My loving and devoted mom was a farmer's daughter.
She worked as a bookkeepr for many years at a grain company in Goffstown, New Hampshire as well as a Nurse's Aide for for the Hillsboro County Nursing Home in Goffstown.
Mom and my dad, J. Tolford Durham were married June 11, 1937, although they divorced many years ago. Dad passed away in 1986.
Mom is survived by me and my sister Jo D. Huff. Both my sister and myself are of Belfast, Maine. Mom is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. We all love and miss her so very much. Mom lived with me and helped raise my children after my wife died in 1975.
We had 26 beautiful years getting to know each other not just as mother and son, but as friends. The memories created during those years will sustain me until I can be reunited with her in heaven...I love you now,forever and always mom.
Below is the eulogy I read at my loving mother's funeral:
EULOGY FOR BEATRICE E. DURHAM
I have known Beatrice Durham for 67 years. Sixty-seven plus years ago, she prayed to God for a child and he led her to The Home For Little Wanderers in Waterville, Maine. There were two male children available that morning and she picked me. She told me that when she came to me, I put my arms up to her and picked her. When I got old enough to understand, I know if I had the opportunity to pick a Mother from all the world, I could never have picked a better Mother than Bea Durham.
Her love for my sister, Jo, and I, was an endless love with patience, kindness, and sacrifice. She worked hard to raise us in the right way and with the right values. And this love and kindness was also shown to countless others, who she met, helped, and went out of her way for.
Her love even reached out to her animals. She had a rabbit, not like Harvey, but one that weighed about 35 pounds. She had him house trained and he slept on her bed with her. He never made a mistake anywhere in the house. She even used to take him on walks with a harness and leash. His name McGregor, of course. When she put on her records of Madam Butterfly, he would jump up on her lap and listen intently until it was finished. An opera loving rabbit. She also had a poodle named Lafayette, and a parakeet, which she trained, and Laffy and the parakeet used to play together on the floor. Her love and patience accomplished amazing things.
Bea Durham was active in her community in giving ways also. She worked as an assistant to Francis Abbot in the Belfast Free Library for a number of years. She was President of the Women's League of the First Church in Belfast and was always a volunteer to put on the church suppers. In Goffstown, N H, she served as the treasurer for the Congregational Church; and was one of the founding members of the senior citizens organization.
She worked as a nurses aid at the Hillsborough County Nursing Home, where her love and compassion for the patients was felt and received with much appreciation. Her most valuable contribution to the community of Goffstown, was her Bible class which she taught for eighteen years and through those ladies, her influence is still being carried on as the Bible class continues to this day.
Some of her most endearing qualities were her love, her kindness and her compassion. I was one of the recipients of that love and compassion. When she used to tell us bed time stories, one of our favorite stories was about the little boy and the little girl who didn't have any home or family. Along came a Lady who loved us and brought us home to live with her. We loved that story and asked her to tell it to us over and over again. That is how we came to know our adoption as an act of compassion and love. If it hadn't been for her, I might not have ever had a name and a family.
When I was in the Air Force, she was never to busy to write me every week and keep me up on all the news at home, and send me a care package every now and then so I wouldn't forget what a wonderful cook she was.
Her relationship with her family and friends were always one of love and the giving of herself to others. She loved having her family around her. She was a wonderful homemaker. She cleaned and cooked and always made sure we had clean and neat clothes. She made the house a warm and wonderful home. And for this we will miss her immensely. She loved the family picnics that were rich with stories, enjoyment of family being together, and good food. After our dinner, we would gather around my Grandmother's piano. She would play and we would all sing the popular songs of the day, old favorites, and hymns. Those were sweet times. Bea Durham came from a farm family who lived a simple, uncomplicated life and she retained that wonderful, down home quality all her life.
People loved her for her unpretentiousness and kindness. The love that she showed and gave to others was her best quality and others were drawn to her because of it.
This eulogy was written so that others would be reminded and come to know her as I was so blessed to know her. Another quality that people liked about her, was that she liked to laugh. She was also able to laugh at herself without embarrassment. Two examples of that come to mind. When she first got her bifocals, we were living in Goffstown in my Grandmother's house in the upstairs apartment. She and I were sitting in the kitchen and as I watched her, she kept stepping over something as she walked across the floor. Finally, I asked her, Mom, what are you stepping over? She replied, there's something on the floor there. I said, Mom, that's a sunshine spot coming through the window. We both had a good laugh over that.
