Lewis Burkholder
Pastor and farmer Lewis Burkholder grew up in the Denbigh Mennonite community and
married Helen Ross from another Tidewater family. Lewis grew up in a
loving, hard-working dairy farm family and as a young married man worked for
my dad on his farm.
Lewis and
Helen with their children later moved to help form a new Mennonite
community in Powhatan, Virginia,where he served as a beloved pastor for
20 years and remained a faithful member throughout his retirement.
At Lewis's memorial service earlier this week, people filled the sanctuary at
the Powhatan Mennonite Church for a time of worship and reflection
dedicated to this good man. The fellowship that followed was an
additional time for remembering and celebrating on the part of the many
parishioners, friends and relatives who attended.
Jess Sager
Following the opening of Our Community Place early Monday
morning, Jess Sager was one of the first homeless men who came in
for warmth and friendship. Jess was tall, wore a
cowboy hat and appeared to be in his 50s. Dressed in the only clothes he
owned, he sat by the wood stove and talked with those nearby.
Apparently he was alcoholic and seemed to be suffering from memory
loss. He repeatedly asked about the location of
the Open Doors shelter and how he could get a beer.
On Wednesday some of us learned Jess died that night, probably from exposure to the winter cold. Jess was found hunched over
on the back steps of a local business, and when two street people tried
to awaken him, he was unresponsive. One took his pulse and another went
inside to dial to 911. The unconscious Jess soon
died.
How the heart is moved
with compassion and sadness when we experience the loss of a loved one. Each life is incomparably precious.
Two lives. Two losses.
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