Edna Himmer Davies Memorial Services

Celebrating the Life and Resurrection of Eddi Davies

A small private burial was held on August 9th, 2011.
Pastor Pat Hartsock read the poems and scriptures below.

NIGHTFALL Fold up the tent! The sun is in the west. Tomorrow my untented soul will range among the blest And I am well content, For what is sent, is sent, And God knows best. Fold up the tent, and speed the parting guest! The night draws on, though night and day are one. On this long quest This house was only lent for my apprenticement. What is best is best. Fold up the tent, its tenant would be gone, To fairer skies than mortal eyes may ever look upon. Fold up the tent, above the mountain’s crest, I hear a clear voice calling, calling clear, “To rest! To rest!” And I am glad to go, For the sweet oil is low, And rest is best. John Oxenham

THE LAMB IS WAITING Though my earthly tent is fading, Though my outward shell should fail, I know the Lamb is waiting When I’m passing through the vail. Lord, Thou are life eternal, Though my temporal life is gone. You gave me life forever, So I’ll exchange this earthly one. Lord, though death has lost its victory, As well as its earthly sting, Our tears still flow so freely, “Death an enemy” has an O so painful ring. So catch our tears and save them, For they mix our joy and pain. As we celebrate the victory, For Eddi’s hope was not in vain. Pastor Pat Hartsock

OLD TESTAMENT READINGS Job 19:23-27 (NIV) [23] "Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, [24] that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! [25] I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. [26] And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; [27] I myself will see him with my own eyes--I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! Lament. 3:21-23 (KJV) [21] This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. [22] It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. [23] They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

NEW TESTAMENT READINGS Romans 8:31-39 (NIV) [31] What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? [33] Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. [34] Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? • Shall trouble • or hardship • or persecution or famine • or nakedness or danger or sword? [37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am convinced that • neither death nor life, • neither angels nor demons, • neither the present nor the future, • nor any powers, • [39] neither height nor depth, • nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 14:27 (NIV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:1-6 (NIV) "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. [2] In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. [4] You know the way to the place where I am going." [5] Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" [6] Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 2 Cor. 4:7-10, 16-5:2 (NIV) But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. [8] We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; [9] persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. [10] We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. [17] For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. [18] So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. [5:1] Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. [7] We live by faith, not by sight. [8] We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. [9] So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. John 11:17-26 (NIV) On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. [18] Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, [19] and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. [20] When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. [21] "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. [22] But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." [23] Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." [24] Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." [25] Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; [26] and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

A "Celebration of the Life and Resurrection of Eddi Davies" took place at St. Paul's Summerville Episcopal Church on Sunday, September 25th. Click here to view a copy of the program (PDF). The choir director, Annette Martin, included the following "requests" in the service or prelude:

It is Well with My Soul     Worthy is the Lamb     Panis Angelicus     Hallelujah Chorus

Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring       His Eye is On the Sparrow       Great is Thy Faithfulness

Blessed be Your Name    You'll Never Walk Alone    You Raise Me Up    Abide With Me
Eulogy from the Choir by Lindsay Luke
Eddi Davies joined our choir a few years ago soon after she and Brooke started coming to St. Paul’s. She was soon fighting the insidious cancer in her brain, but you couldn’t tell it from her demeanor. She was determined to enjoy her music and the hymns which she loved with her new church family.

Her darling Brooke always brought Eddi for choir, and got her established in her place. Then he would retire somewhere out of the way and read a book. (We kept trying to get him to join the basses, but he claimed we’d be better off without him.) Eddi couldn’t process in and out, but she could sit in the second row, and help make music for her Lord.

Eddi always wanted to be prepared, so even when she was too ill from her chemo to come to our weekday practice, she encouraged me to call her Saturday mornings. That way she could get her music in order and prepare herself for Sunday.

I asked my fellow choir members to help me think about Eddi, and two of the words they gave me were perseverance and serenity. Eddi and Brooke, along with her doctors and nurses and other caregivers, would battle her tumor all the way, but she never lost track of the love that flowed to them all from God, and through her cherished family and friends.

The new husband of one of her fellow sopranos was sent off to the Near East last year. She is still awed today that Eddi took her aside then; Eddi told her that she would be praying for both of them, husband and wife, while they were parted by the war in Bahrain.

I get to play bridge with Brooke every month, but Betsy and I also got to play with Eddi and Brooke in a couple’s format sometimes. What a privilege for me when I had her as my partner, one who never reminded me of what I could have done better. She was such a gracious lady in all the things she did.

It is a privilege to be asked to speak on behalf of our choir. We only wish that we were big and strong enough to sing a portion of her beloved “Messiah” in Eddi’s memory today. All of us who even came in touch with her were her friends.

We miss Eddi.
Eulogy from the Small Group by Mick Hall (edits added)
Joyce and I met Eddi and Brooke one Sunday (at the small afternoon service in Skardon Hall). They had recently retired to the Charleston area and had found St. Paul's to be a friendly church community. Soon, the four of us and several other couples formed a small group which began meeting at our home on Thursday afternoons.