One evening we were downstairs in the kitchen. My cousin had come by and Mom asked him to stay for supper. She picked up the plate she had set for me and moved it to where he was sitting. I came home from work, and sat down at my place at the table. We were talking about my work and the day's happenings. She had made chili that night. As we talked, she brought the pot over to serve us. As we continued to talk she started spooning out the chili. My eyes got wide open as I couldn't believe what I was seeing. She was spooning the chili right on the place mat. Mom, what are you doing? She replied, OH, you don't have a plate. I know I put one there. And we all broke up and laughed till the tears were running down our cheeks. She had forgotten she had moved the plate to my cousin's place. That's what made her such a great Lady. She was who she was and didn't pretend to be something else. That's why she was so loved.
As much as she loved us, and she did, there was One she loved even more. She loved her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ with all her heart. She felt very blessed to be one of HIS children and to be used by HIM to be a blessing to others. HIS love flowed through her constantly and it showed to all who knew her. HE was not only her Lord and Saviour, HE was her best friend. If there was any one thing she wanted more then anything else, it was for those she loved and those she met to know Jesus as their Friend, Lord and Saviour. And she went a long way to fulfilling that desire. Because of that, my fondest memories of her, were that she was always there for me, in good times and rough times. She always believed in me, encouraged me, and ceaselessly prayed for me, and each member of her family, and her friends. She and I could always sit down and talk about anything. She always listened and gave Godly advice and encouragement.
We helped each other. When my wife died, she helped me bring up my three sons. And there were some real trying times as they grew into teens and young men. But Jesus gave her the strength and guidance to go through it. Today, she is proud of her grandchildren. They have become good men and have children of their own. She loved each one of them and was always glad to have them around her.
In short, she was a wonderful Mother and she was also my best friend.
Some of her favorite things were: working in her garden; enjoying listening to her operas; her work on furniture and things that she would do beautiful stenciling on; and she loved Southern Gospel music and the Gaither Homecoming Friends that sang those beautiful songs. When God created us, He gave us each a heart. And that heart is not very large in size. But of the ability to stuff it with love, tenderness, and compassion, there is no limit. And her heart was filled to overflowing.
We loved her deeply. We will miss her greatly. She didn't only belong to us, she left a piece of herself in many hearts. But she is finally at HOME with her Master, Lord and Saviour, Jesus, and with her family and friends gathered around her. Our separation is only for a short time, when we will all be together forever and never be apart any more.
Helen Steiner Rice wrote: When I must leave you for a little while, Please do not grieve and shed wild tears and hug your sorrow to you through the years. But start out bravely with a gallant smile, and For my sake and in my name live on and do all things the same. Feed not your loneliness on empty days, but fill each waking hour in useful ways. Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer, and I in turn will comfort you and hold you near. And never, never, be afraid to die, for I am waiting for you in the sky.
So I am glad NOT that my Mom has gone, but that the earth she laughed and lived on, was my earth, too. That I have known and loved her, and that my love I'd shown. Tears over her departure? Some. But also a smile that I have walked with her for a while. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in ME will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in ME will never die."
Thank you for coming here today to pay honor to a wonderful Mom and a REAL LADY. God bless you.
She worked as a bookkeepr for many years at a grain company in Goffstown, New Hampshire as well as a Nurse's Aide for for the Hillsboro County Nursing Home in Goffstown.
Mom and my dad, J. Tolford Durham were married June 11, 1937, although they divorced many years ago. Dad passed away in 1986.
Mom is survived by me and my sister Jo D. Huff. Both my sister and myself are of Belfast, Maine. Mom is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. We all love and miss her so very much. Mom lived with me and helped raise my children after my wife died in 1975.
We had 26 beautiful years getting to know each other not just as mother and son, but as friends. The memories created during those years will sustain me until I can be reunited with her in heaven...I love you now,forever and always mom.
Below is the eulogy I read at my loving mother's funeral:
EULOGY FOR BEATRICE E. DURHAM
I have known Beatrice Durham for 67 years. Sixty-seven plus years ago, she prayed to God for a child and he led her to The Home For Little Wanderers in Waterville, Maine. There were two male children available that morning and she picked me. She told me that when she came to me, I put my arms up to her and picked her. When I got old enough to understand, I know if I had the opportunity to pick a Mother from all the world, I could never have picked a better Mother than Bea Durham.
