Bob Fowler
June 4, 2016
(mp3 audio)
(m4a audio)
(Word)
Good morning.
My name is Bob Fowler
and I lead a Small Group for the Church of the Apostles
that Julia attended prior to her stroke eight years ago.
Her daughter Julia asked me to say a few words
so I thought I would tell a story
and make a few observations on our beloved Miss Julia.
As you know she attended Sweet Briar College in Virginia.
When it came time for her to leave for school
her parents took her to the Brookwood train station in Atlanta.
The story goes that
as her Dad gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek to say goodbye,
he told her that at Sweet Briar they have a list, the Deans List;
and that he expected to find her name on that List.
In her demure way, Julia said
yes daddy, of course daddy, I will work very hard to make that happen.
Now her Mother, overhearing this said
Oh Julia don’t pay any attention to your Dad.
I have just three words of advice for you—PARTY, PARTY, PARTY.
Well she did graduate Phi Beta Kappa so she was definitely on the List.
And we also know from her Brother’s comments earlier today about her
escapades with the Georgia Tech fraternities
that she fulfilled her Mother’s wishes as well.
In terms of observations, let me say Julia was a true “Southern Belle” and I mean that in its purest and most flattering way. She was smart, intelligent, well educated, well read and traveled. She loved life and she loved people. She was fully engaged in life and determined to succeed once she decided to accomplish something. I remember her telling us a story about apples. It seems a neighbor had a wonderful apple tree in his yard and Julia decided she wanted the children to pick some apples. Unfortunately all of the low hanging fruit was gone. Not to be deterred, Julia knew a man who worked in the neighborhood that had a bucket truck. [You where this is going, don’t you.] Sure enough she convinced him to park it by the tree; Julia climbed in the bucket and had him raise her up to the top where she shook the tree until the apples fell below. Julia shook a lot of things up in life, didn’t she?
My second observation is that Julia was a mighty prayer warrior. On Monday nights after reading and discussing various bible verses we open up for prayer requests. Many times, in the interest of time, I would ask one person to present our requests to the Lord and close us in prayer. Often I called on Julia because she had such a wonderful, expressive way of presenting our requests. She would plead, cajole, and cry out to the Lord. It was honest and from the heart. She left nothing on the table and the Lord had no choice but to listen and respond. It has been a week now that Julia has been with her Lord and she has no doubt been peppering Him with thousands of questions. It would be a sight to see.
Julia we love you, we miss you and we look forward to being reunited with you soon! Amen.
Bob Fowler
Abbey Chapel, Westview Cemetery
Atlanta, Georgia
June 4, 2016