Charles W. Priest Sr. Funeral Service.

Wanda Kay Singing -

Uncle Wayne’s Funeral Service

We are gathered here today to celebrate a life well lived. Charles W. Priest Sr. mostly called by Wayne, or Papa by his family. Born on June 24th, 1932 in Red Level, Florida died this past Sunday January 23rd, 2022 - 5 months short of his ninetieth birthday.

Wayne was preceded in death by his wife Corriene, Son Jeff, Grandson Jeffrey Priest Jr and Granddaughter Beth Mashburn Barnes.

Left to cherish his memories are, Son Church Priest and Wife Viva, Daughters Shirley Mashburn and Husband Bill, Bonnie Strickland and Daughter-in-law Ellen Priest.

Wayne had 10 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren and many more loving family members.

Wayne went to school in his early days in the old Red Level Baptist Church when it served as both a church and school, it was located on the west side of Highway 19.

He attended Crystal River high school which is now the middle school. One of his biggest accomplishments (he told everyone he knew) was playing sports. His teammates and him won the 1948 State Championship in 6 man football.

Wayne graduated in 1950 and went into the Air Force where he served honorably during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

During the Vietnam war, Wayne used to send his family reel-to-reel tapes of his voice and he would talk to each of his children and his wife, Corriene.

One point in his service he was assigned to a forward combat base where he worked closely with pilots developing flight plans.

The base was attacked several times while we has there. The air raid sirens had started playing, Wayne then turned on his reel-to-reel and left it recording as he and his comrades got in their bunkers.

This tape consisted of 30 minutes of constant rockets and loud explosions, some only a few yards away.

The war affected his children and the last thing they did at night was pray that God would bring him home. God had answered our prayers.

Wayne retired from service in 1971. He went back to work for Maurice Hollins on Hollingswood Ranch, eventually becoming a foreman where he tended cattle, produced hay and managed wild hog populations.

During the 70’s, Wayne and his brother Dean started a custom meat shop, they served the community with a place where you could bring your animals to be processed.

Wayne was a man of faith, he loved this church and was a very active member. In his time he was a youth director for many years. Almost every Saturday the youth of the community got together and played games, sang the gospel and worshiped the Lord.

On every third Saturday we went to a youth rally at another church in the district, where youth groups from all over the area got together to worship.

Wayne and several other volunteers even restored an old school bus that was used to pick up kids when they did not have a ride to these church rallies.

Master Sargent Michael Wayne Mashburn

Wayne shares his time

My time:

Uncle Wayne as he was to me, became very close to me, about 20 years ago, when my Granddaddy started to get sick with cancer.

He would come help make sausage, Nanny would cook a big pot of Lima beans and we would all sit and eat beans and cracklen cornbread.

Then when my Granddaddy passed away 16 years ago, we really got close, he would call and say you want to go to Plant City, well, we would go get a truck load of vegetables, and we would talk the whole way down and back, well most he would tell me stories, and also give me advice.

He also had become like a grandfather to my three daughters, and was one of my greatest supporters when I became the preacher here.

So when I think of Uncle Wayne there are some verses that come to my mind, Proverbs 22:17-21

Proverbs 22:17–21 CSB

17 Listen closely, pay attention to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge. 18 For it is pleasing if you keep them within you and if they are constantly on your lips. 19 I have instructed you today—even you— so that your confidence may be in the Lord. 20 Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge, 21 in order to teach you true and reliable words, so that you may give a dependable report to those who sent you?

When we would go somewhere, or would just talk, I would always listen closely, as he didn’t just tell me stories about days gone by, but we would discuss the church, and I would always listen closely.

I always looked up to Uncle Wayne, he meant a lot to me and this church, but I am thankful that I know without a shadow of a doubt that I will be able to see him again one day.

Because of his faith and relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, he immediately was in the presence of Jesus Sunday morning when he took his last breath on this earth.

2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV 1900

8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

I can tell you that today, Uncle Wayne is present with the Lord, there was a great reunion in heaven Sunday morning, as Jesus brought him in, there his wife, his parents awaited him, all his siblings, his son and grandson and granddaughter, nieces and nephews, and cousins and many family and friends.

This makes me think of what Billy Graham said, Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.