Her love for my sister, Jo, and I, was an endless love with patience, kindness, and sacrifice. She worked hard to raise us in the right way and with the right values. And this love and kindness was also shown to countless others, who she met, helped, and went out of her way for.
Her love even reached out to her animals. She had a rabbit, not like Harvey, but one that weighed about 35 pounds. She had him house trained and he slept on her bed with her. He never made a mistake anywhere in the house. She even used to take him on walks with a harness and leash. His name McGregor, of course. When she put on her records of Madam Butterfly, he would jump up on her lap and listen intently until it was finished. An opera loving rabbit. She also had a poodle named Lafayette, and a parakeet, which she trained, and Laffy and the parakeet used to play together on the floor. Her love and patience accomplished amazing things.
Bea Durham was active in her community in giving ways also. She worked as an assistant to Francis Abbot in the Belfast Free Library for a number of years. She was President of the Women's League of the First Church in Belfast and was always a volunteer to put on the church suppers. In Goffstown, N H, she served as the treasurer for the Congregational Church; and was one of the founding members of the senior citizens organization.
She worked as a nurses aid at the Hillsborough County Nursing Home, where her love and compassion for the patients was felt and received with much appreciation. Her most valuable contribution to the community of Goffstown, was her Bible class which she taught for eighteen years and through those ladies, her influence is still being carried on as the Bible class continues to this day.
Some of her most endearing qualities were her love, her kindness and her compassion. I was one of the recipients of that love and compassion. When she used to tell us bed time stories, one of our favorite stories was about the little boy and the little girl who didn't have any home or family. Along came a Lady who loved us and brought us home to live with her. We loved that story and asked her to tell it to us over and over again. That is how we came to know our adoption as an act of compassion and love. If it hadn't been for her, I might not have ever had a name and a family.
When I was in the Air Force, she was never to busy to write me every week and keep me up on all the news at home, and send me a care package every now and then so I wouldn't forget what a wonderful cook she was.
Her relationship with her family and friends were always one of love and the giving of herself to others. She loved having her family around her. She was a wonderful homemaker. She cleaned and cooked and always made sure we had clean and neat clothes. She made the house a warm and wonderful home. And for this we will miss her immensely. She loved the family picnics that were rich with stories, enjoyment of family being together, and good food. After our dinner, we would gather around my Grandmother's piano. She would play and we would all sing the popular songs of the day, old favorites, and hymns. Those were sweet times. Bea Durham came from a farm family who lived a simple, uncomplicated life and she retained that wonderful, down home quality all her life.
People loved her for her unpretentiousness and kindness. The love that she showed and gave to others was her best quality and others were drawn to her because of it.
This eulogy was written so that others would be reminded and come to know her as I was so blessed to know her. Another quality that people liked about her, was that she liked to laugh. She was also able to laugh at herself without embarrassment. Two examples of that come to mind. When she first got her bifocals, we were living in Goffstown in my Grandmother's house in the upstairs apartment. She and I were sitting in the kitchen and as I watched her, she kept stepping over something as she walked across the floor. Finally, I asked her, Mom, what are you stepping over? She replied, there's something on the floor there. I said, Mom, that's a sunshine spot coming through the window. We both had a good laugh over that.
One evening we were downstairs in the kitchen. My cousin had come by and Mom asked him to stay for supper. She picked up the plate she had set for me and moved it to where he was sitting. I came home from work, and sat down at my place at the table. We were talking about my work and the day's happenings. She had made chili that night. As we talked, she brought the pot over to serve us. As we continued to talk she started spooning out the chili. My eyes got wide open as I couldn't believe what I was seeing. She was spooning the chili right on the place mat. Mom, what are you doing? She replied, OH, you don't have a plate. I know I put one there. And we all broke up and laughed till the tears were running down our cheeks. She had forgotten she had moved the plate to my cousin's place. That's what made her such a great Lady. She was who she was and didn't pretend to be something else. That's why she was so loved.
