SERVE: Winter 2021
Eulogy for Frank W. Summers II
Dad sported an epic beard before it was cool. He could whistle like a boss. He could identify tiny birds by a flash of a wing, play guitar and sing beautifully, and in a world of quickly tied neck ties, Dad only used a double Windsor knot! If Dad was interested in titles and honors, he could have put over a dozen letters behind his name from all of the degrees he had accumulated!
Legacies
Now that my Papa has passed on, I think of all of the tiny little legacies that you leave for your loved ones when you’re gone. Here are some of the legacies I’ll remember when I think of him. My Papa wore checkered shirts and guayaberas. He kept a handkerchief in his shirt pocket and would wipe his grandkids’ faces when we were little.
The Story of Sarai
Frankly, I Want to Go to Heaven
Naturally, in a family with eight children, you learn to take care of others. When Mrs. Genie asked us to watch over Mr. Frank while she went to visit a relative, we were slightly uncomfortable. Even though we were used to taking care of others, never had we taken care of someone whom we had respected as much as Mr. Frank.
Child-like Faith
A few years ago, an estranged family member showed up at Eusebia’s door with two young girls, aged 3 and 6, that Eusebia had never seen before. The man instructed the girls to sit on Eusebia’s porch while he briefly described the unfortunate circumstances which led their parents to abandon them. He hustled back to his car, and drove away—never to be seen or heard from again.
The Sweet Sound of the Good News
It was a wonderful affirmation to me of how important it is to reach out to the children in places like Taiwan who, by virtue of their age, tend to have more “fertile ears” and are more open to receiving the message. It was a beautiful day in so many ways. The kids even tried to help teach us how to play their instruments!