Our group always began with a time to share what was on our hearts and what was going on in our lives (Eddi loved her new friends and helped us all to grow closer together). The meetings always ended with a time of prayer to celebrate God's blessings in our lives and to ask for His help with particular issues (Eddi often recorded the prayer requests in a notebook and offered the closing prayer). For over five years, the group has been witness to both Eddi's good health and her time of illness (and her unfailing love for the Lord and for others during both).

Here are some of the group's thoughts about Eddi:

She was a gentle lady with a true heart for God. Not only was she well trained in the Bible, she was absolutely connected to Him in prayer ans faith. Eddi was very spiritual and a life-long teacher.
I do not remember a time when she was angry or mean spirited. Even in the depths of her chemo treatmentand being confined so much at home, she remained calm and at peace.
She was one of the most non-judgemental people I ever met. She always looked for the good in people, not the bad.
One of our members who had suddenly lost her husband, recalls the many telephone calls from Eddi, often late at night the grief was most difficult. The calls helped ease the loneliness and always ended with Eddi saying "Well, let's have a little prayer now", and she would then offer a heartfelt prayer.
She loved helping others with telephone calls, cards, food, and gifts. Her sunny voice was always welcome relief from the busy world and often harsh struggles. Eddi was always ready to listen to others' problems and help as she cou;d, and to laugh together over their successes.

It is recorded in Matthew 5:1-11, that Jesus taught His followers how to live -
"Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and He began to teach them. He said:
       Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
       Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
       Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
       Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
       Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
       Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
       Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
       Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
       Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
       Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven."

These verses have become known as the Be-attitudes - how to be, act and live. Eddi Davies lived the Beattitudes, and taught our small group how to live, and how to die. Eddi was loved - just loved - by everyone in our share group, and by all of our friends and family.

There was another memorial service at Central Presbyterian Church in Towson, Maryland on Saturday, October 1st. This service was similar to the one for her close friend Jan Turnbaugh (which Eddi missed because she broke her hip the previous day). Please click on the links below to see the program (PDF):

pages 1 and 2 page 3 and front cover music insert
This song, Because He Lives, was requested by Eddi's husband Brooke, because he and his daughter Mary both held Eddi's newborn grandchild (2nd verse) only 15 days after Eddi "crossed the river" (3rd verse). The solo, No More Night, based on Rev. 21-22, was suggested by Pastor Pat Hartsock. The opening hymn was Great is Thy Faithfulness, and the closing hymn was Lift High the Cross.

"A Time of Remembrance"
Pastor Pat Hartsock left Central when Jay was still very young, but Eddi and Ann kept in close touch during all the years the Hartsocks were in Colorado Springs, Cincinatti and Downington, and Jay has always been very special to Eddi. Eddi received hundreds of get-well cards during the last two years - about half of them from Ann!

Hello! I’m Ann Hartsock. It is an honor for all three Hartsocks to be here today.

Just the thought of my dear, dear friend, Eddi, makes me smile!

She had that infectious laugh, didn’t she…that tender smile and kind-hearted compassion at every turn. Eddi was my confidante. All pastors’ wives need Eddi’es in their lives! True confidantes. Eddi and I spoke on the telephone often. She helped me immeasurably…as a wife, a mom, a grandmom, a woman, a Christian. With each conversation she would guide me to scripture and the Lord. We prayed together almost every time we talked. Her strong faith reminds us that we will be reunited with her one day. Thank you Lord, for my dear, dear friend and her beloved and faith-filled family. [a note from Eddi] on my birthday, July 28, 2005, [is] a treasure I’ve kept in my kitchen window sill.

And, now our Jay has asked to share….

Good Morning! These are some of my favorite memories about one of my most favorite people in the whole wide world, my Godmother, Aunt Eddi.

First is “Camp Davies.” I flew on the airplane all by myself to the Davies in Baltimore from Colorado many times during my elementary years. Aunt Eddi spoiled me rotten! She would give me my favorite pizza, my favorite breakfast cereals, and my favorite ice cream! Brooke, Landon, Mary, and Laddie-Dog played with me, loved me, and paid lots of attention to me. Landon played “Nintendo” with me many, many times. My brother, Luke, flew with me one time, and I remember all of us boys played “Back to the Future” with a big refrigerator box in the Davies’ basement.

During all these special times Aunt Eddi was always kind, loving, and thoughtful. She smiled all the time and laughed often. She encouraged me to preach! She listened to me preach too.

At night Aunt Eddi would let me stay up late and then she’d tuck me in and pray with me. I’d fall asleep as she sang about Jesus.

After we moved to Pennsylvania and Aunt Eddi and Uncle Brooke moved to Charleston, SC, I would talk to Aunt Eddi on the telephone. We were rivals! She was a University of Maryland fan. I am a Duke fan. She was a Ravens fan. I am an Eagles fan.