As much as she loved us, and she did, there was One she loved even more. She loved her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ with all her heart. She felt very blessed to be one of HIS children and to be used by HIM to be a blessing to others. HIS love flowed through her constantly and it showed to all who knew her. HE was not only her Lord and Saviour, HE was her best friend. If there was any one thing she wanted more then anything else, it was for those she loved and those she met to know Jesus as their Friend, Lord and Saviour. And she went a long way to fulfilling that desire. Because of that, my fondest memories of her, were that she was always there for me, in good times and rough times. She always believed in me, encouraged me, and ceaselessly prayed for me, and each member of her family, and her friends. She and I could always sit down and talk about anything. She always listened and gave Godly advice and encouragement.
We helped each other. When my wife died, she helped me bring up my three sons. And there were some real trying times as they grew into teens and young men. But Jesus gave her the strength and guidance to go through it. Today, she is proud of her grandchildren. They have become good men and have children of their own. She loved each one of them and was always glad to have them around her.
In short, she was a wonderful Mother and she was also my best friend.
Some of her favorite things were: working in her garden; enjoying listening to her operas; her work on furniture and things that she would do beautiful stenciling on; and she loved Southern Gospel music and the Gaither Homecoming Friends that sang those beautiful songs. When God created us, He gave us each a heart. And that heart is not very large in size. But of the ability to stuff it with love, tenderness, and compassion, there is no limit. And her heart was filled to overflowing.
We loved her deeply. We will miss her greatly. She didn't only belong to us, she left a piece of herself in many hearts. But she is finally at HOME with her Master, Lord and Saviour, Jesus, and with her family and friends gathered around her. Our separation is only for a short time, when we will all be together forever and never be apart any more.
Helen Steiner Rice wrote: When I must leave you for a little while, Please do not grieve and shed wild tears and hug your sorrow to you through the years. But start out bravely with a gallant smile, and For my sake and in my name live on and do all things the same. Feed not your loneliness on empty days, but fill each waking hour in useful ways. Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer, and I in turn will comfort you and hold you near. And never, never, be afraid to die, for I am waiting for you in the sky.
So I am glad NOT that my Mom has gone, but that the earth she laughed and lived on, was my earth, too. That I have known and loved her, and that my love I'd shown. Tears over her departure? Some. But also a smile that I have walked with her for a while. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in ME will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in ME will never die."
Thank you for coming here today to pay honor to a wonderful Mom and a REAL LADY. God bless you.
My loving and devoted mom was a farmer's daughter.
She worked as a bookkeepr for many years at a grain company in Goffstown, New Hampshire as well as a Nurse's Aide for for the Hillsboro County Nursing Home in Goffstown.
Mom and my dad, J. Tolford Durham were married June 11, 1937, although they divorced many years ago. Dad passed away in 1986.
Mom is survived by me and my sister Jo D. Huff. Both my sister and myself are of Belfast, Maine. Mom is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. We all love and miss her so very much. Mom lived with me and helped raise my children after my wife died in 1975.
We had 26 beautiful years getting to know each other not just as mother and son, but as friends. The memories created during those years will sustain me until I can be reunited with her in heaven...I love you now,forever and always mom.
Below is the eulogy I read at my loving mother's funeral:
EULOGY FOR BEATRICE E. DURHAM
I have known Beatrice Durham for 67 years. Sixty-seven plus years ago, she prayed to God for a child and he led her to The Home For Little Wanderers in Waterville, Maine. There were two male children available that morning and she picked me. She told me that when she came to me, I put my arms up to her and picked her. When I got old enough to understand, I know if I had the opportunity to pick a Mother from all the world, I could never have picked a better Mother than Bea Durham.
Her love for my sister, Jo, and I, was an endless love with patience, kindness, and sacrifice. She worked hard to raise us in the right way and with the right values. And this love and kindness was also shown to countless others, who she met, helped, and went out of her way for.
Her love even reached out to her animals. She had a rabbit, not like Harvey, but one that weighed about 35 pounds. She had him house trained and he slept on her bed with her. He never made a mistake anywhere in the house. She even used to take him on walks with a harness and leash. His name McGregor, of course. When she put on her records of Madam Butterfly, he would jump up on her lap and listen intently until it was finished. An opera loving rabbit. She also had a poodle named Lafayette, and a parakeet, which she trained, and Laffy and the parakeet used to play together on the floor. Her love and patience accomplished amazing things.
Bea Durham was active in her community in giving ways also. She worked as an assistant to Francis Abbot in the Belfast Free Library for a number of years. She was President of the Women's League of the First Church in Belfast and was always a volunteer to put on the church suppers. In Goffstown, N H, she served as the treasurer for the Congregational Church; and was one of the founding members of the senior citizens organization.
