Toward the end of every funeral message I’m privileged to share, I attempt to use a story or an analogy about the loved one who has passed to point everyone to the hope of the Gospel of Jesus. I call it, “The Last Page.”
What follows is from the funeral of Ms. Gloria Hendricks which was held on July 11, 2026.
I love Ms. Gloria Hendricks. I praise God for the great and eternal impact she made for the Kingdom of God with her life as one of the most dearly loved matriarchs of this church. I believe with all my heart that one of the reasons this church is the church it is today is because of her impact – along with the impact of those like her – an impact made by her faithful service and sacrificial love for Jesus and His Church.
One of the greatest blessings of my almost 37 years in ministry was to serve as Ms. Gloria’s pastor for more than 25 of those years! I praise God for the impact she made on my life as a pastor, as a husband and dad, as a follower of Jesus. Whenever I was around her, I always wanted to love Jesus more and to be more like Jesus because I saw Jesus – so clearly, so beautifully – in her. As far as Christians go, and if you knew her you know it, Ms. Gloria was the real deal.
In thinking about today, that was the first thought I had – she was the real deal.
I then immediately remembered – for some odd reason – reading years ago about the best way to recognize real vs. counterfeit is to know the look and feel of the genuine so well that what’s fake immediately stands out. It’s all about …
- Feeling the Paper // Feeling the Print on the Paper
- Tilting the Bill // Checking Certain Fine Print Details
- And by Holding it up to the Light: For bills $5 and higher, you hold the note up to a light to reveal a watermark portrait that matches the face on the bill.
Ms. Gloria’s life was unmistakably genuine. Her life was not some cheap imitation of faith. It was the real thing, nothing counterfeit about her; she was the real deal.
Because, when you hold Ms. Gloria’s life as a Christian – and listen, no Christian, Ms. Gloria, me, any who by faith claim Jesus as their Savior and Lord, no one has led a perfect life except Jesus; she knew she was a sinner who needed saving – but you hold Ms. Gloria’s life up to the light of Scripture, and you see a beautiful reflection of her Lord, you see the truth of Psalm 23, that The Lord was her Shepherd, you see the authentic marks, the image of her Shepherd’s heart and hands reflected everywhere.
- He made her lie down in green pastures. In a fast-paced, sometimes crazy world, Ms. Gloria possessed a deep, unshakeable peace. She knew how to find her rest in the Lord.
- He restored her soul. Over a century of life, she faced losses, heartbreaks, and trials that would have broken many. Yet, her spirit remained steadfast and hopeful. When her life grew heavy, her Shepherd restored her.
- He led her in paths of righteousness. Ms. Gloria’s faithfulness was not a Sunday-only event. It was her daily walk. Her character, her kindness, and her integrity were clearly defined strokes of her Master Designer.
Even when the shadows lengthened—as they inevitably do, over 101 years—she did not fear. She walked through the valley of the shadow of death many times knowing the Lord, her Shepherd, was with her. His rod and his staff indeed comforted her. In the presence of life’s difficulties, God prepared a table before her. Her cup, whenever it wasn’t full, He filled it and it overflowed with joy, hospitality, and love for her family, her church family, and her community.
Surely goodness and mercy followed Ms. Gloria all the days of her long, beautiful life. And today, we can know that the final verse of this great Psalm has been fulfilled. Ms. Gloria has moved from the pastures of this earth and now dwells in the house of the Lord forever.
She knew the Shepherd. And you know that’s true because when you hold her life up to the light of God’s love and God’s Word, it reveals a watermark portrait of sorts that bears a distinct, undeniable resemblance of Jesus her Savior that assures you she was no counterfeit.
And yes, God gets all the glory for all of it because it was His Spirit at work within her that made her the real deal.
And He wants to do the same work in me and in you.
Because He’s always looking for more authentic, genuine Christians to be in circulation in this His world.
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