Tribute to My Friend

At ten o'clock this morning, funeral services were held for a very dear and long-time friend who passed away on Sunday.  Unfortunately, due to such short notice, I was not able to switch days off at work in order to attend.  However, today I celebrate the life of Joye Taylor Walker.  She was a little over ten days away from another milestone birthday, but she often told me she would rather be in heaven than ticking away days here on earth.  Her husband had preceded her in death, and oh how she missed him.  What I remember most is having grown up in Yoakum knowing this great and wonderful woman.  Moving to this small town in the summer of 1979, our family started attending First Baptist Church, which is where I met Joye.  The name matched her temperament as she was full of joy, happiness, and wisdom.  Over time, a blossoming friendship developed as she became a grandmother of sorts to me.  Even upon graduating High School and finding a new home in Houston, I would never forget my friend.  Whenever I was in town visiting family, I would make it a point to see her.  While prone to wandering the desolate landscape of an emotional and spiritual wilderness of my youth, she often spoke of the very core elements of life that mattered most.  Often the question of college came up with no sufficient answers on my part.  The most flattering compliment she ever gave was that I was too brilliant not to attend college.  Maybe this is what endeared me to her, seeing my potential and not giving up on me.  The last few times seeing her, I could tell her mental faculties were waning as she did not really recognize me.  But that's not important as I recognized the woman whom I called and loved as friend.  Upon hearing the news of her passing, I was honored to have been selected as a pall bearer.  It broke my heart when I couldn't fulfill this high honor.  In the end, I know the sadness must turn in to celebration as she is now reunited with her husband worshiping Almighty God for the rest of eternity.  One day I will get to see her again.  I miss you, Joye!

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