FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2026 6:58 PM CST

Elnora Williams

March 2, 1942--January 30, 2026

A Jesus Lover

Elnora---a part of our family since December 1978!

Elnora in 1980 with our youngest.

Dearly loved by so many for so long. Sorely missed! 

Resting in Peace! (Isaiah 57:2, NCV)

A few fave pix from all my Thursdays with Elnora.

 

 

 

OBIT! OBIT!! OBITS!!!

It's that time of life---at least for us! Three funerals in the last three days.

Last month there were 2 others we were unable to attend.

One was live-streamed which I so appreciated!

The beauty of the live-stream was that we not only saw our friend's family during the recessional but we were able to sing along as the words were on our screen. Gripping words. Beautiful words.

God teaches us in His word that our days are numbered. In Psalm 90 Moses prays, the value of knowing our days are numbered....."that we might gain a heart of wisdom." 

We might miss those who have passed on but to the Lord, but "precious in the sight of the Lord are the death of His saints; devoted, faithful servants, godly ones,  loved ones, righteous ones.(Psalm 116:15) regardless of the translation one uses.

Precious

יָ֭קָר (yā·qār)

in the sight

בְּעֵינֵ֣י (bə·‘ê·nê)

of the LORD

יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)

[is] the death

הַ֝מָּ֗וְתָה (ham·mā·wə·ṯāh)

of His saints.

לַחֲסִידָֽיו׃ (la·ḥă·sî·ḏāw) 

RESURRECTION SUNDAY!

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His faithful servants. 

(Psalm 116:15,NIV)

Ann Martin, Ashley Bryan, Caroline Price's daddy (DeweyHemphill), Charles McKnight, Dr. Louis Carter, Mary Ann Frazier,  Mary Minor's dad (John Walt).....a few of His servants, who made a deep impact on my life and will be spending their 1st Easter in their heavenly home. 

Allen bible Church 4/17/2022

For youth beginning their journey....How blessed it is when brethren/God's family dwell together in unity.

(1/17/2017) (11/24/2009) (4/23/2007) (12/24/2010) (9/15/2016)

Spiritual Birthdays

TUESDAY TRUTHS

Funerals offer truths that one can really take to heart---especially funerals of the faithful. (Psalm 116:15)*

Joe Black---Uncle Joe's funeral was such an event. His granddaughter, Rachel, added proof as she recalled her grandfather's continuous love and encouragement for her from when he first bounced her on his knee until his last hug from his deathbed. Family knows the real truth about ones life not just what the world sees. In this instance, the two matched. (Romans 10::9-10) A letter from son Joey shared more examples of this life well-lived and son Jeff strumming his guitar and singing, "How Great Thou Art, brought many to tears.
From boxing and body-building  to railroad man, this meek man with quiet power, power under control, gave respect to others and therefore received respect from all whose paths he crossed. He enjoyed fun times with others---especially his SAW meetings near his Oakland home. Seniors Against Work.

Joe Black was Mommar's only surviving sibling, the one who watched after sibling Charles when she (Mary) and her sisters, Liz and Maxine, had all passed away, and even before that. How fitting it was that Joe put the urn of  brother Charles' ashes inside his own coffin for his final resting place as well. A brother who was faithful to the very end. Joe knew though his "earthly tent was being destroyed that he had a building from God, an eternal house in heaven." (2 Corinthians 5:1)

Do I hear an "Amen"?

*While attending this family funeral another friend in the faith passed away. A godly man. A faithful husband. A devoted father. A respected lawyer. 
His passing is precious to the Lord but it certainly leaves a big hole in hearts of our entire church and others who knew him as he fulfilled his vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people. (Psalm 116:14)

How appropriate was the verse on the front of his memorial service bulletin---because everyone who knew Lance could see that he "had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:13) Even the quote on the back gave insight into this lifelong Memphian's faith as He trusted God's plan for his life regardless of the struggles. Like Eldon Roark, former Memphis Press-Scimitar "Strolling"columnist from 1933-1979, Lance believed Scripture to be the final authority for all faith and practice.

Be of good cheer. God is in the plan. (Mattie Dear) A frequent contributor to "Strolling".

Each believer can be of good cheer knowing that both his/her earthly life and eternal life are in the hands of a loving sovereign God.

Do I hear another "Amen"!

Roller Coaster Week

The week began with (7/13/15) birthday prayers for dear, dear friend Ashley Bryan, one of my "young at heart" friends, who celebrated 92 years of vibrant life this past Monday. Ashley says he celebrates everyday the good Lord gives him as a new "birth" day and he is grateful. I was grateful for hubby and I to have been able to celebrate his 90th with him at Isleford, ME.

Ashley's 90th w/ Larry 2013

Monday ended with reading the Jesus Calling reminder of " "fix your gaze on ME, the Lover of your soul" coupled with hospice prayers with sweet sister in Christ, Patti J., who could barley speak. 

She uttered "A-men" as I  concluded. It was the last word I would ever hear her say.

Jégkrém in Kővágóörs Hungary with Patti, who always chose frozen yogurt when available.

....the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. (Job 1:21)

Ashley celebrated with friends all week. Patti went home to be with the Lord early Thursday morning---and I share at her funeral in a matter of hours---a roller coaster ride orchestrated in heaven.

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants. (Psalm 116:15)

solemnit-TEA

The LORD cares deeply when his loved ones die. (Psalm 116:15, NLT)

I believe the truth of that scripture but it certainly doesn't negate the earth-side pain experienced by believers and those of all faiths who lost loved ones on 9/11/01. 

A series of four coordinated terrorist attacks launched by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda upon the United States in New York City, the D.C. metropolitan area and UA Air Flight 93 in PA on that Tuesday. 

Most of us remember where we were on that day. The shock as the morning news was interrupted. Ensuing events continued as our nation began dealing with the tragedy---and has continued remembering and commemorating those September 11 attacks of 2001, which killed nearly 3,000 people.

A friend's son, Rob, (38 at the time) was in the south tower, as I recall, and he actually spoke to both his wife and his dad on the phone, prior to the collapse of his World Trade Center tower. It was the second tower, but the first one to collapse. Rob, as many others, was never to return to his loving family.

Rob's name found me---as info kiosk was unreadable that day. I shielded my eyes from the sun and hubby and I bowed our heads and prayed for all the Lenoirs and Robinsons, as the Memorial pool shimmered in the background and not a human sound was heard, except shuffling of feet.

Today, there is more than just solemnity at Ground Zero--I know there is still heartache and great loss experienced by all the families and friends who lost loved ones that day, wherever they are today---as they remember.

My morning cuppa is full of solemni-TEA and the knowledge that all I can do is pray---but that seems the right thing to do.

Li-TEA-rary Sentimentali-TEA

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants. (Psalm 116:15, NIV)

NASB renders faithful servants as His godly ones. The King James version calls them saints. Regardless of the translation, they all describe Claudia Parlow.

Today would have been her 70th birthday---August 12, 1944- November 30, 2013.
I know because my morning cuppa li-TEA-rary was sipped as I opened my devotional reading that was based on classic Christian verse. A gift from her, my literary loving friend.

Quickly my 2nd cuppa was filled with sentimentali-TEA as I read the inscription written above the August 12 entry. 

This cup is Claudia's. I baked brownies for her hubby, Terry, today and we shared both sadness and nostalgia as we remembered her past birthdays and celebrations.

"To Dotsy who's been a soulmate in suffering and prayer....." Love, Claudia. 

Both sadness and pleasure served in remembrance.