Thanks to all who have called, texted, facebooked to reach out to me. Your love means a lot.
This is CELEBRATION Week for Granny Mitchell as she's finally freed from the confines of that tiny Nursing Home room and that hospital bed that have confined her body and kept her spirit from soaring to the one who loves her best and most. So, for my mom and her 6 brothers and sisters (who are all around and doing pretty well health wise) this is a week of celebration and letting Granny go. We all know that she is so better off than we can even imagine and after 8 years we're definitely ready to let her soar.
Unlike the tragic death of a younger person that is sudden and unanticipated, Granny's passing on has been grieved and anticipated and prepared for over a lot of years. She was in the nursing home for the past 8 years. So, we're focused on remembering and celebrating and yes, we grieve, but we grieve as ones with a great hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 (The Message) 13-14And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don't want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus.
(more about Granny below)
Her Obituary is here: http://thetimestribune.com/obituaries/x233319892/Lillie-Jones-Mitchell
About the Funeral Arrangements: Visitation is at Calvary Baptist Church at 98 Calvary Church Road in Corbin, KY 40701 from 6 to 8 Thursday evening and on Friday we'll have a Visitation from 1 to 2 PM with the funeral happening at 2 PM also at Calvary Baptist Church. She'll then be buried up on the hill overlooking the church at Calvary Cemetary next to her husband, Roscoe Malcolm Mitchell.
She and my Papa loved Jesus and they expressed that by being ACTIVE ACTIVE ACTIVE in the Ministry of Calvary Baptist Church. Their devotion spilled over onto my mom and dad and into my life and I learned to Love Jesus, the Church and to serve in the church in all my growing up years. And, it's there where I accepted Christ (under protest and with much amazement that God busted down my defenses and overcame my stubbornness!!) and was baptized. So, this journey of saying goodbye to Granny is filled with gratitude and remembering for me. She was a huge part of leading me to Christ via participation in our local church.
Granny was 94 years old when she died. Her legacy lives on through me and a herd of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Here name was Lillie Mae Evans Mitchell. She worked lots of retail jobs, worked at the Holiday Inn as a Maid, worked the books at the Concrete Block plant that my grandfather owned and she valued work and compassion. She combined her willingness to work hard with her compassion for those less fortunate (if you knew her and papa's background and how poor they were you'd wonder how they could offer help to anyone else....) through her work at Calvary Baptist Church. In particular she worked in the Women's Missionary Union helping those in need locally and being sure that people all over the world would have a chance to hear about Jesus.
About Memorial Gifts:
So, in honor of that, the family is requesting that memorial gifts be sent in lieu of flowers to the Women's Missionary Union, Mae Mitchell Fund, 98 Calvary Church Road, Corbin, KY 40701.
Some have asked about sending a note or card to my mom and that'd be great if you want to. Her name is JoAnn Fuson and her address is 76 Standard Avenue, Corbin, KY 40701.
Thanks again for loving on me and my family at this time.
Peace,
Jeff
p.s. My cousin Julie is about to have a baby girl any hour now and her name will be Lillie, just like my granny's ... every time a baby is born it reminds us that God is still on His throne and it's His plan that life goes on...
Phos Church [it means 'light']
The Church for People who Don't Go to Church
http://www.phoschurch.comtwitter @ jefffuson
The Church for People who Don't Go to Church
http://www.phoschurch.comtwitter @ jefffuson
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