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Today's Featured Biography
Edward Smith
Vicki (Pence)(class of 1970) and I have been married since 1972. I retired from the U.S. Navy as a "Mustang Lieutenant" after 28 1/2 years and Vicki is an RN specializing in neonatal intensive care. After the Navy, I attended Tabernacle Baptist Theological Seminary and earned a doctorate in religious education. I have been involved in several different ministries and since moving to Virginia Beach I am also employed by USIS, doing background investigations for the federal government. I received the LORD Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour in 1988 and my life has not been the same since. Vicki and I have moved 27 times and are willing to go where ever the LORD sends us. Preaching our classmate, Bill Noble's funeral really put my life in perspective. My best friend, Larry Dixon, called me in November 2002 and told me that Bill was in pretty serious condition. I traveled to Westerville immediatley to see Bill and Karen, during which time I had the opportunity to witness to Bill and tell him that the LORD loved him and wanted to save him. Karen's church family had planted and waterd that seed for 13 years and that day with Bill and Karen, we prayed and Bill asked the Lord Jesus Christ to come into his heart and save him and I believe that was Bill's day of salvation. I serve a mighty LORD! I received an email later that day from Karen asking me to consider preaching Bill's funeral. Bill passed into eternity in February 2003. I have one classmate in heaven and I pray the others that have passed on have also moved on to glory, that we might continue our class reunions there with 100% in attendance. God's word says that you can know for sure. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the Son of God." 1 John 5:13.
Thank you Stephanie for your concern, hard work, and dedication to this website!
2010
Dear Family and Friends:
We greet you in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. It has been a couple of years since we have sent out Christmas cards and letters. As most of you know, three years ago on October 23, 2007, our first granddaughter, Madison Daley Funk, Carri and Wally’s daughter, was killed in a tragic in-home furniture tip-over accident and went home to be with the Lord. One year after the accident, our grandson, Noah Edward Smith, Eddie and Juanita’s son, was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma. Noah fought the cancer courageously through his fifth birthday and went home to be with the Lord on November 18, 2009. We praised the Lord for his goodness and mercy, and trusted that it would follow us all the days of our lives and provide the comfort that one can only know in the arms of our Lord. Our children had now experienced something that we had never had to face before, the death of a child.
In January of 2010, Eddie was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and in four short months, we would join the ranks of our children, experiencing the death of a child. Eddie went home to be with the Lord on Mothers’ Day, May 9, 2010. But it was the time between Eddie’s cancer diagnosis and his death that we want to focus and share with you; the greatest blessing of our year. On April 9, 2010, after undergoing a lung removal, heart repair, kidney failure, and paralysis of his left leg, Eddie was told he had 3 to 4 days to live, a week at the most, as the last MRI had shown over 20 lesions in his brain. Eddie said, “I just want to go home,” and so he did. Eddie arrived at our home in Virginia Beach, VA in the evening of April 9, 2010. For the next 30 days, our home became the center of the most loving and caring place that either of us has ever experienced. Music, laughter, singing, devotions and fellowship filled the air while the tables were graced by the most delicious foods that had been prepared by friends, family and coworkers from Children’s Hospital, USIS and NCO. Eddie’s family; pastors, both present and past; high school classmates; church family and friends; all visited to share their genuine love toward our family and to make Eddie feel like the most important man in the whole world.
Eddie’s medical care consisted of a hospice team, as well as a seasoned group of specialized care givers, spearheaded by none other than Eddie’s head nurse, his mom (number 1) who was assisted by our dear friend, Diane King (number 2) who had relocated from Laurel, MD. Dad was designated (number 3) and numbers 4, 5, and 6 were, Maureen Heald, Rachel Houck, and Marnie Dyer, respectively. Jo-Jo, the dog, claimed (number 7). Last but not least was Eddie’s twin sister, Carri, who wore the (number 10) proudly since Eddie said she was the perfect “10.” The numbers corresponded to bells so Eddie could call anyone by ringing his bell the appropriate number of times. Eddie’s pastors, Pastor Mickey Alcorn, Bible Baptist Church, Reidsville, NC; Pastor Paul Hawkins, Tidewater Baptist Temple, Chesapeake, VA and Pastor Chuck Pearson, Tidewater Baptist Temple, Chesapeake, VA, have poured their time and love into Eddie and his family for the past 6 to 7 years.
What have we learned in all of this?? We have learned to glory in tribulation!
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us,”
Romans 5:3-5.
While we were learning, we were comforted!
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God,” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Please pray for our family. Ed continues to work for USIS conducting federal background investigations for security clearances; Vicki is still the Parent Educator at the Childrens’ Hospital of the King’s Daughters and Precious the cat, still rules the house. Wally and Carri Funk only live 15 minutes away, which meets Vicki’s criteria for living within 25 miles of the grandchildren. Tyler James McQuerrey turned 14 this year; you will be seeing his name in Major League Baseball in the near future. Alexander Wakefield Funk turned 7 this year; Alex is a swimmer, baseball player and is close to getting his black belt in Karate. And then there is our little miss Ellie Grace Funk; 2 years old going on 16. Her colors and alphabet have been mastered and her vocabulary never ceases to amaze us.
Thank you all for being there for us when we needed a shoulder to cry on, when we needed a word of encouragement or when we just needed to know you would be there for us!
The Lord has allowed all of theses tribulations in our lives so we would have a closer relationship with Him. Remember, Jesus is the Christ!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,”
John 3:16.
And that’s really why we celebrate Christmas!
Love in Christ,
Ed and Vicki Smith
408 Little Neck Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
Vicki (757) 620-6917
Ed (757) 620-6317
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