Jr was married to my moms sister. Funny part is, my dad dated Naomi before he broke up with her because her younger sister (my mom) was prettier. We weren't real close, but my mom and dad were very close to them. I remember my Uncle Jr telling me one time that for fun, he, Naomi, and my mom and dad, would dress up as railroad hobo's and go to families houses and beg for food and sit in their house until the family recognized them. That was a big night out for them! As I sat in the service and listened to some family and the Pastor say things about my Uncle, I was struck that He was exactly the kind of man I want to be. He loved God. He was always faithful to the Lord and to his church. He loved my Aunt and all of the family. He was fun and the family celebrated his life last night. Life is short and I want my life to be celebrated when it is all said and done. I have failed, stumbled, but the great hand of God has helped me and lifted me up and set my feet on a rock.
As I drove home, I remembered one time when I was around 7 years old, Jr asked me if I liked pumpkins. I said yeah, of course. He put me in his truck and drove me up Pumpkin Patch Mountain there in Red Hill, NC. There was an old shack up there and we went and sat on the porch and looked around at hundreds of pumpkins. He then turned my attention a little higher to the breath-taking view of the Blue Ridge mountains. It was beautiful. I remember my Uncle Jr saying, "Isn't it something to know the One who made that?" Well Uncle Jr, you are now with Him. We miss you, but we long for the day that we will all be together again.