earth and has gone into eternity.

But Diane White’s memorial service can be used for good. God can work it into something good.

You see, a memorial service like this can remind us of what is really important in life.

So often we get caught up in many, many things that are not really that important.

But the passing of a loved one can remind us of the shortness of life, it can remind us of the importance of loving and expressing our love to others while there is still time, it can remind us that this life is not the only life there is, there IS life in eternity.

When a memorial service like this one reminds us of these things God can make days like today into something good.

You see, I have never met anyone who was in their last chapter of life say, “I wish I had worked more overtime on the job.” I’ve never heard that.

I’ve never heard anyone who was close to eternity say, “I wish I had argued more on social media about politics.”

Never have I heard someone who was near to death say, “I sure wish I had watch more TV and movies.” I’ve never heard that.

But let me tell you what I have heard.

I have heard folks say, “I wish I had made things right with that family member who has been estranged from me for so long.”

I have heard folks say, “I wish I had said, ‘I love you’ more to those I love.

And I have heard folks who were near death say, “I wish I had been more faithful to the Lord.”

These are the kinds of things that people say and express when they are nearing eternity.

May I ask you today to let God make this memorial service into something good.

Would you consider examining your life and your priorities in light of eternity and would you consider making some adjustments so that when your time comes to leave this earth you have no regrets.

All of us will one day face this day.

In time, there will be a memorial service for each of us.

As you grieve over the passing of Mrs. Irving Bigham, as you remember him and your relationship to him, as we celebrate his life and remember him now in death, would you allow God to make this day into something good in your life.

The most valuable thing on planet earth is not gold and silver, it is not riches and wealth, it is not fame and power.

No, the most valuable thing in the entire world are people.

People.

People are more important than anything else that there is.

The Bible says, that God SO loved the people of the world, that He gave His one and only Son and that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried and was raised from the dead for people, for you and me.

God loves us that much!

David shared with me that in the days before his father’s passing he told him “dad, God loves you very much” and his dad responded “That’s something we can be sure of”

The Bible says that God demonstrated His love for us in that even though we are sinners, Christ died for us.

That is the good news of the Gospel!

Jesus died as a substitute to pay for our sins so that we would not have to pay for them ourselves in torment for all eternity.

This day, this memorial service, this time of tears and heartache can be turned into something wonderful if this became the day that you put your trust for eternity and for the forgiveness of your sins in Jesus Christ.

Again, John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Would you decide today to believe in Jesus?

I’m praying that God would make this memorial service, this day of heaviness and tears into something wonderful in your lives.

I’m praying that if you need to be saved that you would choose Christ as your Savior.

Would you bow your head for prayer please?

Lord, thank you for this time of reflection.

Thank you for the life of Irving Bigham.

Thank you for these who have come out today to express their love for him and for one another.

Lord I pray that you will draw those to you who need your salvation and may this day, this memorial service be the tool you use.

Bless us Lord as we depart.

Help this family to draw closer together and close to you.

We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.