Funeral Service for Mrs. Frances k. Stone
From the pulpit of Bayview Baptist Church, Columbia, SC
Prelude Organist
Seated:
As we seek comfort today, we’re assured that Mrs. Frances Stone is with the Lord Jesus Christ; yet her death leaves a vacancy in our lives that no one can replace!
Our message today will be a message that Mrs. Stone would teach; centered upon the strength that God brings to our lives.
On behalf of the Stone family, and from the heart and soul of the fellowship of Bayview Baptist Church, I would like to express our deepest thanks to all of you who have expressed your sympathies to this family.
You have given freely of your tributes as well as words of comfort, and to you we are most grateful and thankful for your compassion and care.
Solo In the Garden
23rd Psalm K.J.V.
Prayer
Solo How Great Thou Art
Devotion
First Peter 4:12-13
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed”
The Bible constantly informs us there will be difficult times in life; yet the Bible is also clear that as we face difficult times, God is with us, there to comfort us, guide us and sustain us.
For God does not always calm the storm in our life, but He calms His chosen people in the midst of the storm!
Through the 80 years of her life, the Lord protected, guided, and supported Mrs. Stone.
Even though Mrs. Stone’s health failed her during the last couple of months, and her personal trials were great due to her failing body, God didn’t send her through the dark valley alone, but instead, He walked with her every step of the way.
What a wonderful example of Christianity and Christian service was the life of Mrs. Francis Stone.
She loved God, her family, her friends, and the churches of our community.
Over the years, Mrs. Stone served faithfully at her church, because being a member of Bayview Baptist Church meant to Mrs. Stone that she was going to be involved in the work God was doing in our church.
At Bayview Baptist Church, Mrs. Stone was a member of the Winsome Sunday School class, and she was also the assistant teacher for the Winsome Sunday School class as well as the assistant teacher for the Fidelis Sunday School class.
Mrs. Stone was a natural born teacher, and she would always be prepared to teach the weekly lessons because she would begin studying the Sunday lesson the Monday before she was to teach.
Mrs. Stone was also a member of our Senior adult group we call the Keenagers.
Our Keenager group goes on trips together, and is a support group for our church.
Mrs. Stone was a faithful and devoted member of our W.M.U, exemplifying missions in her life, mentoring missions to many young people throughout the years, and always supporting mission work at the local, state, national, and world levels.
Under the W.M.U. organization, over the years, Mrs. Stone served faithfully with our GA and Acteen program.
I can remember most recently Mrs. Stone standing before our fellowship during a Wednesday evening missions study and delivering prayers to God that would be intercessory prayers lifting us spiritually, because she gave so much thought and attention to her prayers.
Perhaps you are one Mrs. Stone has prayed for over the years, and perhaps your personal need was a need of intercession Mrs. Stone lifted up to God through a beautifully worded prayer.
Mrs. Stone often served in the ministry to our homebound members, rotating her turn delivering the worship service cassette tapes to those who are not physically able to attend church.
Even though Mrs. Stone faithfully served in many different areas of work in our church, the most important thing I can say about her life as her pastor is that one day many years ago, Mrs. Stone asked Jesus Christ to enter into her heart to become her eternal Savior and Lord.
That is the greatest accomplishment and highest achievement in her life.
We who have had the privilege of knowing Mrs. Stone, have been blessed by her life, for we have seen a glimpse of our Lord Jesus Christ living in her.
Friday night, God chose in His great mercy and wisdom to close the earthly door of life in Mrs. Stone’s life.
At the same moment God closed the door of her earthly life, God immediately opened the door in heaven for her to enter in; for God is with His chosen people in life and earthly death, into eternal Light and Life.
We are certainly sad that Mrs. Stone has left us, but we also rejoice today because we know that the promises of our Lord Jesus have been completely fulfilled in her life, and she has received eternal life.
Death is much closer to all of us than we would like to think.
If you had to meet death today, would you be happy with your life as you have lived it so far?
Would you be ready to leave your earthly life today with no regrets?
If you cannot answer a resounding “Yes”, then please talk to someone today about your personal and intimate relationship with our Lord Jesus, and allow Christ to give you His peace that will make a difference in your life.
For God is big enough and wise enough to handle all your needs in life.
May God richly bless the memories each one of us have of Mrs. Francis Stone, for she lived a life which blessed others and loved God.
Solo The Lord’s Prayer
Postlude Organist
At Grave
Revelation 21:1-7
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”
Prayer:
Eternal God in heaven, we have prepared our hearts today to give Mrs. Frances Stone to you; for it has pleased you in your great wisdom and mercy in the receiving of the soul of Mrs. Frances Stone into heaven eternal.
We, as Mrs. Stone’s family, friends, and pastor, commit her body to the ground in your safe keeping and in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
May our God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant, work in our hearts what is pleasing to Him; and to Christ be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Rev. Jimmy Davis
Bayview Baptist Church
5300 Two Notch Road
Columbia, SC 29204
Email: BayviewBaptist@aol.com
Telephone: 803-754-8690
