Don’t Push Me Into Heaven!

I’m not much of a funeral-attendee and ever since my mother’s transition, I’ve rarely gone to any other.  I can only remember 3, my uncle, Lila’s, and my god-sister’s son-in-law.  I tend to look at funerals like visiting the hospital, I’d rather keep the memory of the person being well.  Roger’s homecoming was not a sad one at all.  It had its moments of sadness but overall it was a time for joy and laughter.  I won’t bore you with all the details but I do agree with one of the pastors who said “we’re not going to talk this man into heaven.”  We shouldn’t have to talk anyone into heaven, their actions should speak for themselves.  We aren’t perfect, we were all born with original sin, but it is what we do later in life and the choices we make that will get us either closer to God or away from Him.  The question is how do we want to be remembered not just by the people we loved and loved us but the people we pass along the way on this road of life.  Ultimately, the only person that can get us into heaven is through Jesus Christ, Who is the way to the Father.

Rest In Peace, Roger!

Funeral service for Mr. Willie Roger Corley will be held Wednesday 1:00 p.m. (viewing 12:00 noon) at Zion Chapel Baptist Church #1 with burial to follow in the church's cemetery. Viewing will be held today beginning 2:00 p.m. at the Leevy's Funeral Home, Taylor Street Chapel.

Surviving are: his wife, Laura Hall Corley; daughter, Ebony Ellison; son, Rogerick Miller; step-son, Javares Hall; step-daughter, Sharvetta Hall; mother, Willie Mae Javis Corley; sisters, Elaine Robinson and Libby Corley; brother, Kevin Corley; grandchildren, Ranizja, Danielle and Rogerick Jr. Miller and Amari Livingston; a host of other loving relatives and friends.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I love you, mom!  Missing you always.  Lolita loss her husband, William Roger Corley, on your birthday to cancer.  He was still young in his late 30s.  God rest his soul.

I Am - Ninika Davis

I AM

I am sound

Blessed to have heard your angelic voice

I am grace

Worn so beautifully and never forced

I am family

We are filled with priceless memories

I am love

You gave me unselfishly

I am strength

You carried me into every circumstance

I am faith

Hoping for some kind of evidence

I am a smile

Always worn on your previous face

I AM that I AM

The provider of your new resting place

Thank you, Ninika!

Rest In Peace, Mr. Marion E. Wicker, 91!

You Are - Charlie Wilson

A Reflection from Denise Brown for our Dear Friend, Lila Cook!

Lila and I worked together for 31 years with the State. For a while we worked at DOR(Dept. of Revenue) and at night at SCDOT. I can remember at times when we were at Park Street as we called it, G-8, later they started calling us the warehouse. Anyway, Lila and I were single parents, which meant other things got taken care of before us. We tried to look good and we liked our heels. Well we wore ours so much that the plastic (cause some of mine were manmade) started peeling off and the nail started showing. Oftentimes we would slide across the office. Well one of our other friends and co-worker whom I think I’ll call her Evelyn or Evelena would laugh and comment with “ya’ll ain’t slid in a while”. We got through that as years past.

At DOR, it was doing tax time that we and some of the birthday gang worked there. This particular time they called themselves re-evaluating our pay, they were suppose to put it in your checking account, well when they finished we could check what was in your account. Lila called hers and wasn’t sure of what she heard so she called the number and told me to listen to see if I had heard the same thing, I listened and I told her, “yep you heard right”. They had deposit about 20cent in her account. We had a big laugh.

I, like Lila tried to work at DOT at night. I think I lasted for 2 months. When 10:00 came, it was time to go, I was so glad. I hurt, so when overtime came open upstairs I told Ms. Margaret, I would be doing overtime. When overtime was done, I decided not to go back. Lila said, “you looked so pitiful, everything ain’t for everyone”. Boy was she right.

The time she brought Ketara a sweater for Christmas. It was a Christmas sweater with birds on it like hers and we said we hope she wasn’t gonna make her wear it. she said yes she was. She brought a blouse and let me tell you ,she and I had different taste in clothes. She said “How you like my blouse? I told her it looked good on her and she said “I can get you one like it.” I told her I valued our friendship too much. That was ok.

I could go on and on but on Thursday,September 1, I was standing in my kitchen and God saw fit to show me something. I responded with “you mean Lila is gonna leave me like Till?” “I’m gonna be going on break by myself? Till was her friend, my parents knew his people. We called him Till, Lila called him Rudy. At lunchtime I called her and told her I needed her to pray for Rochelle, she went on an interview. She told me she had talked to Mr. Paul. I said you gonna give up the part-time job, she said she wasn’t saying all of that. She called me back to let me know she had talked to him and she would be on leave for a while. That night around about 11:40 a neighbor knocked on my door. She said Ms. Cook called, I said Lila? All she said was Ms. Cook called and gave me a cell phone number. It was Lila’s sister. I called and she said Lila was gone.

Lila was my banker, my psychiatric, my break buddy, my lunch partner, my clock, my friend. I will forever remember all the good times we had. My girl was on the one.

Denise Brown