Memorial Service For Mrs. Louise Mills
(A 99 year old Christian Lady)
February 25, 2010
MESSAGE: Great Changes!
We have gathered here today to remember and to celebrate the life of Louise Mills. Louise was the oldest member of Berryhill Baptist Church and she touched many people in so many ways during her 99 years of life on this
earth.
Louise left specific instructions for this service. Here is the letter she wrote to her children:
To Fred & Louise Mills Children at my passing away.
It was mentioned to me if I wanted to be cremated when I passed away-NEVER. (never was circled).
I have tried to live right, so I could go to a better place. I have a plot beside my husband’s grave. That’s where I want to be put when I pass away.
I would like for Ida Carter to sing the song named—This is What Heaven Means to Me; if not that one some other one that she knows.
I would like Rev. Bud Spencer and Rev. Simpson, former Berryhill Pastors
to conduct the service if their health permits. (She outlived both of those pastors).
I would like these bible verses to be read:
Matthew 11:28-30
1 Peter 5:6-7
Revelation 21:4
Thanks for all you have done for your dad and myself. Always live for
The Lord, so we can all be together some day soon.
Love, Mother
Louise was born on August 21, 1910, in Mecklenburg County. She lived thru many changes in her life. (think about that a moment)
When Louise was born back in 1910:
-a postage stamp was 2 cents.
-the President was William Howard Taft.
-life expectancy for males was (48 years);
and for females (51 years).
-the average salary was just $750.00 a year.
-a gallon of milk cost 32 cents.
-the hot toys for children back then was Tinker Toys and
and Lincoln Logs.
Yes…. Louise experienced many great changes during her long and productive life.
This morning I want to mention just 3 of those Great changes:
I. The Marriage to her husband Fred Mills was a Great Change.
Wouldn’t you agree with me… that from a Single person to a married person, is a tremendous change in a person’s life. It’s no longer just about me, but
about us.
Louise and Fred were married July 26, 1930.
She was just 19 and Fred was 21.
They were married for 46 years….
Together they raised four children.
Louise loved her family and showed it in many different ways.
(elaborate)
II. The time when Louise gave Her heart to JESUS was another great change in her life.
I’m not sure when that event happened ….years and years ago before
I came to Pastor Berryhill.
I do know that ….Louise came to Berryhill in 1995 by letter from Glennwood Baptist Church.
When she gave her heart to Jesus….it was indeed a life changing event.
It was very evident in her life and in her testimony. (elaborate)
FOLKS: The greatest thing that can be said about Louise.. is that she was a Christian. In fact that’s the most important thing.
Someone has said that a Christian is one: (elaborate on these)
A) Who has made a Choice
B) Who has been Changed
C) Who has accepted a Challenge? I’ll tell the world I’m a Christian.
Ms. Mills was not ashamed of what Christ had done in her life. In her instructions for this service she tells her children to Live for Jesus. That’s good advice for all of us.
III. The Last Great Change Came Monday night…when Louise passed From this life into the next.
When I got to the nursing home and Lillie took me back into Louise’s room.
I sensed that Louise…. would soon leave this old world. I prayed that God would be with her thru the valley of the shadow of death and give the family strength during the coming days.
As I stood there… I thought about what the Apostle Paul said in
2 Timothy 4:6-7.
“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
Paul said: I have FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT: He had been a good soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE: He had completed all that God had planned for him.
I have KEPT THE FAITH: He was a defender of the Word of God.
Would to God…that could be said about each of us.
The word: Departure also caught my eye. I checked it out and discovered it has many different meanings.
a) It was a Nautical term. It was a term that sailors used. It was a term for the unmooring of ship. (elaborate)
b) It was also a Military Term. When soldiers would fold up their tent and move on to another campaign, the very taking down of the tent, the very folding up of the tent was the same word that is used here…”to depart.”
c) It was also a Political Term. It was used for the setting free of a prisoner.
d) It was a Farmer’s word. When the farmer would unburden the ox at the end of the day, when he would take the yoke from off the oxen, he used this same word. It was the departure or laying aside of the yoke.
So today:
Like that ship…Louise has sailed into another port.
Like that Soldier…Louise has pulled up the tent pegs…and folded up her tent.
Like the Prisoner…Louise has been set free.
Like that Oxen…Louise has laid the down the burden.
And Louise has gone home to be with God.
That was Louise Mills HOPE.
-HOPE that God Loved her with an EVERLASTING LOVE.
-HOPE that there is a place called HEAVEN where there will be:
(No more pain, No more suffering, No more Disappointments and
NO more tears).
-Hope, that someday, she would look into her dear Savior’s Face.
That was her HOPE and Praise God…It’s Now her Reality.
I think Louise would have liked the words of this old gospel song which
Says:
“When I come to the end of the long, long road…
And trials will all be past
I’ll look in the face of my dearest Friend
Safe home in His Heaven at last.”
TODAY: We may be mourning but…. Louise is REJOICING.
She is well…..She is Healthy….She is Strong…She is Happy, just as God promised.
I say Happy, because there are NO DISAPPOINTMENTS IN HEAVEN:
Years ago…F. M. Lehman wrote:
There’s no disappointment in Heaven
No weariness, sorrow or pain;
No hearts that are bleeding and broken,
No song with a minor refrain.
The clouds of our earthly horizon
Will never appear in the sky,
For all will be sunshine and gladness,
With never a sob nor sigh.
We’ll never pay rent for our mansion,
The taxes will never come due;
Our garments will never grow threadbare,
But always be fadeless and new.
We’ll never be hungry nor thirsty,
Nor languish in poverty there,
For all the rich bounties of heaven
His sanctified children will share.
There’ll never be crepe on the door-knob,
No funeral train in the sky;
No graves on the hillside of Glory,
For there we shall never more die.
The old will be young there forever,
Transformed in a moment of time;
Immortal we’ll stand in His likeness,
The stars and the sun to outshine.
I’m bound for that beautiful city
My Lord has prepared for His own;
Where all the redeemed of all the ages
Sing “Glory, Glory, Glory around the white throne.
I thank God for having known Louise Mills for a short time. For the love she shared with me and not with just me…but with all who really knew her.
“The Lord bless thee; and keep thee;
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and
Be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up his countenance
Upon thee, and give thee peace.”
As preached on February 25, 2010
By Rev. W. Alan Beard
Pastor Berryhill Baptist Church
