Elizabeth Ann Williams
September 15, 1949 –July 12, 2004
July 17th, 2004
When we think of Elizabeth Ann Williams, how can we not think of the goodness of God. For in Elizabeth God gave to us an incredible beautiful gift. The downside of receiving such a great a gift, is the tremendous and lingering loss we feel when that gift is taken back from us.
We all like to think, that we have an ownership claim on each other, especially those we love, but in reality all the people that come into our lives are borrowed from God. We all know that when we borrow something, we’re supposed to give it back to where it came from. It does not matter how long we keep it, whatever we borrow, still belongs to the owner.
In Psalms 24, the writer reminds us that “ the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.” Death is the reminder, that one day we all go back to the original owner. Now some of us might think that’s a bad thing, but for those who know Jesus Christ we know it’s a good thing because of what Jesus told us. Before Jesus left this world he told us, “Let not your heart be troubled, you believe God, believe also in me, for in my Father house are many mansions. I am going to prepare a place for you. I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I Am.”
Elizabeth went from city to city working in property management. But this last move she made on this past Monday, was one in which she did not have to fill out any papers, sign any leases, or worry about headaches from tenants who are not paying on time. No in this new city, Jesus saw to it that all she had to do was to come on into the place that he had prepared for her and sit down. Knowing Elizabeth, she probably wanted to know if Jesus needed help managing the other mansions in heaven, but He had to tell her, “Elizabeth, you know longer have to be in charge, it’s your turn to sit back and be blessed.”
It’s one thing to die, but it is something altogether different to die in the Lord. The Bible puts it this way, “Precious in the eyes of the Lord, is the death of His saints.” Something precious happened between shifts on July 12, 2004 as Elizabeth lay in the bed. It sent tears and grief into our hearts, but God said what took place was precious in His eyes. Anything that’s precious in the eyes of God, ought to be precious in our eyes as well, because we know God is good.
We often think it’s the people who have had life easy who are the most joyful in life, but that is usually far from the case. It’s the people who have seen some valleys and climbed over some rough mountains, that understand that life is a gift regardless of the forms that it takes. Adversity was there early in life for Elizabeth. As a kid she had a brother and a sister, and the trio was known as Vicky, Pat, and Betty. When they were ages 3, 4, and 5 their mother died. That’s not something that’s easy to handle.
They were raised in a very strict setting. Instead of them allowing their situation to turn them bitter, they chose to become better, for they recognized they still had each other, and that was something special in and of itself. There bond of love for one another has seen through some really tough times. They have been a trio who have strived to be there for each other.
God poured some incredible talents and abilities into Elizabeth. The good thing is that she allow them to take route in her life and blossom. You see, God puts something special in all of us, but when we do not choose God’s plan and purpose for our lives, we take those gifts to the graves and have to face God with what might have been. No Elizabeth did not let things go to waste. She used what the Lord gave to her because she knew one day she would have to give an account for the life God gave to her. She wanted to be smiling in God’s presence eagerly expecting Jesus to say, “well done my child.”
Who was this gift of a woman. Some one and two word descriptions that her family gave of her were, a decision maker, organizer, rock, sunshine, sparkle, bubbly, sophisticated, compassionate, energetic, bubbly, energizer, spiritual, inspirational, caring, creative, magnificent, big mamma, beautiful, and nurturing. You could not be around Elizabeth for long and not be captivated by her smile and her encouragement. She simply loved people.
Of all her earthly possessions, nothing brought Elizabeth more joy Lalia, Cleopatra, Aqueela and Sheeba. She was a woman who loved her children and was willing to do whatever it took to help them succeed. She gladly opened her arms to Sheeba’s husband. He’ll testify that she was the kind of mother-in-law, that dropped the in-law and simply loved him as her own son. Sheeba tried to tell her mom, that at the wedding, all she was to do was to simply enjoy being the mother of the bride.
But that was not Elizabeth’s way of doing things. I doubt if she ever sat back and did nothing, when she knew something needed to be done even if it was not her job. Elizabeth was so concerned that Sheeba’s wedding turned out the best it could be that Sheeba did not need a wedding coordinator after her mother used her organizing and administrative skills. That wedding came out just right.
