Funeral for 1st cousin......

One of my first cousins died this past week. He was 56 - heart attack. (thanks in advance for your sympathy and prayers.) He was the first of the set of 1st cousins to pass away. We all called him Jimmy, but his work and adult friends called him JB. He was retired from the Air National Guard and was a member of the Jackson Harley Club. And he was sent out in great style..... The funeral was preached by the biker chaplin. Bald with a beard, leather and chains. It was the most fantastically preached funeral I have ever been to. We both laughed (hard) and cried just as hard. The biker preacher presented the plan of salvation is such a wonderful, revalent way. In fact, when it was over, I had an encredible urge to ask him to preach mine in the same way! About 1/4 mile of bikers riding two to a lane led the hearse to the cemetary. The funeral was a full military funeral with a 21 gun salute and a lone bugler on the hill playing taps. This was the most awesome funeral I have ever been to in my life. I KNOW it touched everyone there from my elderly aunt of 87 right down to my 16 year old nephew. One of my cousins gathered up the spent cartridges and passed them out amongst Jimmy's children and first cousins. I got one, but I gave it to my Sissie as she and Jimmy were closer and talked often. Ya'll we can't all be bikers and retired military, but please live your life in a way that you, too, can be sent out in such a style...... Love and Kisses, smoochies & hugs Arlies

Good Morning Queenie, That sounds like the most wonderful celerbration for Jimmy. Wow, you are right, we really should think about our lives in regards to what we will be leaving behind. Will I make my family proud? Will others see my faith through my legacy? I love the Lord so much that I hope my funeral will be a big celerbration. I am so sorry for you and his family that he had to go home so young. But, I feel like I knew him. Thanks for shareing the service with such a wonderful description. Now, you put a smile on that sweet face today and remember all the good times ya'll had as kids. My cousins and I had corncob fights, chinaberry fights and played cowboys all the time. Go back in your memory and pull up all those fun things. Love ya, Smiles, Jan

Oh, Jan! You made me laugh so hard!!!! I had forgotten corncob fights and chinaberry fights! My Daddy used to make us chinaberry "guns" and we would shoot them at each other! We also played kickball and baseball and something my Daddy taught all us called "stealing dry goods". It was a game from his childhood. We didn't play cowboys so much - BUT we did play "pigmies in the jungle". Basically it was hide and seek in the woods, and we would climb up in trees and hide. BUT you had to be very careful because the hiders (or pygmies) would jump out of the tree on you when you passed under!!!!! How in the world did we ever live to grow up????? Smoochies Arlies

Awwww, Arlies, I am so sorry to hear about your cousin. But I can say, Thank God he is in a much better place than we are. And if we live right, someday we will join him. We wont have no more pain or hurt in any kinda way. BTW, how are you doing?? Haven't heard any news on you about your progress??? Just excited to see you this monday at the meeting. I am down -136 and if I don't hurry up and start losing fast again, you are gonna catch me. LOL Love ya Lady, Jo 444/414/308/-136

I am very sorry to hear about your cousin Arlies. It sounds like he lived life to the fullest and appreciated every precious moment we are offered here on this earth. Reminds me of a country song, (Yes I am die hard country) by Tim McGraw, to "Live like you were dying". We should all try to remember that and live our lives as if God were to come for us today. My mama always told us, "If God came today, make sure what you are doing is what you would want him to see..." Luv, Sue

My condolences on your cousin's passing. I am glad he was sent off in such magnificent style though!

I am sorry about your cousin, and I have been thinking of you, I miss you, long time see I you Love, Christy

Arlies, Sorry to hear about your family's loss. I've always heard that biker funerals are the best! Sounds like a real tribute was given in his honor and that the family walked away with a real sense of pride for him. That is awesome. Biker and Military. I have chills thinking about it. I will keep the family in my prayers, for continued peace. HUGS Kimberly