for Dee Carroll Burdett
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Jesus said, 1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The gospel of the Lord. You may be seated.
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I am Resurrection and I AM life, says the Lord; all who trust in me, though they die, yet shall they live.
Dee has claimed the promise: Dee loves Jesus: you know that. If you did not know that, you must open Dee's Facebook page, where Dee was an ambassador, a witness for Christ - - every day, all the way to the end of this life and claiming the next.
Monday morning Jamie wrote on Facebook: "Dee Carroll Burdett won her battle with cancer last night" - - a powerful Christian truth, because though we are here in sadness, Dee has the victory in Jesus - - some here may remember an evangelical hymn we used to sing,
Victory in Jesus, my Savior forever
He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood
He loved me 'ere I knew Him and all my love is due Him
He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.
Dee has the victory.
We've heard from family - - and if you read her obituary you learned about Dee Carroll, who had all the fun life can bring - - Dee, a Maine native who, when she was 18, left Maine to get away from Maine's local yokels, only to came to Panama City, meet Bennie Burdett, one of our own locals (though none of us are yokels), fall in love and settle into our wonderful place to celebrate all that life has to offer. Life is a gift, a divine gift, and Dee was grateful for every moment and mile of it, and wasted none of it.
Her love of dogs: I met Pearl and Trooper Tuesday morning, the two most lovable, affectionate personalities I've ever had leap and love all over me. And I know why they are so loving and enthusiastic and nice to be around: Trooper and Pearl were Dee’s, they were much loved and they know that, and Dee's entrusted them to Liam and Rosemary, to love as their own. What a loving gift of life.
Dee's love in the family, with Bennie. While Michelle and Monica were growing up, summer camp at Mentone, Alabama with her girls. Dee was art and crafts director, lifeguard, and she led the singing at evening campfire, what memories of love to treasure.
Dee with Liam and Rosemary: when you get to this age, you too may know that there is no treasure in life like your grandchildren.
Sunday school teacher, enthusiastic Bible student. You’ve heard some of Dee’s favorite Bible verses here this afternoon, all words of deepest faith.
Dee's positive take on everything about life, even allergies and illnesses, even this deadly cancer. Like you, I kept up with Dee's trips to M.D.Anderson, and I tried to stay in touch with her from Time to Time, including encouragement and prayer. Dee had many Prayer Warriors fighting for her.
Dee would have had a birthday next month, April 25th she would have turned 78, but I'm believing she'll celebrate as she claims Jesus' promise, "in my Father's house are μοναὶ πολλαί” - - Gospel John's NT Greek that modern Bibles translate “many rooms,” “many dwelling places” - - that the King James Bible elegantly calls “many mansions.” In my Father’s house are many mansions, and Jesus went to prepare a place for Dee.
Lemme tell you what, and I’m talking straight with you, this is the theology* of my spiritual home, the Episcopal Church, where we pray,** “Give courage and faith to those who are bereaved, that we may have strength to meet the days ahead in the comfort off a reasonable and holy hope, in the joyful expectation of eternal life with those we love.” So, guess what: Bennie in their mansion, to welcome Dee home, and love her forever. It's an exciting aspect of our faith, and I pray for Dee, that she's already into God’s promise of eternal life. It is well with her soul.
This week, the church started our penitential season of Lent, but it's Easter for Dee Carroll Burdett, and we give God the glory. Hallelujah!
I offer you this faith in the Name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And now as you remain seated, our prayers begin as Dee's sister Linda sings The Lord’s Prayer.
We are in prayer.
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Homily at the funeral of Dee Carroll Burdett, Thursday afternoon, March 6, 2025. TW+
* lex orandi lex credendi, the law of praying is the law of believing.
**BCP page 481, Burial of the Dead Rite One, not much used for some reason as clergy prefer Rite Two.