Leawanda Bailey - Site Memorial Online

There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. 

So as she was getting her things "in order", she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. 

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. 

The woman also requested to be buried with her favorite Bible. Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. 

"There's one more thing," she said excitedly. 

"What's that?"came the pastor's reply. 

"This is very important," the woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand." 

The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say. 

"That surprises you, doesn't it?" the woman asked. 

"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor. 

The woman explained. "In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!"

"So, I just want people to see me there in the casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder, "What's with the fork?" 

Then, I want you to tell them: 

"Keep your fork....The best is yet to come". 

The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the woman good-bye. 

He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. 

She KNEW that something better was coming. At the funeral people were walking by the woman's casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and her favorite Bible and the fork placed in her right hand. 

Over and over, the pastor heard the question, 
"What's with the fork?" 

And over and over he smiled. 

During his message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the woman shortly before she died. 

He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. 

He was right. 

So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you oh so gently, that the best is yet to come. May we all be blessed enough to keep our forks and know that the Best is yet to come for Lea.

Dear Lea,  I'm so sorry I didn't get to visit you more often in your last years. But know that you were never far from my heart and thoughts.  We had so much fun together at work and our gatherings after work, also.  I'll always remember our Kareoke parties.  You have a wonderful family and I can only hope my children will stay by my side if I should need them.  Please watch over us and help us, as nurses, to always make wise decisions and keep our patients safe.  God Bless You and your family.  Love, Linda Manna

Dear Family, I am so sorry to hear about Lea. I really loved and respected her. Lea was one of the best nurses I had ever worked for. She taught me alot. I will never forget her. My deepest thoughts and prayers go out to you all ! Gretchen Casey

Dearest Shelley and family,

 

Although I did not know your loving mother personally Shelley, I feel like I did thanks to you. The many stories and memories you have shared with me have painted a beautiful picture of a warm and loving mother. When I looked through the pictures and was able to put a sweet face with the stories I could definitely feel your loss even more. I am so sorry for your profound loss but I know, without a doubt she is home now surrounded by love. Your dear momma is free to soar, never to suffer again. I know she must be so proud of the kind and compassionate woman you are. If you were my daughter I would be busting with pride. Hold Steven, your family, and your many friends close while you go though this difficult time. Take comfort in knowing your momma wants you to live a happy healthy life and you will be reunited with her again one day, just like she has been joyously reunited with her mother. I am keeping you and your family close in my thoughts and prayers sweetie.

 

With Much Love

Your Friend,

Bella

My condolences to you and your family, Shelley.  May you be blessed with peace, strength and comfort in the coming days.

Shelly so sorry to hear about your mom our sympathy goes to you and your family

Shelley and family,

I am so sorry for the loss of your mother. She will be missed by all those who knew her. I know from the stories you shared with me just how special she was to all of you. Every time I seen her out with you and your dad she always had a smile on her face that was so bright. ( I also believe all those times we seen her we was all out eating somewhere..Hometown Buffet).

Please know that she is no longer suffering in this wicked world in a body that was not 100% any longer. She is in Heaven with our Heavenly Father and one day we will see her again. PRAISE GOD!!!

You and your family our in our thoughts and prayers!

Love ya,

Debbie & Wayne Collins

SHELLEY, JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW HOW SORRY I AM TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR MOTHER. MY SYMPATHY GOES OUT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

My deepest condolences.  May these few words from the Holy Scriptures bring you comfort in your time of grief...

John 11:32-45

32 And so Mary, when she arrived where Jesus was and caught sight of him, fell at his feet, saying to him: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 Jesus, therefore, when he saw her weeping and the Jews that came with her weeping, groaned in the spirit and became troubled; 34 and he said: “Where have YOU laid him?” They said to him: “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus gave way to tears. 36 Therefore the Jews began to say: “See, what affection he used to have for him!” 37 But some of them said: “Was not this [man] that opened the eyes of the blind man able to prevent this one from dying?”

38 Hence Jesus, after groaning again within himself, came to the memorial tomb. It was, in fact, a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 Jesus said: “TAKE the stone away.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to him: “Lord, by now he must smell, for it is four days.” 40 Jesus said to her: “Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Therefore they took the stone away. Now Jesus raised his eyes heavenward and said: “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 True, I knew that you always hear me; but on account of the crowd standing around I spoke, in order that they might believe that you sent me forth.” 43 And when he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice: “Laz´a·rus, come on out!” 44 The [man] that had been dead came out with his feet and hands bound with wrappings, and his countenance was bound about with a cloth. Jesus said to them: “Loose him and let him go.”

45 Therefore many of the Jews that had come to Mary and that beheld what he did put faith in him;

Please go to the following link for more information regarding the Hope expressed in this passage

http://www.watchtower.org/e/200809/article_01.htm

Dear family of Leawanda Baily--

I graduated from Taylorville High School with Leawanda in 1966.  She was a kindhearted, compassionate, and funny girl.  I recall my 8th hour Latin class as if it was yesterday.  Leawanda was the office runner for that hour. She knocked on the door, we all looked up, our teacher went to see what she wanted and she had the horrific task of telling, not only our teacher, but also, we the students, that our President had been shot and killed in Dallas, Texas.  She was crying, our teacher was crying and the rest of us were crying.  She apologized to the class for being emotional and Mrs. Pacotti told her that "she was a special kind of a girl--one who wasn't afraid to be herself".  I'll never forget the incident as long as I live and I'll never forget Leawanda.  I wish I'd  have told her how I respected her.  Deep Sympathy,  Patty Barry