CELEBRATION OF LIFE - eVERLENER JONES

Wow! The past few weeks were an emotional roller coaster to say the least. While all the festivities around my son’s graduation had me excited, I receive the news about the passing of my dear friend, Everlener Jones. Her homegoing was a praisefest to say the least. But my rejoicing was bitter sweet. I simply miss my friend.

Actually, she was more than a friend, she was family. A year prior, we said good-bye to her husband, Leslie. Les and Everlener Jones were more like an Uncle and Aunt than friends.

I’ve known them for decades. Their Christmas parties were legendary! One of my fondest memories with them happened approximately seventeen years ago. My husband and I lived in a rented townhome. When they raised the rent, he said, it’s time to buy our own home, and that is what we did. We received an initial closing date, but things took a bit longer. The problem was we had already given notice to our landlord and had turned in the keys. Everlener was more than happy, in fact, excited to have us come and stay with them during the interim. We enjoyed our time with Les and Everlener so much, none of us wanted to end our temporary living arrangement with them!

Closing date had come and gone! We had been given the keys to our new home, yet we were finding it very difficult to leave the Jones. Everlener and Les were happy that we were new homeowners, but told us they were in no hurry to have us leave, and WE were in no hurry to leave either! Even though the commute to our jobs was further and we had to get up earlier, we always look forward to coming home to the Jones in the evening after a long day at work!

It was winter time and snow covered the ground, and there was no nicer place to be then in front of the fire listening to Les tell us his stories (big smile), while Everlener cooked up something delicious in the kitchen. Time truly flies when you’re having fun. Before we knew it a month had gone by! Remember, this is AFTER we had closed on our home. I said to my husband, “You know, we do have a home of our own. We really should move in to it!”

Although we were no longer living under their roof, the distance between them and our new home location, did not stop the many years of the close friendship and fellowship we shared with Leslie and Everlener Jones! They were closer than family and will forever hold a special place in my heart!
Family is not always about blood relations.
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Matthew 12:46-50...
46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.