A Tribute to Mrs. Betty Wilton

Yesterday, many, many people braved the suffocating heat and merciless sun to convene on Westerleigh Crematorium for Mrs. Betty Wilton's Memorial Service. Betty was a long-standing member of this Church and, with her husband Brian of 60 years, made an invaluable contribution to the lives of hundreds and hundreds of people. They were in this Church long before I ever turned up and, for so many of us, acted as surrogate Grandparents in a Church which does not have many 'senior' members!

During my time in BCC, Betty always made an effort to say hallo to me and offer an encouraging word or promise of prayer. There was always an update on what her children and grandchildren were doing and she was unashamedly forthright in communicating her faith in and love for Jesus.

Yesterday's Memorial Service beautifully captured the multi-faceted life of Betty; wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, Christian and so much more. Whilst it is sad that she has died (she will be greatly missed by us all), there was a strong theme of hope running through the Service. We know that for a genuine Christian, death is not the end - it is just the beginning. As I write this Betty is now with her Lord and Saviour: Jesus Christ. She has a new body. There is no more suffering, pain, tears or hurt. She is truly liberated and rejoicing with Christ in heaven.

I conclude today's Blog with the words of a very moving song which was sung at the Service. It encapsulates this hope, in which we can rejoice today.

Good bye Betty. Thanks for everything. You have run the race, you have kept the faith and now you have the prize (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

1) There is a day that all creation’s waiting for
A day of freedom and liberation for the earth
And on that day the Lord will come to meet His bride
And when we see Him in an instant we’ll be changed.

2) The trumpet sounds and the dead will then be raised
By His power, never to perish again
Once only flesh, now clothed in immortality
Death has now been swallowed up in victory

Chorus:
We will meet Him in the air and then we will be like Him
For we will see Him as He is, oh yeah!
Then all hurt and pain will cease
And we’ll be with Him forever and in His glory we will live
Oh yeah! Oh yeah!

3) So lift your eyes to the things as yet unseen
That will remain now for all eternity
Though trouble’s hard, it’s only momentary
And it’s achieving our future glory

Words and Music: Nathan Fellingham
Copyright 2001 Thankyou Music