Living Memorial

Call me crazy if you want, but I enjoy conducting funeral services! While pastoring in Monroe I was often referred to as the funeralizer due to the amount of funerals I had. I enjoy reminding people the blessing of having had the deceased as a part of their life. It’s especially a joyful time if the person had a testimony of a relationship with Christ.

Many times I have said to someone, “Today I conducted _________________’s funeral.” Often times the person would come back with, “Did He Die?” I’ve always said after that, “No He just wanted to do a practice run and see how many people would attend and what would be said about him.”

This past weekend I had a first time experience for my 26 plus years as a pastor. I was part of a, “Living Memorial Service.” That’s right, Ms. Corene Treadwell turned 90 years old and she wanted to have a memorial service while she is alive.

Ms. Corene is the Mother of Mrs. Authurine Davis of Jasper County. Authurine is the director for the Jasper County Senior Center and is a member of Shiloh Baptist Church.

“Ms. Corene” and I met a few years back and we found common ground right away. We both love the Lord Jesus Christ and we love jokes and humor.

Ms. Corene said she wanted people to express their love while she was alive so that she could enjoy it. She wanted me to tell jokes! I’m not a joke teller; as a matter of fact I can destroy a good joke.

I can tell humorous stories and generally get people to laughing and sometimes crying, but I can’t tell a joke. I went to First Baptist Tucker for the celebration and had a great time.

Sunday night I spoke at First Baptist Union Point in a preparation service for a revival that I will be conducting there later in the fall. I met a man who was 93 and wouldn’t have thought that he was a day older than 73.

I’m telling you this because both of these people are inspirations to me. They both had key thoughts for why they have lived so long and are in such good shape.

1. They Love and served the Lord Jesus Christ!

2. They have worked hard all their life

3. They love other people

4. They laugh often.

I don’t know how long I will live, but I do know that I will keep these four things as main ingredients to my life.