Celebration of Life

Leah’s funeral: Dock opened and closed. The SPdL minister of music led two hymns. Oldest daughter Ansley spoke, followed by Kitti Murray. Ansley said that growing up it was usually Leah taking care of Mark, never knowing the roles would eventually reverse. Kitti, of all people, sharing how she wished she could be as cool as Leah.  

Bob Marsh shared a wonderful eulogy, detailing his and Myra’s friendship with Leah, calling her a model – a model church member, servant of God, mother, and friend. Marsh spoke of Mark and Leah’s wedding, joking that Mark had married over his head. Mark was the brunt of a couple of jokes, but Marsh lastly reminded Mark of the promise he’d made on his wedding day: to love, honor, and care for Leah. Bob congratulated Mark on fulfilling his promise.

I walked in from the parking lot with Dan Toholsky. Spied Don Head and sat behind him. Ceil arrived. Jimmy Ewing’s wife Tyler and three kids sat with her. Mary Hubert sat on my left, escorted by our old friend from my single days, Robert de La Salle, and his wife. Hadn’t seen Robert in years, but he is still a hoot. When Marsh arrived, walking with a cane, de La Salle quipped “Is he going to turn that into a snake?”

On the way to the reception I saw Edie. Ron and Julianne were also serving. Drew Kelly was doing a so so job holding the door. I was holding Ceil’s purse, and first Haley Hurt then David observed her purse matched my shoes. Chatted with Bill Murray for a long while, at one point about being an introvert - how such large gatherings can wear us out. Spoke with artist Nancy Shippen, and Carl & Jayne Bedingfield. Jayne went out of her way to give me a hug, which was nice. Ruth Walker Demby.

Hal and Linda Simpson. Linda told Ceil about their son, who lost his sight in college, but still became a lawyer, working for an eventual Supreme Court justice. David and Laura McDaniel. Scot and Peggy Wright. Scott Rees. George Volkert. Craig McKenzie remembers me as a hilarious stand-up comedian. I'll take it. Becky Norman. Diane Corbett. Mike Warren. Ed Bond. David and Canty Deeter. Ed & Lu Barber. Cynthia Bankston. Dr. Mary Elizabeth Teem. Patty Lamb. Jim Ewing Sr and son George. Didn’t see Jimmy. Took me a bit to remember several names and faces.

For me the day was filled with mixed emotions. I went today for Mark. We’d been together many times through the years. In our single days we hung out, and played softball together. I helped him out with his landscaping business a few times. Once we had a long deep meaningful discussion, and hugged afterwards. What made it unforgettable was that neither of us was wearing a shirt. Gross.

Leah and I had done a bunch together as well. Something I hadn’t thought about for years and years was the time we served as masters of ceremonies for a SPdL youth banquet. We designed the program and created a responsive reading, and several jokes and bits and skits for the banquet. One involved a failed magic trick with identical twins Pat and Pam Poythress. Leah was the cool young youth leader all the young girls looked up to. Three years her junior, I was just moving up from the college department to the singles, taking my first steps as a youth leader. Little high schooler Jane Warren used to call me “dad”. Jane's Facebook tribute was so funny, comparing M&L’s courtship to an episode of the Bachelor.

For the past 35 years we would see Mark and Leah once or twice a year, like at the Hurt's Super Bowl party or when the Ewing's would have a get together. Mark is one of the few people Hurt kept up with. I did a poor job keeping up with them. As they grew, our kids would play together at those infrequent gatherings. M&L's daughter Lydia worked at Camp Highland with both Will and Anna.

At the reception I ran into Leah’s brother Matt, who I hadn’t seen in 40 years. He said the last time he was in the SPdL sanctuary was for M&L’s wedding. Matt wore an earphone during the wedding to listen to the Auburn/Florida game.

Spend time at the reception talking to Tripp Mullen. After 18 years at Church of the Apostles they’re attending JFBC, but admitted it was hard to feel at home there even after two years. I admitted we’d been at JF almost ten years, and had the same feeling. Hard to recreate what we had at SPdL. It’s almost like you had to grow up in the church, or you had to be there the entire time your kids grew from cradle to college. Tripp’s memory of Leah was the time in 5th grade when I took him and Billy Curren to a Braves game. Tripp said Leah went with us. I hadn’t remembered that detail.

JaDon Taylor lives in Chattanooga, but drove down for the funeral. Her memory was of me and Leah expertly dancing. I’m certainly no dancer, and had no memory of that either.

Sitting in the SPdL sanctuary, I thought of the many memories created there over the years. Marsh’s sermons. Singing in Chapel Choir at 8:30 am, then later in adult choir. Youth musicals and homecoming concerts. Christmas and Easter musicals. Living Pictures. Steve & Becky’s wedding. Norman’s funeral. David & Mary’s wedding. Lang & Isabel’s wedding. Claire & Andrew’s. Stephanie Dukes’ wedding. Bill Dukes’ funeral. Deacon ordinations. Sunday night services. The time Mary Hubert walked through the balcony during the middle of the 11 am service to help quiet a fussy baby. The Cheatham double funeral. Mrs. Light’s funeral. So much more.