Ms. Hazel

If you must choose, take a good name rather than great riches; for to be held in loving esteem is better than silver and gold.  - Proverbs 22:1, Living Bible

 

It's an honor today to officiate the funeral of a long-time friend, Mrs. Hazel Littleton. We go back 17 years to when I pastored Cornerstone Baptist Church in Clinton. She used to keep our oldest son Hendrix when he was one year old.

 

Hazel liked to love people in tangible, practical ways. The Clinton house we lived in had old, cracking windows.  When Hendrix was a baby, it concerned Hazel that our baby would get cold at night.  So, she called a number of church members and asked different people to purchase a window for our house.  "Anonymously," she had every window in our house replaced with nice, modern insulated windows.

 

About ten years ago, she kept challenging me and Tracey to record our first musical CD. One day I told her, "Hazel, that costs a lot of money." A few days later she handed me a check for $1000.00 and said, "Make the CD."

 

I have lots of other memories of Hazel through the years, but those will suffice.  She told me for sixteen years that she wanted me to sing the gospel song The Midnight Cry at her funeral.  I will be happy to do so today.

 

She was a fine lady who loved her family, worked hard, and had a good name - which the Bible says is more valuable than riches. You can take the good name with you!

 

We will miss Ms. Hazel.