Stories and photos of their lives, of their humor, their encouragements or other memories are welcome here. James Watts' Eulogy - By Daughter Denise Watts-Wilson
Go ahead, call me slow, but until six days ago it never occurred to me that that I might get to do this today. The man I know as James Watts was actually born Buster Brown Allen. For that reason, some call him Buck, or Uncle Buck. From
my vantage point, though, the name that meant the most to him was to be called “Daddy.” I remember him telling me one day that, because his father was not around when he was growing up, he made up in his mind that, if he ever had children, he was going to stay with their mother for as long as he lived. Sixty-four and a half years later, that’s one vow he kept. Through good times and bad times, James and Hattie Watts were a unit. Because of that commitment, his children always had a Daddy. Now, I realize that he may have had three favorites, and that’s fine with me. But I know I was his favorite because I made sure I was. No, I didn’t really do anything to earn being favorite. I just pulled out of my Daddy everything I needed to feel like I was his favorite. The first time I remember doing that was when I went to Junior High School. I was in the Orchestra and the Mixed Chorus. When concert time rolled around, I expected my Daddy to be there. (Of course my mother was going, too. That was always understood). But Daddy worked hard to provide financially for his family. He wasn’t into classical music and fancy events unless it was the Ushers. So when I asked Daddy if he was going to my concert, he (with the honesty that gave me such security) said, “No.” I asked him why not. He said, “I don’t go to things like that.” With every ounce of 12-year old determination that I could muster, I looked at him and said, “You do now!” Case closed. Daddy was at that concert. That made me his favorite. When I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ at eleven years of age, I developed immediately an insatiable appetite for the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. We attended a great church where, under the leadership of Dr. William A. Jones, Jr., I heard some sermons that, to this day, I can remember the text and outline of the message. So I was well-preached to at my home church. Yet, when I discovered the saving grace of Jesus, that was just not enough. It was then that I began joining Daddy at the “Usher Sermons”. Every Sunday afternoon I met him at a different church where we celebrated the annual day of that church’s ushers. He and I would ride home together. Sometimes he ate dinner at home then went back out for a night program . . . and I was right there with him. Because . . . I was his favorite. And in my role as his favorite, I learned so many things about the Word of God, because being in church was important to him. There was the time that I was about to be ordained for ministry. I lived in Texas, my parents were still in Brooklyn. Daddy said he didn’t think he could come because he didn’t want to - - - get this - - - leave the house alone. Once again the determination was mustered. After all, he had a track record to maintain. Time may have warped my memory, but as far as I recalled, he had attended every concert, graduation, and significant event I asked him to attend from that first concert. This time the question was more direct . . . “Do I need to hire somebody to torch that house?” You know the rest of the story . Daddy was at the ordination. That’s because I’m his favorite. Today, I’m returning the favors. Because I am his favorite I stand before you to accomplish probably the hardest task of my 39 ½ years of preaching ministry . . . to bring to you the words of his eulogy. And you know what, it’s worth it, I do it with gratitude because . . . I am his favorite. Just like my sister Q just sang that song like it’s never been sung before . . . Because she is his favorite. Just like Pat gathered her family and drove long miles in a short time . . . because she is Daddy’s favorite. I remember another conversation Daddy and I had, well, he talked, I listened. . . He told me about laying in bed at home listening to the radio. A preacher was preaching, and he was listening. I don’t know whether he was Buck or James at that time. But, by my Daddy’s testimony to me, he got a new name that day. It happened when then preacher said, “If you want to have Jesus in your life, put your hand on the radio and repeat after me. What Daddy told me is that he did it . . . . and that day, his new name was written in God’s book of life, with better than indelible ink . . . his name was written in the saving blood of Jesus Christ. Now, most of us know that Daddy never finished high school. According to his Army papers he didn’t even attend high school . . . but since when can you trust government records? SMILE. With whatever schooling he had, Daddy came away feeling like he couldn’t read very well. That meant that this newly born-again convert was unable to access much of a very great resource . . . the Bible. He couldn’t read it, although many times I heard him say he wished he could. That fact jumped at me in these days of remembering since Daddy simultaneously took his final breath on earth and his first breath in heaven last Saturday night. “Daddy couldn’t read the Bible,” I mused, “but he sure did a great job of living it.” That’s when I knew what today’s scripture passage needed to be. If you have your Bible with you, or your Youversion Bible app on your cell phone turn with me to the Old Testament book of Jeremiah chapter 31 verses 31 through 34. If you’re picking a version on the Youversion app, I am using the NIV. Jeremiah 31:31 to 34 reads: “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD.