Heaven gets sweeter and sweeter, as we go through life, and I can tell you Uncle Wayne wants to see each of you there one day.

If you want to know more about how to make sure you are going to heaven to see him again, you can talk to me or Wayne Mashburn, we both would love to share with you, as I know Uncle Wayne would want us too.

Uncle Wayne taught me a lot and There is one last thing that I want to leave you with and that is, I could always ask Uncle Wayne about gardening, and you know that was the first occupation.

Genesis 2:15 CSB

15 The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it.

Paul Harvey had this to say about the farmer:

And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "I need a caretaker." So God made a farmer.

God said, "I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, milk cows, work all day in the fields, milk cows again, eat supper and then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board." So God made a farmer.

"I need somebody with arms strong enough to rustle a calf and yet gentle enough to deliver his own grandchild. Somebody to call hogs, tame cantankerous machinery, come home hungry, have to wait for lunch until his wife's done feeding visiting ladies and tell the ladies to be sure and come back real soon -- and mean it." So God made a farmer.

God said, "I need somebody willing to sit up all night with a newborn colt. And watch it die. Then dry his eyes and say, 'Maybe next year.' I need somebody who can shape an ax handle from a persimmon sprout, shoe a horse with a hunk of car tire, who can make harness out of haywire, feed sacks and shoe scraps. And who, planting time and harvest season, will finish his forty-hour week by Tuesday noon, then, pain'n from 'tractor back,' put in another seventy-two hours." So God made a farmer.

God had to have somebody willing to ride the ruts at double speed to get the hay in ahead of the rain clouds and yet stop in mid-field and race to help when he sees the first smoke from a neighbor's place. So God made a farmer.

God said, "I need somebody strong enough to clear trees and heave bails, yet gentle enough to tame lambs and wean pigs and tend the pink-combed pullets, who will stop his mower for an hour to splint the broken leg of a meadow lark. It had to be somebody who'd plow deep and straight and not cut corners. Somebody to seed, weed, feed, breed and rake and disc and plow and plant and tie the fleece and strain the milk and replenish the self-feeder and finish a hard week's work with a five-mile drive to church.

"Somebody who'd bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing, who would laugh and then sigh, and then reply, with smiling eyes, when his son says he wants to spend his life 'doing what dad does.'" So God made a farmer.

Continuing with the Families story:

Wayne eventually retired from the Hollinswood ranch and butchering to pick up commercial fishing for a time.

Shortly after, Wayne retired for good and only farmed and ranched on the family farm in Red Level.

He cherished growing vegetables and he always gave away more than he kept. (It was always an inside joke among his siblings about how much he planted because it was always way too much for us to pick.)

He also picked up some beekeeping, raised hogs and sold feeder pigs for many years.

He always had an immense love for our family, he wanted to get together to make homemade ice cream, BBQ and boiled peanuts. Anytime anyone in his family needed him, he was there.

Wayne became the patriarch of our family and he will be truly missed by all who loved him and called him a friend.

Wayne’s children have requested a poem to close with:

This world has many heroes; you know many of them by name. It’s apparent that they gave their best and deserve their fame. But among all of the heroes this world has ever had, there’s not one we admire more than our precious Dad.

He’s more than just a hero; he never looks for praise, He’s heroic in his quit strength and in his caring ways. He may not be famous as those you hear about or see, but he’s everything and so much more a hero ought to be.

He keeps his word, it’s good as gold, on this you can depend. He’s honest and he’s loyal too; we’re proud that he’s our friend. When we hear about a hero and the special things they’ve done, it reminds us of our Dad, for he’s the greatest one.

Prayer

Lee Greenwood - God Bless the USA

Uncle Wayne’s Grave Side

As we begin to close I have just a few things, first I want to share Psalm 23:

Psalm 23 KJV 1900

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Uncle Wayne knew Jesus as his Lord and Shepherd, and today he is walking the streets of gold with Jesus and his loved ones that went on before him.

We have lost a great one, it has left a great void in our hearts, but Uncle Wayne is rejoicing with his loved ones today, no pain, no sickness, can eat whatever he wants, and the farming is perfect there in heaven.

If anyone needs to talk, or anything please reach out to me.

Also there is a meal for those who would like to return to the church and fellowship with the family.

Let’s close with a word of prayer.