I visited her twice in Charleston. I loved every minute of it!

I miss Aunt Eddi. She was my cheerleader! I love looking back and remembering Aunt Eddi’s love and tenderness towards me. She was my one and only Godmother! I know she is enjoying Jesus in heaven right now.

Thank you.

Gordon and Elaine Zubrod lived in Baltimore for only a short time, but the Davies and Zubrod families remained in close touch for many years afterwards, often meeting in Rehoboth Beach (where Brooke's family and Gordon's family both had homes), as well as frequent visits in Harrisburg. For Eddi's service, Elaine gathered input from her whole family, Chrissy distilled it into the document below, and Gordon delivered the "summation to the jury" (with a few ad-libs).

When Elaine and I moved from Iowa to Baltimore, our hearts sank. It was a huge, crowded and overwhelming city. Elaine got a job, I started law school, and we found this church, and yet felt utterly alone. Then we met Brooke and Eddi who invited us to join the staff of the Junior High Youth Group. They immediately took us under their wings, and we were treated as if we were family. My family, who thought we were prisoners of a cult, fell in love with Eddi and always asked to be remembered to her. Eddi joined Elaine with the Oella community where Elaine taught preschool with a federal grant program and the entire community came out for dinner where both couples shared their testimonies. Eddi went around and personally tried to meet with each member of that insular community.

Christine’s earliest memories of Eddi are at her dressing table where she was entranced by the feminine accoutrements collected there—silver backed brushes and powder compacts, wigs and jewelry, perfume with plush spray handles! The fancy little table with the gilded mirror was practically the entrance into fairyland. She remembers going to her house and being scooped up into her chamber and her love. Her love. She cannot remember a time in her life when she didn’t feel Eddi’s undiluted love. Later there was the world of Narnia and the students who lived upstairs with fascinating backgrounds and various languages, all of which Eddi took delight in and communicated. Even Eddi’s things were cared for and took on a disposition of mattering to someone. However, her valuing them did not prevent her from giving anyone anything they expressed pleasure in. Oh you like that sweater, teacup, tea, blanket, take it! She spilled out this extravagant generosity not only to Christine but to her estranged roommate in college—taking her to the dentist, offering her food for the apartment, calling her to check up on the phone. Christine believes she ended up at Hopkins for college and later to teach, simply because God knew she needed more time with Eddi.

In college, Christine remembers being taken to Eddi’s doctor when she was sick, remembers Eddi writing the check without even asking about insurance. The times that she was an overnight guest in Eddi’s house, Eddi memorized favorite foods and teas, and just as quickly absorbed the issues that were consistently present in her life. Gordy says that when you were with Eddi it was as if there was no one else in the world beside you. You and those you loved, because she took them on too thinking through doctors, reading programs, friendship remedies, sibling rivalry. This, mind you, was at the end of long days of work because these were the reading specialist days. Elaine describes Eddi’s ability to focus completely on your concerns from your perspective—it never was about her. Luke remembers the warmth that exuded from her and you would think that someone so warm would let that ability cover their contribution, but when the family was asked for memories a slew of concrete gifts came back — Hannie remembered tea parties and dress ups, Gordy care packages at key moments in his life, Noah (Christine’s son) remembers coloring books and the overnight stay we had at the Residence Inn with them the night before we left for California, Elle her fun visit to South Carolina, Narnia puppets and pounds of Turkish delight, Elaine the first time mother-of-the-Bride dress. The list is endless.

Despite all this love, she loved no one like her three. I have never seen Corinthians 13 in play as I have with her most inner circle of Brooke, Landon and Mary. How I remember the way she interpreted the world for them and them to the world. When Christine moved to Baltimore, Landon installed the security system in the apartment as a preadolescent, there were music lessons at Peabody for expression of pent up emotions, lacrosse for time with Dad, “Our Father” on the way to school each day, and none of us can forget the way Eddi said “Broooke” when she was speaking of her beloved husband. Gordon remembers her tensile strength—how she would stop someone who was cataloguing his or her woes and pray for them right in the hallway, the street, wherever they happened to be, likewise she would ask for prayer, and she would hold on to those prayers like Curdie with the string the Princess gave him to get out of the caves.

But she could so often be lighthearted, her laugh tinkled and her eyes smiled and who could forget the Fronk-voice from Father of the Bride when Mary was so sick. She wasn’t perfect, her head was clearly filled with the thoughts and lists of the fifty people she had ministered to that day, and she was afraid of things, and she knew there were some people who simply couldn’t relate to her. Sursum Corda—lift up your hearts unto the Lord or “heart’s up” in shorthand, might be the two words that describe her best, despite her heart condition, despite the odds, despite the brain tumor, they describe what she consistently practiced and what she has done for all of us to the end of her life and beyond.

Photos from the organist, Dr. Jay Biddison

Jamie Biddison, Landon Davies, Andrew Brenner