Maxine Helen Ramsey Funeral

Greeting:

Good Morning my name is Chad Wilham and I am the pastor of the Heritage Baptist Church in Winchester, VA. But more than that, I am the step-son of Okie Ramsey which means I had the privilege of being Maxines step grand-son and, for a short time, I was also her Pastor.

Obituary:

Maxine Helen Ramsey, 90, of Amelia, passed away on October 9, 2021, at Mercy Clermont Hospital. She was born on April 12, 1931, in Lincoln County, West Virginia, the daughter of the late Romie and Claudine Maynard. She is preceded in death by her parents, son, Ronald L. Ramsey, siblings, Mildred Moore, Alva Maynard, and Okey Maynard. She is survived by her children, Carl M. Ramsey, Forrest "Okey" Ramsey, Robert L. Ramsey, and Shirlee Kohl; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; sister, Kathleen Garcia; numerous nieces and nephews.

Prayer:

Father,

It is at this time we ask that you quiet our spirits and help us to yield our hearts to your wisdom. Give the Ramsey family grace during this hour and a deep sense of your presence and love. Comfort them during this service with you love that passes all understanding. In Jesus Name.

Funeral Meditation:

Psalm 23 NKJV

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

For centuries the Twenty-third Psalm has been one of the most treasured passages in all of the Bible.

It is among the most familiar, so much so that even people who are not religious or very knowledgeable about Scripture recognize these words.

They are among the most comforting words in the entire Bible, often being quoted in times of trouble or distress, and almost always being read when we gather for a funeral.

There are many images in this psalm which hold particular meaning.

One image comes from the verse, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me, Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.

It would be so wonderful if God would simply promise to us that we would never go through difficult times. But we do go through great and terrible difficulties all of the time, and God constantly warns us of these dangers and difficulties in His Holy Word.

The Apostle Peter wrote in his first letter (1 Pet 4:12 CSB) “Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you.”

The Bible constantly tells us that there will be difficult times in life, and Psalm 23 voices such a warning. It does not say, “God will keep you from danger,“ but rather it describes that there will come times, and they come for all of us, when we feel like we are walking through a dark, dangerous valley -- a “valley of the shadow of death.“

But what the Word of God does make very clear is that as we move through such times, God is with us. God is there to comfort us and sustain us.

“As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for YOUR rod and YOUR staff comfort me.”

God is frequently described in the Bible as being like a shepherd who cares for and tends to a flock of sheep.

The rod is used by a shepherd to ward off evil and to direct the sheep as they walk. The staff with its large crook at the end serves to support the sheep’s body when it crosses a dangerous chasm. The Lord protects, guides, and supports us. He does not send us through the dark valley with a cheery promise to meet us again on the other side. He goes with us every step of the way.

In recent days, Maxine could certainly have talked about how she had been through such a “valley of the shadow of death.” But she was never alone. Not only did she have her family at her side, she had God at his side, like a shepherd who kept close watch on her.

Another image in the Twenty-third Psalm which I would lift up today is this: Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

The end of our journey through life on earth if you are a Christian is to be with God forever. When we come to Christ in faith, confessing our sin and asking His forgiveness we are made members of the household of God, and our destiny is made secure through faith.

Maxine was a believer in Christ. I know this because I had the privilege to be her pastor for a short time. When she approached me about being baptized we had a long conversation where she told me she had repented of her sins and placed her faith in Christ long ago but had never been baptized. We had another conversation that baptism does not provide salvation but was simply a step in obedience to the Lord. So we set a date and baptized her while she sat in a chair. I’ll never forget her words to me, she pulled me close to her and whispered “Don’t drop me.”

Sometimes our journey through life is filled with joy, and sometimes it is very sad and lonely. Yet the promise that God has given the believer eternal life with him sustains you in your journey and gives substance to your hope.

The goodness and mercy that follow us are not something we achieve for ourselves. They are given to us by the sheer grace of God. Were it not for God’s forgiveness, our sins and mistakes would quickly disqualify us for eternal life. But with God there is goodness and mercy, supremely evident in his Son Jesus Christ. Our life on earth and our life with God forever are the product of his grace alone.

This is something all of us do well to remember as we look now to the days ahead. The grief we feel and all the emotions that go with that grief can tempt us to unbelief and irrational behavior and deep and dark sadness.

Nevertheless, the goodness and mercy of God will follow us all the days of our life, giving us broad latitude to work through our grief and sorrow, and forgiveness for our mistakes. For it is not God’s will that anyone living or dead be separated from him forever.

We have gathered in this hour, not only to grieve the death of Maxine, but to give thanks to God for her life and eternal life with God.

We have gathered, not only too mourn over how different lives will be without her, but to give thanks to God for how full life was when she was in our midst.

Give invitation and prayer to accept Christ.

Graveside:

When Maxine closed her eyes in death she opened them in heaven in the presence of her savior.

For the scriptures tell us in :

2 Corinthians 5:6–8 NKJV

6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Today Maxine is absent from her body yes but her soul is at home with the Lord and as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we can look forward to a time when soul and body will be reunited in Heaven for ever in perfection.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NKJV

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

We know that Maxine is home with the Lord because she had a testimony of placing her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as a young person. The end of our journey through life on earth if you are a Christian is to be with God forever. When we come to Christ in faith, confessing our sin and asking His forgiveness we are made members of the household of God, and our destiny is made secure through faith.

And, because of this, today is not a permanent goodbye, for we know you will see Maxine again soon if the Lord is your savior like he was hers.

If you are not a believer in Christ, like Maxine was, do not put off that decision for one more minute. Trust Christ today.

So you can here the words of our Lord say “Well, done and welcome home to live in the presence of your Lord.”

Closing Prayer:

Lord,

We turn to you today as our source of hope and strength. You are the giver of eternal life in the name of your son Jesus. Father, you know the grief that is in this room today. I pray you would give Maxine’s family and friends the comfort they need today and in the days ahead. Soothe their pain from this day forward as they continue life without Maxine. We commit him to you today. Amen.