She worked as a nurses aid at the Hillsborough County Nursing Home, where her love and compassion for the patients was felt and received with much appreciation. Her most valuable contribution to the community of Goffstown, was her Bible class which she taught for eighteen years and through those ladies, her influence is still being carried on as the Bible class continues to this day.
Some of her most endearing qualities were her love, her kindness and her compassion. I was one of the recipients of that love and compassion. When she used to tell us bed time stories, one of our favorite stories was about the little boy and the little girl who didn't have any home or family. Along came a Lady who loved us and brought us home to live with her. We loved that story and asked her to tell it to us over and over again. That is how we came to know our adoption as an act of compassion and love. If it hadn't been for her, I might not have ever had a name and a family.
When I was in the Air Force, she was never to busy to write me every week and keep me up on all the news at home, and send me a care package every now and then so I wouldn't forget what a wonderful cook she was.
Her relationship with her family and friends were always one of love and the giving of herself to others. She loved having her family around her. She was a wonderful homemaker. She cleaned and cooked and always made sure we had clean and neat clothes. She made the house a warm and wonderful home. And for this we will miss her immensely. She loved the family picnics that were rich with stories, enjoyment of family being together, and good food. After our dinner, we would gather around my Grandmother's piano. She would play and we would all sing the popular songs of the day, old favorites, and hymns. Those were sweet times. Bea Durham came from a farm family who lived a simple, uncomplicated life and she retained that wonderful, down home quality all her life.
People loved her for her unpretentiousness and kindness. The love that she showed and gave to others was her best quality and others were drawn to her because of it.
This eulogy was written so that others would be reminded and come to know her as I was so blessed to know her. Another quality that people liked about her, was that she liked to laugh. She was also able to laugh at herself without embarrassment. Two examples of that come to mind. When she first got her bifocals, we were living in Goffstown in my Grandmother's house in the upstairs apartment. She and I were sitting in the kitchen and as I watched her, she kept stepping over something as she walked across the floor. Finally, I asked her, Mom, what are you stepping over? She replied, there's something on the floor there. I said, Mom, that's a sunshine spot coming through the window. We both had a good laugh over that.
One evening we were downstairs in the kitchen. My cousin had come by and Mom asked him to stay for supper. She picked up the plate she had set for me and moved it to where he was sitting. I came home from work, and sat down at my place at the table. We were talking about my work and the day's happenings. She had made chili that night. As we talked, she brought the pot over to serve us. As we continued to talk she started spooning out the chili. My eyes got wide open as I couldn't believe what I was seeing. She was spooning the chili right on the place mat. Mom, what are you doing? She replied, OH, you don't have a plate. I know I put one there. And we all broke up and laughed till the tears were running down our cheeks. She had forgotten she had moved the plate to my cousin's place. That's what made her such a great Lady. She was who she was and didn't pretend to be something else. That's why she was so loved.
As much as she loved us, and she did, there was One she loved even more. She loved her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ with all her heart. She felt very blessed to be one of HIS children and to be used by HIM to be a blessing to others. HIS love flowed through her constantly and it showed to all who knew her. HE was not only her Lord and Saviour, HE was her best friend. If there was any one thing she wanted more then anything else, it was for those she loved and those she met to know Jesus as their Friend, Lord and Saviour. And she went a long way to fulfilling that desire. Because of that, my fondest memories of her, were that she was always there for me, in good times and rough times. She always believed in me, encouraged me, and ceaselessly prayed for me, and each member of her family, and her friends. She and I could always sit down and talk about anything. She always listened and gave Godly advice and encouragement.
We helped each other. When my wife died, she helped me bring up my three sons. And there were some real trying times as they grew into teens and young men. But Jesus gave her the strength and guidance to go through it. Today, she is proud of her grandchildren. They have become good men and have children of their own. She loved each one of them and was always glad to have them around her.
In short, she was a wonderful Mother and she was also my best friend.
Some of her favorite things were: working in her garden; enjoying listening to her operas; her work on furniture and things that she would do beautiful stenciling on; and she loved Southern Gospel music and the Gaither Homecoming Friends that sang those beautiful songs. When God created us, He gave us each a heart. And that heart is not very large in size. But of the ability to stuff it with love, tenderness, and compassion, there is no limit. And her heart was filled to overflowing.
