As a church, we have been gathered here today to mark the passing of a loved one and co-laborer for the third time just in recent weeks: First, Mrs. Betty Blythe; then Richard Hall, and now, Brenda Harris, all who have been for decades “pillars” of Thompson Road Baptist Church.
Though this is a day and meeting we would not have chosen just now; we acknowledge it has been ordained in God’s wise providences; and, though we grieve the sudden departure from our midst of this dear family member and member of the family of the faithful here at TRBC for the past half-century, we rejoice that on Thursday last (July 25, 2024) Brenda was released from her earthly tabernacle, so wracked with pain, and graduated to her abode above, instantly– when the breathe of life departed from her—as Paul the Apostle put it: “absent from the body, present with the Lord.” (2 Cor.5:8)
What I am going to say about Brenda in this brief eulogy is going to be said as one who was her pastor for 40 years. Each of us who knew Brenda related to her from different perspectives; mine is from the perspective of a dear friend that she always was to Ellen, myself and our family; and a faithful, exemplary member of the local church to which she had attached herself early in her adulthood and to which she remained steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord.
In the course of 40 years, a church is bound to be called to navigate some choppy waters. Jesus Christ is the Head, but He has as members of His body, the redeemed–yet not fully sanctified– to serve as His hands and feet, advancing the work of His kingdom. There is, in His body, no perfect church and certainly no perfect pastor. I wanted to preface my following remarks with that introductory statement: “In all the years that I served TRBC, there was not a single instance when Brenda Harris ever called me to reprimand me, to lecture me, to scold me, or to even say that she differed with me on anything that I can remember. I know she no doubt did not agree with every decision I made or every message I preached; but I honestly never heard the first word out of her mouth that suggested so. She was totally loyal to her Lord, to His Church, to the pastor of the flock that God had sent this way. I hasten to say that in this world today—a world of flux, fuming, fighting and too often fleeing, that is a church member extraordinaire!”
Brenda was a devoted wife, and her spiritual gift was teaching. She taught hundreds of students in the Baptist Academy, students who would praise her for her patience and persistence in teaching them reading, writing (but NOT arithmetic—which she left to the math teacher). She was a consummate teacher, both in the classroom and out. At church, for many years she had a women’s Sunday School class that she taught. Before we built the multi-purpose building in the year 2000, her class was stuck into about any smaller space available; I think for a long time the class met in my office; no complaints were heard, but it was a joy when, at long last, Brenda and her class finally enjoyed a spacious, beautiful new room in which she continued to teach for many years until her failing health finally forced her to give that assignment up.
I think Brenda Harris can best be described by what and whom she loved. Anyone that knew her would agree without hesitation that her first love was her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ: His Word and His Church. She loved her family unequivocally; she loved teaching; she loved missions and missionaries; she loved to cook and was an excellent cook; she worked—up till just the last few weeks—at canning fruits and vegetables which she could lay up for the winter months. She loved to read and she loved to hear the preaching and teaching of God’s Word.
She was first a loving and devoted wife; a grandmother that always gave good counsel replete with assurances of her love; a keeper of a home that was a welcoming place where visitors were encouraged to sit a spell and share some conversation.
Well, I think I have given you a fairly complete view of Brenda Harris from the perspective of her pastor and one of her many friends. I know each of you share a special insight and view into her life and labors of love. I do not mean to suggest that Brenda was in any way perfect; she was still in the body and no doubt struggled every day with the world, the flesh and the Devil. But in spite of great trials–with emotional and physical and spiritual times of agonizing pain—Brenda’s life was a life of overcoming through faith all that was thrown at her from a world at war with God. She lived and she died with her faith in tact, with her love abounding, and with her labors following her: “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.”(Rev. 14:13) Read some of the many tributes from former students of Brenda Harris:
“I have such wonderful memories of her—she really impacted my life during the most influential time of my youth.” (Missionary to Dubai)
“She was a wonderful lady and a great teacher. I will never forget the things she taught us.” (Factory worker)
“Her consistency in teaching me and expecting excellence is one of the reasons I am (able) to do what I do today in ministry.” (Sr. Pastor)
YOU and GOD 