Another daughter remembers just how her Mom was her source of strength and encouragement for the birth of her child. Elizabeth’s presence in the delivery room, rubbing her feet and her back reminder her of how her mom had always been there for her. Another daughter remember how Elizabeth had come back to the hospital for the birth of her child. She told her “Mom, I need you now.” Elizabeth made it back to the hospital, albeit not as quickly as she wanted because she got lost on the way. It seems Elizabeth got lost quite a few times when she was going places. Not even a blizzard could keep Elizabeth from the hospital when one of her daughters was having her baby.
To be a great mom, does not mean spending huge amounts of money on your kids. It means doing those little things that you remember for life. When Elizabeth could not afford a black scarf for one of her daughters, she took the time to make one. It’s things like giving a daughter a big fluffy robe and saying “you don’t even need a towel with this one.” It’s simple things like going to the park and turning it into an adventure. Elizabeth had a creative imagination and oh the games they were able to play.
It’s things like knowing when to say something to encourage you when you’re down. It’s listening when somebody is hurting, and sharing their pain with them. Elizabeth knew how to do it well. One of her daughters said, “she taught me that there is power in prayer.” Those are the things that make a great mom
One thing Elizabeth could not do well was tell jokes. She would come up with her own punch line that often did not fit. She would break out into a laugh as though it was the funniest thing you ever heard, and you’d be left wondering, “what on earth is funny about that.”
Elizabeth loved her grandchildren. One of her grandchildren Summaya, used the word magnificent to describe her. She said she was the best in the world. One thing she will always remember is how her Nana saved Christmas. It appears that Summaya and her sister had been having some serious attitude problems. Their mother had warned them to the point of getting tired of warning, and told them, they would not be celebrating Christmas this year. But Summaya is forever grateful that her grandmother, came and talked to their mother and melted their mother’s heart, and they had Christmas that year.
What did Elizabeth impart into her grandchildren. The grandchildren said, “ she took us to church,”, “she helped with our homework”, “she taught us songs to sing to the elderly”, and “she gave us a bible with our name on it.” Those of you with grandchildren, what memories are you investing in them.
Elizabeth had the wonderful gift of hospitality. She loved to have family events together, and her key ingredient was cooking waffles with bacon and sausage. She made you eat more food than you wanted to eat when it came to her waffles. She believed a full stomach led to a smile on your face. Even after everybody had eaten enough, she still made more waffles.
Elizabeth came to our church a number of years ago through her sister Vickie. We knew there was something special about her from the moment we met her. She was the kind of person, once you met her, you felt as though you had known her for years. But anther thing we quickly came to realize was just how special the relationship between Vickie and Elizabeth was. Here were two sisters that truly loved and enjoyed each other.
They were not that far apart in years, but Vickie said of her sister, “she was my sister, my mother, and my very best friend.” Vickie said, “I can’t even remember the last time we got into an argument. We have been too busy trying to be there for each other, we didn’t have time to argue. When Jesus talked about loving one another as you love yourself, I believe he had Vickie and Elizabeth in mind. In a day when family members don’t speak to each for years on end, it’s good to find two sisters who realized early on in their lives that God had given them the precious gift of each other.
Now Elizabeth was there for Vickie to support her in becoming all that she could be as a woman. After Vickie’s divorce, Vickie’s children were going over to their father’s for Thanksgiving. Now Vickie had cooked a nice thanksgiving dinner and the ex-husband knew about it. So he told the kids, to make sure they brought him a plate when they came over to visit. Now when Vickie found out about her ex-husband requesting a plat from her thanksgiving table, she was less than enthusiastic about it. As a matter of fact, she was a little upset by it. Well to be truthful, she was downright steaming mad about it. When, you’re mad it’s good to have an understanding sister to vent your anger to so that she can share your pain.