We loved her deeply. We will miss her greatly. She didn't only belong to us, she left a piece of herself in many hearts. But she is finally at HOME with her Master, Lord and Saviour, Jesus, and with her family and friends gathered around her. Our separation is only for a short time, when we will all be together forever and never be apart any more.
Helen Steiner Rice wrote: When I must leave you for a little while, Please do not grieve and shed wild tears and hug your sorrow to you through the years. But start out bravely with a gallant smile, and For my sake and in my name live on and do all things the same. Feed not your loneliness on empty days, but fill each waking hour in useful ways. Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer, and I in turn will comfort you and hold you near. And never, never, be afraid to die, for I am waiting for you in the sky.
So I am glad NOT that my Mom has gone, but that the earth she laughed and lived on, was my earth, too. That I have known and loved her, and that my love I'd shown. Tears over her departure? Some. But also a smile that I have walked with her for a while. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in ME will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in ME will never die."
Thank you for coming here today to pay honor to a wonderful Mom and a REAL LADY. God bless you.
She worked as a bookkeepr for many years at a grain company in Goffstown, New Hampshire as well as a Nurse's Aide for for the Hillsboro County Nursing Home in Goffstown.
Mom and my dad, J. Tolford Durham were married June 11, 1937, although they divorced many years ago. Dad passed away in 1986.
Mom is survived by me and my sister Jo D. Huff. Both my sister and myself are of Belfast, Maine. Mom is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. We all love and miss her so very much. Mom lived with me and helped raise my children after my wife died in 1975.
We had 26 beautiful years getting to know each other not just as mother and son, but as friends. The memories created during those years will sustain me until I can be reunited with her in heaven...I love you now,forever and always mom.
Below is the eulogy I read at my loving mother's funeral:
EULOGY FOR BEATRICE E. DURHAM
I have known Beatrice Durham for 67 years. Sixty-seven plus years ago, she prayed to God for a child and he led her to The Home For Little Wanderers in Waterville, Maine. There were two male children available that morning and she picked me. She told me that when she came to me, I put my arms up to her and picked her. When I got old enough to understand, I know if I had the opportunity to pick a Mother from all the world, I could never have picked a better Mother than Bea Durham.
Her love for my sister, Jo, and I, was an endless love with patience, kindness, and sacrifice. She worked hard to raise us in the right way and with the right values. And this love and kindness was also shown to countless others, who she met, helped, and went out of her way for.
Her love even reached out to her animals. She had a rabbit, not like Harvey, but one that weighed about 35 pounds. She had him house trained and he slept on her bed with her. He never made a mistake anywhere in the house. She even used to take him on walks with a harness and leash. His name McGregor, of course. When she put on her records of Madam Butterfly, he would jump up on her lap and listen intently until it was finished. An opera loving rabbit. She also had a poodle named Lafayette, and a parakeet, which she trained, and Laffy and the parakeet used to play together on the floor. Her love and patience accomplished amazing things.
Bea Durham was active in her community in giving ways also. She worked as an assistant to Francis Abbot in the Belfast Free Library for a number of years. She was President of the Women's League of the First Church in Belfast and was always a volunteer to put on the church suppers. In Goffstown, N H, she served as the treasurer for the Congregational Church; and was one of the founding members of the senior citizens organization.
She worked as a nurses aid at the Hillsborough County Nursing Home, where her love and compassion for the patients was felt and received with much appreciation. Her most valuable contribution to the community of Goffstown, was her Bible class which she taught for eighteen years and through those ladies, her influence is still being carried on as the Bible class continues to this day.
Some of her most endearing qualities were her love, her kindness and her compassion. I was one of the recipients of that love and compassion. When she used to tell us bed time stories, one of our favorite stories was about the little boy and the little girl who didn't have any home or family. Along came a Lady who loved us and brought us home to live with her. We loved that story and asked her to tell it to us over and over again. That is how we came to know our adoption as an act of compassion and love. If it hadn't been for her, I might not have ever had a name and a family.
When I was in the Air Force, she was never to busy to write me every week and keep me up on all the news at home, and send me a care package every now and then so I wouldn't forget what a wonderful cook she was.
