Granny Winn's Eulogy

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8, NIV).

Yesterday, I was able to leave work early to attend the memorial service of George Sly (a member of Jenks Church and the father of Mary Lasarsky). During the very good service, Tracy Ellis quoted Micah 6:8 and demonstrated how George Sly had lived out the principles of that verse. It reminded me of the eulogy that I wrote 4 years ago for my last living grandparent (and the only one who had the opportunity to see my son, Christopher). My cousin, Bryan Winn, read the eulogy at the funeral for me. The following is the eulogy as I wrote it:

Lovada Almalee (Maggard) Winn was born in Venice (Huntsville) Arkansas on February 13, 1930 to John and Bell Maggard. In 1933, the Maggard family moved to Westville, Oklahoma, where Lovada attended Westville Public Schools. On December 19, 1946, she married James Troy Winn in Lincoln, Arkansas. In 1958, they moved to Catoosa, Oklahoma. Lovada owned and operated Rainbow Mini Storage. She was preceeded in death by her husband, James Troy Winn. She is survived by...

...two sons (Henry Winn and Glenn Winn, both of Catoosa)
...three daughters (Joyce Laudett of Bella Vista, Arkansas; Glenna Beeler of Inola; and Lisa Taylor of Catoosa)
...three brothers (Neil Maggard of Westville; Ancil Maggard of Proctor; and Kenneth Maggard of Proctor)
...thirteen grandchildren
...and eleven great-grandchildren.

In Micah 6:8, the Bible asks one of the most important questions in life: "What does the Lord require of you?" Then, it reveals the answer: "To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Lovada Winn lived by those principles.

She was a woman who dealt fairly with people in her business and in life in general. She was known for her honesty and loyalty to people. She acted justly.

Lovada was also helpful to many people in need. Whether visiting a sick friend or church member, caring for her grandchildren, or helping a stranger, she touched many lives with her concern. She was both a great listener and a gifted conversationalist. Nobody felt alone in Lovada's presence. She love mercy.

In 1963, Lovada Winn professed her faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized at the Catoosa Church of Christ. She served as a member of the Plainview Church of Christ for a quarter of a century. Over those years, she taught numerous children about Jesus, encouraged many others, and became an example for all. Lovada's faith impacted generations, as her children and many grandchildren became believers. She considered the fact that all her children and many grandchildren were Christians to be the most satisfying aspect of her life. While she did many good things, Lovada always wanted to do even more and to be even better than she was. In her last days, she looked forward to heaven, and hoped to be found worthy because of God's grace. She walked humbly with her God.

Lovada Winn passed from this life to the next on May 7, 2003.