Wilma Hatfield Funeral

Obituary

Wilma V. Gooding Hatfield, 84, of Washington passed away Sunday February 27, 2022 in Washington Hospital.

She was born March 10, 1937 in Pittsburgh a daughter of William and Grace Mosier Gooding.

During her youth, she attended Wolfdale and Washington Schools.  She liked country music and being with her family.

Mrs. Hatfield was a member of Mount Herman Baptist Church in Amity.

She was a member of Washington Senior Citizens.

On October 2, 1954 she married Kenneth A. Hatfield who passed away in 2019.

She was the mother of seven children, Marie (Jim) Lucas, Robert (Crystal) Hatfield, Mark (Amy) Hatfield, Elaine (Dee) Moore, Lori (Tom) Keating, Fred (Melissa) Hatfield and Keith (Shannon) Hatfield.

Also surviving are many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Deceased is a sister Carol (Frank) Shuman and a grandson Matthew Earlywine.

Scripture Reading

Psalm 90 CSB

A prayer of Moses, the man of God. 1 Lord, you have been our refuge in every generation. 2 Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God. 3 You return mankind to the dust, saying, “Return, descendants of Adam.” 4 For in your sight a thousand years are like yesterday that passes by, like a few hours of the night. 5 You end their lives; they sleep. They are like grass that grows in the morning— 6 in the morning it sprouts and grows; by evening it withers and dries up. 7 For we are consumed by your anger; we are terrified by your wrath. 8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9 For all our days ebb away under your wrath; we end our years like a sigh. 10 Our lives last seventy years or, if we are strong, eighty years. Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow; indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away. 11 Who understands the power of your anger? Your wrath matches the fear that is due you. 12 Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts. 13 Lord—how long? Turn and have compassion on your servants. 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your faithful love so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days. 15 Make us rejoice for as many days as you have humbled us, for as many years as we have seen adversity. 16 Let your work be seen by your servants, and your splendor by their children. 17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us; establish for us the work of our hands— establish the work of our hands!

Prayer

Oh, Lord, You fashioned us while we were yet in our mother’s womb. You have provided for us, and You have guided us through this journey of life. Now we are faced with the reality of death, for our loved one has come to the end of life. So, even now, we put our trust in You. Give us comfort in our sorrow. Help us to focus on You, on the eternity You offer when we follow You. In Jesus’ name we pray these things, Amen.

Sermon

We gather to remember, honor, and say good-bye to Wilma Hatfield.

We take time today to remember. To remember the good times, the wonderful memories, to reflect, and to say good-bye. Good-bye for now.

Wilma was a member of Mt. Hermon Baptist Church.

On October 2, 1954, she married Kenneth Hatfield. At Kenneth’s funeral a few years ago as I listened to family and friends remissness, I heard someone say that Kenneth, even up to his final days, would tell others “If you have a good women, you don’t let her go.” He must have not only preached that but he must of believed that with all of his heart and He was married to his sweetheart, Wilma, for 65 years.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 CSB

13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

In this time when we feel such heartache, pain, and loss. Scripture offers us so much comfort, encouragement, and victory. It seems that, in writing to the Thessalonian believers, Paul knew of some who recently lost a loved one. To those who are hurting and grieving, he offers reason to hope.

Paul specifically addresses those who have lost friends, family, or loved ones. He tells them that we should react differently than those who “have no hope.”

You see, our mourning is natural. Paul is not saying that we should not be sad when our loved ones die. Scripture talks about how “precious” we are to the Lord. He knows our loss and He experiences it with us. Do you remember the story about Lazarus’ death? Jesus knew that He would raise Lazarus from the dead, but when He saw the sad faces, approached the sealed tomb, and felt the loss of a loved one, Jesus wept, He cried. The pain and grief we feel now is absolutely normal.

BUT, our rejoicing is supernatural. Paul explains that we are to react differently than those who have no hope. Although we mourn and grieve, the Lord is with us through it all. As believers, we have comfort and hope in the future: we know that our departed loved ones who were fellow believers are now with the Lord. The Bible even says that they are “blessed.”

Paul reminds us that if we believe in the gospel, we also believe in the Second Coming of Christ! No topic is more comforting to us in our loss than that of the resurrection; it’s the true hope that only we as Christians have.

When Christ returns, He will bring the deceased believers with Him!

We are told that, “…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 shall rise first.” When Christ comes for the second time, it will not be in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes, announced by a single star to wise men or by an angel to shepherds; He will come wrapped in glory and splendor with an earth-shaking shout of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God Himself!

After the deceased saints are resurrected to be with Christ in His glory, “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.” We will be reunited with our fellow believers whom we have lost, and all together we will be united with Christ in all His glory for the rest of eternity.

Today we are naturally grieved. But we also have reason for great comfort. Paul tells us to “comfort one another with these words.” Today, let’s remind each other in our grief that our friend will be of the first to see the magnificent return of the Savior, Jesus Christ. We shall one day see our friend again.

Closing Prayer:

Matthew 5:4 CSB

4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Graveside/Committal Service

Revelation 21:1–7 CSB

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. 5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. 7 The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.

We have gathered here to commit to rest the body of our loved one and friend Wilma Hatfield.

Some of us have shared through these passing years a wonderful companionship and fellowship with this woman. We cherish the many blessed memories that come to us in these moments. Her love and friendship will continue their radiance and testimony in our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ we commit her body to rest.

Prayer:

Father, we gather in this solemn place to remember the life and mourn the death of our loved one. We do not sorrow as those who have no hope, for our hope is in Jesus Christ. We ask that You would comfort each family member and friend. May they be comforted by Your Word, encouraged through happy memories, and sustained by the hope of the resurrection for all who place their faith in You. Amen.

Benediction:

Numbers 6:24–26 CSB

24 “May the Lord bless you and protect you; 25 may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 may the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.” ’

Shake hands of immediate family members.