My daddy died around 6:10 am EST on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. I love and miss him. Please pray for my family in grief now. I flew to Valdosta, Georgia with my daughter Leah and my daughter Heather drove with her fiance Andy the 15+ hours there for the funeral. I was so happy they came and to see and hug my sister Maria (my best friend) and my older brother Greg, my younger brother Herbert, and other family members who I hadn't seen for years and introduce them to my two beautiful daughters. The visitation, the funeral service, and the family meal provided by Park Avenue Methodist Church were lovely and honored daddy, and I think that daddy would have been pleased. Our family ordered him a cascade of gorgeous red roses to cover casket, like mama had (she died when I was 19 years old, pregnant with Heather). Maria also took us to a flower shop downtown for me to buy a vase of gorgeous red roses with white baby's breath as a gift for daddy from me, Heather, and Leah with a card that read, "Daddy/ Grandaddy, we love you. Beth, Heather, and Leah." We took it to the funeral home before the visitation and they set it near daddy's head by the casket.Daddy was the son of a farmer, who was the son of a farmer, who was the son of a farmer and so on. But Grandma Moore saw that daddy was highly intelligent and knew that his was a different path. He was among the first college graduates in his family and one of the first students at Valdosta State University. He was a CPA for 45 years, at first working for others and then having his own successful CPA business in our home. He loved his work and I often saw him working in his office late at night. He didn't retire until he was about 82 years old!Daddy used to cook us delicious fried catfish, cheese grits, and hushpuppies at his house, so we went to Ray's Millpond Cafe to eat that after the visitation. It was so good!We talked together and enjoyed the wonderful southern food at the church's family meal and took pictures together. The night of daddy's funeral, Greg treated all of us at a steakhouse that Herbert suggested near Valdosta. I ordered grilled chicken kabobs, grilled veggies, and salad and Andy got chicken. Everyone else ordered steak. It was delicious! It was also a much-needed family time to talk.The 2nd day there, Heather, Leah, Maria, and I went for a coffee run and went shopping for clothes for Heather and Leah for the visitation and the funeral (they hadn't had time to do this before we got there). We tried several different coffee shops while there. This was fun.I also got to tour daddy's historic, southern home (over 100 years old) with tall white columns, a wrap-around porch, and the original wood floors to show Heather and Leah again. (Heather had spent her childhood there and Leah had visited once with Ray). I was able to talk with both my brothers while there. Heather drove me and Leah to our family's land in the country inherited from my Grandmother Moore that passed onto daddy and now us siblings. As I got out for Heather to take my picture in front of the land, a butterfly flew by that Leah saw. I felt it was just God's sign of favor upon me as I love butterflies (Maria, too).Heather was able to tell my brothers and Maria bye before she and Andy drove home to Missouri early on Monday morning. Maria took me and Leah to see art murals and cute shops in downtown Valdosta.I hope to fly back to Valdosta soon to talk more with her and my brothers.Daddy, I love and miss you. Please pray for me and my family in grief.Scriptures*Ecclesiastes 7:3*Psalm 106:15Romans 10:13***Daddy's obituary:https://www.mclanefuneralservices.com...*******Beth Jones is an International Speaker, Author, wife to paramedic Ray, and mom of 3 beautiful daughters, Heather, Eden, and Leah. You can find out more about Beth's speaking for women's conferences, retreats, and online events at her website and blog at https://www.BethJones.net.
