| Consider several snippets from his obituary. "His church ministry was in education, youth and music in Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee and Florida, as well as Arkansas, where he was a member of and serving as minister to senior adults at Harlan Park Baptist Church." From the dictionary, a minister is "one officiating or assisting the officiant in church worship." Those who spoke at Roy's two-hour memorial service breathed life into this frigid, inert definition. More than one spoke of how Roy and Jimmie (his late wife) opened their home to students needing nurturing and guidance while attending college. Real ministers extend open hands and warm hearts, their lives embracing others. They invite, touch, feed, feel, overlook, encourage. "He had also served First Baptist and Woodland Heights Baptist churches in Conway as minister of education." There's a whole universe rolled up in that little word "serve." Consider one friend's assessment of Roy's attitude toward service: he was just as happy cleaning the toilet as he was in leading the singing. Devoted service reaches beyond the short arm of mere duty. "Bro. Roy loved to sing and was also active in the Faulkner County Men's Chorus as well as a past member of the Oklahoma Centurymen. He was also a member of the Conway Lions Club." Contagious enthusiasm compels ministers and servants into involvement. Ministry plus service equal investment—investment in the lives of those who may not find it anywhere else. And we had the pleasure of being the direct recipients of Roy's and Jimmie's investments on a number of Christmases past. When our daughter, Jenny, was young, we'd bring her home from the Conway Human Development Center to celebrate Christmas with the Browns, Chathams and Bakers. The Chatham's repertoire of songs included more than traditional hymns, and Jimmie needed little persuasion to join Roy in their special rendition of "Walking in a Winter Wonderland." Then coaxing the best out of his formal training at the Conservatory of Music at Washington University, Roy's Irish tenor tones elevated "Ham and Eggs" to an entertaining work of art. Blind and profoundly retarded, Jenny thrilled at the raucous hubbub. And when the Chatham's daughters Susan (Baker) and April (Carpenter) broke into a violin duet, Jenny responded with effusive smiles. "Orange Blossom Special" and the high notes from Roy's performance of "O Holy Night" always extracted squeals of delight from her. Then dropping to the floor onto the pallet by Jenny, Roy and Jimmie spoke gently to her, making over her as if she were one of their own "normal" grandchildren. "Jesus loves you, Jenny, and one day you'll see Him face to face." She has. When I stopped by Roy's house the night before his physical decline began, I heard his trademark whistling as he came to the door. Cheerful he was, despite the growing concern that something was not right in his body. His passing leaves Mary and me without the model of a true Christian gentleman we have depended on for almost 25 years now. "A prince of a man," observed Judy Brown. I wholeheartedly agree. Permission granted for not-for-sale reproduction in exact form including copyright. Other uses require written permission. |