Funeral Sermon - Eulogy For My Sister: Tammy Lynn Bounds Eaves

Tammy Lynn Bounds Eaves

November 10, 1969 – December 17, 2009

OBITURARY

Mrs. Tammy Lynn Bounds Eaves was born on November 10, 1969 and passed away on December 17, 2009 at Neshoba County General Hospital. She was preceded in death by her father Winfred C. Bounds.

Those surviving her are her husband Paul Eaves, Mother Chestean Bounds, Son Matthew Eaves, Stepsons Jamie Eaves and Michael Eaves, Brother Winfred Scott Bounds and his wife Tammy, and a grandchild Jason Laine Eaves.

EULOGY

INTRODUCTION

Tammy was a 1987 graduate of Neshoba Central High School and 1995 graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education. Her field of concentration was Special Education and was a school teacher for approximately seven years. Tammy’s teaching career was cut short due to her health problems. Still, she accomplished the work God set for her to do and she touched lives.

I once heard a story of a man who was walking along a beach. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Off in the distance he could see a person going back and forth between the surf’s edge and the beach. Back and forth this person went. As the man approached he could see that there were hundreds of starfish stranded on the sand as the result of the natural action of the tide. The man was stuck by the apparent futility of the task. There were far too many starfish. Many of them were sure to perish. As he approached, the person continued the task of picking up starfish one by one and throwing them into the surf. As he came up to the person he said, "There are thousands of miles of beach covered with starfish. You can’t possibly make a difference." The person looked at the man. He then stooped down and picked up one more starfish and threw it back into the ocean. He then turned back to the man and said, "It made a difference to that one!"

Tammy made a difference in the lives of the students she taught. She loved teaching and loved the children that she taught. Tammy was a good teacher and she made a difference. After much prayer it is my belief that Tammy would have me take this time to share some things with you that I believe she would have me to say.

I LOVE YOU

Tammy would first want her family and friends, her husband Paul, her son Matthew, and her mother Chestean – to know that she loves you. Because of her illness, there were times that Tammy was unable to express her love for her family as she would have liked to. But she loves you now and will always love you.

I’M NOT HURTING NOW

Tammy would want you to know that she is not hurting now. She is not suffering any more. She has been given a new body. I would take nothing away from the grief we feel today. I would not say everything is all right, because it is not. We hurt. And we know we will hurt for a long time, and our grief is a dark valley we have to trudge through before we feel all right again. God made us so that we can feel the pain of grief. He made us so that we can have a relationship with Him and one another. When that relationship is lost we feel pain. We pay the price of relationships and courageously we go on with relationships because they are worth it. Today we have lost a loved one - and it hurts.

Scripture tells us that our bodies of flesh are perishable, truly ashes to ashes, dust to dust. But it goes on to tell us that if we trust in Christ, we will be raised in glory...we will be raised with a spiritual body. A relationship with Christ is our hope for eternal life.

In 1 Corinthians 15 scripture tells us:

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Tammy has been released from a body that has been failing for some time now. On Thursday night, the heavens opened up for Tammy and she was immediately ushered into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was given a new body – a spiritual body. Tammy no longer has to take psychiatric medicine; she no longer has diabetes or heart and lung problems. She is no longer suffering.