She called up her sister, “That man had the nerve to ask my children to bring him a plate of my thanksgiving meal that I bought and I cooked. Can you believe it. What do you think of that? Her big sister told, “well I think you ought to be thankful that you are able to have food to send to him.” After that phone call, “Vickie realized her sister had a very good point. She went in the kitchen and fixed that man the biggest plate of food she could get on the plate.” Sometimes love means giving a rebuke in order to set us back on the right track. The Bible teaches “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” A good friend is willing to let us know when we’re wrong.
Elizabeth was an incredible woman, but it was not due to some goodness in her heart. To understand Elizabeth you have to understand her God. One day she heard Jesus, “if anyone wants life, let him deny himself, pick up his cross and follow me. For whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses it for my sake will find it.” Jesus made it absolutely clear that there is a life after this life, and that we need to be prepared to enter it. He went so far as to say, if you gain all the wealth of this world, with all its fame and pleasure, but die and lose your soul, you will have gotten the short of the stick. But then it will be too late to do anything about it.
When we follow Jesus, he never promises everything will be easy. He does promise us that it would be worth it. When Elizabeth gave her life to follow Jesus Christ, she pledged her life to him, and to remain faithful and true to him, no matter what it took. There are those who say yes to God initially, and then live as though God is not in charge of their lives. That was not Elizabeth.
It’s interesting that she loved deers. She had pictures of deers, she had tiny deers, she had a stuffed deer, and was hoping to one day have a deer head hanging on her wall. I think one of the verses in the bible that describes deers is a very good description of Elizabeth’s life. Psalm 42:1 As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you Oh God. My soul thirsts for the living God.
Elizabeth was so in love with Jesus Christ, that she wanted to do whatever it took to know him better. She was one of the finest deacons this church has ever known with her eagerness to serve others with a spirit of joy. She had the gift of encouragement, uplifting the spirits of the saints. She was among the first to make a pledge to the New Life Center, and even after she left our church, she continued to send money until that pledge was paid off. She was eager to participate as a leader in the campaign.
She loved Glenville and was proud to tell others about it. She left Glenville, and went straight to her church in Columbus and served in the nursery, the missionary society, the prayer warriors and the choir. Elizabeth was a true worker for the Lord. She gave of her best to the Lord when times were good.
But even when life’s dark side came in and cancer invaded her body, her testimony was that her faith and her trust were still in her God. She didn’t curse the darkness with her life, she chose to light the candle and let the love of Jesus Christ shine brighter through her. She had a desire not only to know God, but to bring others into a right relationship with him that they too might know him as Lord and Savior.
The pain and suffering she endured could not stop her from going to visit others who had cancer to encourage them. It could not stop her from showing the love she’s always shown. For Vickie’s birthday, Elizabeth had a special gift to give her. She called someone in Cleveland, to get Elizabeth at his house so that she could give her this gift. Well the friend managed to get Vickie in his house. He got her to go into the living room to look at a problem with his TV. When she did, out jumps Elizabeth.
With all the pain and suffering it cost for her to drive all the way from Columbus, the two simply jumped and held each other in their arms. The gift of love and friendship had been passed in that hug. My friends, that’s what love is, and that’s what love can do when Jesus is at the center of our lives. We always have hope, that no matter what, this is not the end.
Elizabeth believed, that when you put your focus on others, there’s not time for a pitty party. It is in giving of ourselves, that we find out how God blesses us in return. We may feel, oh it was unfair of God to take her. Was it fair that even with cancer, she told others more about coming to know Jesus than we who are healthy do? Was it fair that she had a love and a zest for God in her circumstances, while we cruise through life thinking we have plenty time to serve God later so that spiritual stuff is on the back burner? Elizabeth had a desire to please God regardless of the circumstances of her life.
Is it possible that she’s gone, because she’s done here on this earth what God called her to do. At age 33, Jesus was able to say it is finished. Into thy hands I commit my spirit. 54 does seem awfully young to go but its not how long you live, but how well you live for God that truly counts. If we look at Jesus and we look at Elizabeth and all that she has done for her family, her friends, her churches, and her God, she too can say, “It is finished. Into thy hands I commit my spirit—Just give me Jesus, my Lord, My master, and My King.”
For the word of God clearly states 1 Thes. 4:13-18 Brothers & Sisters , we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men and women , who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.
