Funeral Message For My Dad, Robert Earl Potts
This past Saturday I did the funeral for my Dad, Robert Potts. It even seems weird typing that line... "the funeral for my Dad." Doesn't seem real.
Fell in love with a small town woman And they married up and settled down
Natural way of life if you're lucky For a small town Southern man
First there came four pretty daughters For this small town Southern man
Then a few years later came another A boy, he wasn't planned
Seven people livin' all together In a house built with his own hands
Little words with love and understandin' From a small town Southern man
[Chorus:]
These are the notes/thoughts from the funeral message..
- Daddy loved his family
When Daddy graduated from SLU in Hammond he took a job as a life insurance salesman. At one time, he was offered a promotion that would require moving away. He turned the promotion down to stay in Kentwood and raise his family.
He LOVED his grand-kids. Enough said.
- Daddy loved farming
- Daddy loved to read
- Daddy loved to laugh
I mentioned the newspapers earlier... one of the last things Daddy read every night was the comics or the funny papers as he called them. He loved to tell stories with his brother, W.A. or "Dub" to Daddy. He also enjoyed laughing with Aubrey Cooper, a long-time friend.
Revelation 14:13 says "And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!" "Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them."
.
What are Daddy's deeds?
- Daddy had common sense
One time we were talking about some mothers who had gotten upset because they felt their child was slighted. Daddy said "Every bird thinks there's is the blackest..." He also enjoyed being around people who had common sense. Dr. Ralph Brock was our family physician for years. He attended Daddy's funeral. Dr. Ralph had common sense and Daddy appreciated that.
- Daddy was independent
He was his own man. It didn't matter if everyone else was going in one direction, he did not follow the crowd. He stood on his own two feet. On one occasion, a local politician came out to talk with him an issue. They talked for several hours and he still hadn't changed Daddy's mind.
- Daddy was a hard worker.
At one time he had three jobs; running his own dairy, managing another dairy and teaching school. He believed in a strong work ethic.
- Daddy was intelligent
He had a photographic memory. And, he believed strongly in education. It was never really a question that me or my sisters would attend college; it was expected. From the time I enterered the ministry he expected me to go to seminary and get my Masters and my Doctorate.
I can remember on a few occasions he would point to your body and say "it's not what' here that counts... then he would point to your head and say "it's what's here that counts."
His belief in education led him to run for office on the Tangipahoa Parish School Board. He was elected to three terms.
- Daddy had integrity
If he told you he was going to do something, he did and, he didn't tell you he would do something if he wouldn't.
Daddy was a Christian but he didn't talk about his faith a lot. But years ago he gave his life to Christ.
Alan Jackson has a song, Small Town Southern Man that, while, not perfect, is very close to describing Daddy perfectly. Here are the lyrics;
"Born the middle son of a farmer And a small town Southern man
Like his daddy's daddy before him Brought up workin' on the landFell in love with a small town woman And they married up and settled down
Natural way of life if you're lucky For a small town Southern man
First there came four pretty daughters For this small town Southern man
Then a few years later came another A boy, he wasn't planned
Seven people livin' all together In a house built with his own hands
Little words with love and understandin' From a small town Southern man
[Chorus:]
And he bowed his head to Jesus And he stood for Uncle Sam
And he only loved one woman (He) was always proud of what he had
He said his greatest contribution Is the ones HE'LL leave behind
Raised on the ways and gentle kindness Of a small town Southern man
(Raised on the ways and gentle kindness) (Of a small town Southern man)
Callous hands told the story For this small town Southern man
He gave it all to keep it all together And keep his family on his land
Like his daddy, years wore out his body Made it hard just to walk and stand
You can break the back But you can't break the spirit
Of a small town Southern man
Finally death came callin' For this small town Southern man
He said it's alright 'cause I see angels And they got me by the hand
Don't you cry, and don't you worry I'm blessed, and I know I am
'Cause God has a place in Heaven For a small town Southern man
And he only loved one woman (He) was always proud of what he had
He said his greatest contribution Is the ones HE'LL leave behind
Raised on the ways and gentle kindness Of a small town Southern man
(Raised on the ways and gentle kindness) (Of a small town Southern man)
Callous hands told the story For this small town Southern man
He gave it all to keep it all together And keep his family on his land
Like his daddy, years wore out his body Made it hard just to walk and stand
You can break the back But you can't break the spirit
Of a small town Southern man
Finally death came callin' For this small town Southern man
He said it's alright 'cause I see angels And they got me by the hand
Don't you cry, and don't you worry I'm blessed, and I know I am
'Cause God has a place in Heaven For a small town Southern man
Robert Earl Potts was a Small Town Southern Man in the best sense of the word.
Bro. Greg, I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers will be with you and your family. May our God supply all your individual needs.
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