Bea Dobbs Carter passed from this mortal coil on Friday, June 5th. She was my mother-in-law these past 25 years. On Tuesday, June 9th, we laid her body to rest in Forge Ridge, Tennessee.
She leaves behind Charles, her husband of 56 years, Wayne, Tommy, Jerry, Cathy, and Sharon, my wife. More than that, many grandchildren and great grandchildren survive her. Cousins, and siblings as well will be mourning the loss of Bea.
Bea Dobbs Carter was a woman brought up in faith and it never left her. She was fortunate enough to marry Charles Carter, also a deeply spiritual person. They were involved in many churches throughout their lives. It was Brother Steve, a former pastor from St. Peters, Missouri, that came to officiate over her memorial service.
During her memorial, we heard several songs, one of those is a favorite of mine as well, Amazing Grace. I know it was a song that had she been there, she’d have sung with all her might. Another song, Calvary, was also sung, and it’s a favorite of mine as well.
The Bible was no strange book to Bea. They were able to share several of her favorite verses during the memorial and funeral. One of those though was her most favorite and those in attendance felt best described her life, 1 Corinthians 13, specifically, verses 1-7, and 13.
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
An amazing chapter of the Bible. It’s one of my personal favorites as well.
Bea and I didn’t always see eye to eye, but we always agreed that family, especially her daughter and grandchildren, came first. Her family was the number one thing in her life. She would do anything for them, and did. From feeding, housing, and rescuing, Bea has done it all for her family. She’s been there for births, deaths, marriages, and even divorces and never turned one of them away.
Today I don’t mourn for Bea. I celebrate her passing from this Earth to Heaven, to set at God’s table next to Jesus. She believed in God, Heaven, and salvation by faith through grace, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I’m not asking you to believe with me, but to at least share the joy of her and her family’s belief in this resurrection and reward.
Her family is sad but thankful, and will go on. They’ll be sharing stories about her for generations to come. Even my youngest granddaughter, only 4, felt close to Bea.
Hopefully you’ll take away from this some appreciation for her, or perhaps someone dear to you. If so, go and share that today.
Just one son-in-law,
Todd
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Tags: Bea, Bible, Carter, Christianity, death, Dobbs, family, First Epistle to the Corinthians, funeral, God, Jesus, Resurrection of Jesus, Tennessee
