A New Beginning

This has been an incredibly taxing six days. After Cheryl passed away on Wednesday, I had to go to the funeral home on Thursday to finalize the arrangements.

The visitation Friday was well attended and I saw many dear friends that Cheryl and I have made over the years. There were well over two hundred people in attendance at Saturday's funeral service at Westside Baptist. From North Carolina, Cheryl's mother, three of her four sisters and both of her aunts were able to be here for both the visitation and the service. My son Jason and his very pregnant wife Sharon were also able to attend the funeral. My co-workers and my second family at the Board of Education were so kind to prepare a marvelous meal for the family and out of town mourners after the service.

I left for Thomasville after the meal and waited for word as all of the out of town family made their way to their overnight lodging. We had about seventy people at the Sunday afternoon service, about half of which was family. Michelle, Chris and their three kids made it in from Kentucky, Jason and Sharon traveled across the state and met up with Sharon's mother and Dylan, Chris's mother and two sisters came in from North Georgia. Of course, my mom was there since she is like Cheryl's second mother, my brother and all three sisters came in from the area and even my niece Melanie (the proud wife of a US Marine) came in from North Carolina with my great-nephew and one of her friends. My loving church family from Summerhill Baptist also prepared a feast for us after the graveside service.

One couple of special note that attended the visitation and both funeral services were our dear friends, Claire and Woody Reade from Grovetown, GA. They were Cheryl's stand-in parents at our wedding 32 years ago and we have remained in close to them all these years.

Cheryl was buried near my father in Sunset Memorial gardens in Thomasville, GA late Sunday afternoon. Both funeral services and the graveside service were beautiful. Dr. Tracy Brinson (Hinesville) and Rev. Mitch Clements (Thomasville) both did an excellent job of capturing the sort of woman that Cheryl was to us all.


Thank you all for your kind words, postings here and on Facebook, cards, flowers and participation in the celebrations of her homegoing. I covet your prayers for our entire family as find a new beginning in a world without Cheryl. She will be sorely missed, she will not be soon forgotten.