Her relationship with her family and friends were always one of love and the giving of herself to others. She loved having her family around her. She was a wonderful homemaker. She cleaned and cooked and always made sure we had clean and neat clothes. She made the house a warm and wonderful home. And for this we will miss her immensely. She loved the family picnics that were rich with stories, enjoyment of family being together, and good food. After our dinner, we would gather around my Grandmother's piano. She would play and we would all sing the popular songs of the day, old favorites, and hymns. Those were sweet times. Bea Durham came from a farm family who lived a simple, uncomplicated life and she retained that wonderful, down home quality all her life.
People loved her for her unpretentiousness and kindness. The love that she showed and gave to others was her best quality and others were drawn to her because of it.
This eulogy was written so that others would be reminded and come to know her as I was so blessed to know her. Another quality that people liked about her, was that she liked to laugh. She was also able to laugh at herself without embarrassment. Two examples of that come to mind. When she first got her bifocals, we were living in Goffstown in my Grandmother's house in the upstairs apartment. She and I were sitting in the kitchen and as I watched her, she kept stepping over something as she walked across the floor. Finally, I asked her, Mom, what are you stepping over? She replied, there's something on the floor there. I said, Mom, that's a sunshine spot coming through the window. We both had a good laugh over that.
One evening we were downstairs in the kitchen. My cousin had come by and Mom asked him to stay for supper. She picked up the plate she had set for me and moved it to where he was sitting. I came home from work, and sat down at my place at the table. We were talking about my work and the day's happenings. She had made chili that night. As we talked, she brought the pot over to serve us. As we continued to talk she started spooning out the chili. My eyes got wide open as I couldn't believe what I was seeing. She was spooning the chili right on the place mat. Mom, what are you doing? She replied, OH, you don't have a plate. I know I put one there. And we all broke up and laughed till the tears were running down our cheeks. She had forgotten she had moved the plate to my cousin's place. That's what made her such a great Lady. She was who she was and didn't pretend to be something else. That's why she was so loved.
As much as she loved us, and she did, there was One she loved even more. She loved her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ with all her heart. She felt very blessed to be one of HIS children and to be used by HIM to be a blessing to others. HIS love flowed through her constantly and it showed to all who knew her. HE was not only her Lord and Saviour, HE was her best friend. If there was any one thing she wanted more then anything else, it was for those she loved and those she met to know Jesus as their Friend, Lord and Saviour. And she went a long way to fulfilling that desire. Because of that, my fondest memories of her, were that she was always there for me, in good times and rough times. She always believed in me, encouraged me, and ceaselessly prayed for me, and each member of her family, and her friends. She and I could always sit down and talk about anything. She always listened and gave Godly advice and encouragement.
We helped each other. When my wife died, she helped me bring up my three sons. And there were some real trying times as they grew into teens and young men. But Jesus gave her the strength and guidance to go through it. Today, she is proud of her grandchildren. They have become good men and have children of their own. She loved each one of them and was always glad to have them around her.
In short, she was a wonderful Mother and she was also my best friend.
Some of her favorite things were: working in her garden; enjoying listening to her operas; her work on furniture and things that she would do beautiful stenciling on; and she loved Southern Gospel music and the Gaither Homecoming Friends that sang those beautiful songs. When God created us, He gave us each a heart. And that heart is not very large in size. But of the ability to stuff it with love, tenderness, and compassion, there is no limit. And her heart was filled to overflowing.
We loved her deeply. We will miss her greatly. She didn't only belong to us, she left a piece of herself in many hearts. But she is finally at HOME with her Master, Lord and Saviour, Jesus, and with her family and friends gathered around her. Our separation is only for a short time, when we will all be together forever and never be apart any more.
Helen Steiner Rice wrote: When I must leave you for a little while, Please do not grieve and shed wild tears and hug your sorrow to you through the years. But start out bravely with a gallant smile, and For my sake and in my name live on and do all things the same. Feed not your loneliness on empty days, but fill each waking hour in useful ways. Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer, and I in turn will comfort you and hold you near. And never, never, be afraid to die, for I am waiting for you in the sky.
So I am glad NOT that my Mom has gone, but that the earth she laughed and lived on, was my earth, too. That I have known and loved her, and that my love I'd shown. Tears over her departure? Some. But also a smile that I have walked with her for a while. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in ME will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in ME will never die."
Thank you for coming here today to pay honor to a wonderful Mom and a REAL LADY. God bless you.
