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Depart From Me For I Never Knew You or Well Done

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 10874

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Apr 17 2018 2:34 AM

This article is written with a heavy heart this morning. In fact at 2:04 AM.


A weekend ago my time was spent on Thomas Mill Creek participating in the search of three missing fisherman. The search span was from Thursday evening through Monday afternoon.


On Monday Henry County Coroner Derek Wright came by the scene as he was leaving for a scheduled training session in Atlanta. Derek went “ tag your it “ as I am the Deputy Coroner for Henry County. Derek informed me that I was on call for them through Wednesday.


When the third missing fisherman was located it was my duty to change roles from Dothan - Houston County Emergency Management to that of Coroner of Henry County Alabama.


It is heart breaking to see families hurting because their loved one died suddenly. But a taleant that I beleive GOD provided me with to treat the family with dignity and compassion, and to treat the deceased with dignity and the respect they deserve.


This morning At 7:23 AM there was a motor vehicle accident on Highway 84 East and Fellows Road. The call was dispatched as critical and one patient not breathing. As Dothan - Houston County Emergency Management I rolled from Waffle House to the scene and Dothan - Houston County Emergency Management Director Chris Judah also responded as did emergency units from Cowarts Fire, Ashford Fire, Ashford Rescue, Dothan Fire, Ashford Police, Houston County Sheriff Department and Alabama State Troopers. Cowarts Mayor Randy Rowland and Houston County Commissioner Doug Sinquefield responded.


When we arrived the emergency service providers were giving it all they had. Giving every ounce of energy, wisdom and training to give this gentleman every chance available to live.


Once he was loaded in the ambulance with Ashford Rescue and Dothan Fire Medics, and consultation with the medical director for Emergency Services, the life saving measures were ceased.


That meant the ambulance remained on the scene until the Coroner arrived.


The gentleman’s wife was on the scene. Her pastor, Todd Thorpe of Watermark Church was on the scene ministering to this man’s wife. 


NOTE:   Todd Thorpe I consider my Pastor Pro Tem. While I have a great and terrific pastor in Brother Jim Tate, I have great respect for Brother Todd. If I were not involved at Memphis and felt we had a super terrific pastor, Todd Thorpe and Watermark Church would be my choice.


I was tasked with letting this gem of a lady know that the medical service providers had done all they could do. That GOD had a different plan and he had passed. This is no easy task. Not one that can be prolonged or delayed. One that requires being compassionate but direct. No matter how it is delivered, the message is the same.


Since age 18 when I served as Deputy Coroner and then when elected as Coroner at age 21, I have delivered more than my share of death messages. They are never easy. Today was not easy. It was heart breaking to tell a lovely lady that her husband, her true love, her companion and care taker has moved from this life to enter the Gates of Heaven.


That leads me to my point. Each day we all need to pause, THANK GOD for our family and friends, tell our family “ I LOVE YOU “. To be prepared to ENTER THE GATES OF HEAVEN in a blink of an eye. Just as Mr. Bess did this morning sometime around 7:23 AM.


Mr. Bess had plans today. The first plan was to follow his beautiful wife to the Houston County Courthouse where she was summoned for jury duty. He wanted to make sure that she made it OKAY and safe. It was not in Mr. Bess plans that TODAY would be the day that he left this life to enter into the Gates of Heaven. 


It was not in Mrs. Bess plans this morning, when they each entered their cars, that Mrs. Bess would witness Mr. Bess leave this life and enter the Gates of Heaven.


But it reminds me of the reality, just as the three fisherman from Thomas Mill Creek. We have to be prepared. Prepared to leave this life in a blink of an eye and enter the Gates of Heaven.


When we reach the gates, there are two responses we hear: (1) Well done thy good and faithful servant, then you enter the Gates of Heaven for a life with Christ (2) depart from me for I never knew you. This answer, you enter the gates of hell for life of anguish, pain and suffering.


TODAY - this past week, a reminder to me...when the time and place comes for man or woman to die, there will be no blueprints given of how that death will occur.


Often times in the blink of an eye, you ave departed from this life. And then it is to late for the decision to made which answer you will be given...


ENTER THE GATES OF HEAVEN, or depart from ME for I never knew you.


That choice can only be made by yourself individually. And I testify to you today, in the blink of an eye, in the last 10 days, I have seen and touched the bodies of four people who never knew...today was the day.



Family First Funeral Home

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