33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
What powerful promises our LORD makes in this passage!
1. He will make a new covenant with His people
2. He will place His law in the minds and hearts of His people
3. He will be their God and they will be His people -- I know you see Israel here, but please understand, those who follow God through Christ Jesus are the new Israel . . . grafted onto the vine, is how Paul says it several times in Romans 11:16-25.
4. No longer will his people teach one another to Know Him because all will know Him.
5. And this is my favorite. The LORD will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more. Can I just say this one like I need to say it . . . The LORD will forgive my wickedness and remember my sin no more. Why don’t you say that with me . . . The LORD will forgive my wickedness . . . . . . . . . . . and remember my sin no more. This is like a high school graduation! You know, you’re walking across the stage to receive your diploma. The principal is calling names. You know that you are making it out by a total miracle. You spent more time in the principal’s office than in any class you took. You were in detention three days every week. In school suspension had a desk with your name on it. And many days you were out of school when others were in. You wonder how much of that the principal is going to tell the audience. After all, he’s spending an awful lot of time reading off the awards and honors the “smart” kids got. . . . . . . . . When he gets to you, he just says, Johnny Jones. WHAT A RELIEF. Could it be that he really forgot about all your bad stuff. But as he hands you your diploma, he whispers in your ear, “You made it, anyway, didn’t you, Johnny. You realize what just happened. He didn’t forget . . . he chose not to remember. That’s what God promises to the new Israel . . . that’s His promise to you and me. The day we hand Him our life, He does not forget our sin . . . but He will not remember it. Notice something else in this new covenant . . . God is the one doing the work! He makes, He places, He will be God, He will forgive, He will not remember
All we have to do is let it happen. Let what He writes on our hearts come forth in our living! What He writes on our hearts . . . Sing one chorus of It’s in my heart. My Daddy fully understood the song. Now please understand, the “IT” that is in the heart is not a feeling, rather it is a a series of facts. Remember when we used to learn things, by heart . . . like the multiplication tables. You didn’t FEEL (Act mushy) 1 X 3 is 3; 2 X 3 is 6; 3 X 3 is 9 . . . . No, it was more like repeat in droning voice. 1 X 3 is 3; 2 X 3 is 6; 3 X 3 is 9 . . . . Well having God’s covenant in your heart isn’t based on how you FEEL about it. How do I know that Daddy knew that covenant in his heart? By the lessons he taught us as he lived . . . When you give your word, keep it. When you owe a debt, pay it
When you have a responsibility, fulfill it. When you have an excuse for why not, replace it with a reason why. I won’t read it to you know, but be sure you read what I wrote about Daddy on his 90th birthday two months ago. See, Daddy had every excuse in the book for why he could have died destitute. Orphaned at 12, no high school education, a black man in a segregated Army . . . But instead of listening to the excuses, Daddy lived by his reasons . . . He had younger brothers and sisters who needed guidance and support . . . He had a wife to support . . . he had three daughters to raise . . . He had a God to honor. I can tell you right now beyond the shadow of a doubt that Daddy wants each of us to be very sure that we have the facts straight in our heart – our learning place – our memory bank. Because one day, we will need them even more than we need them right now. One day you and I will simultaneously take our final breath on earth and first breath in eternity. Daddy knows right now what you and I can only take on faith . . . So what are these facts?
1. (John 3:16) God Loves You – can you say that to you neighbor . . . God loves you. Now say to you neighbor God loves me. You know sometimes it’s easier for me to believe that God loves you than to get that God loves me. But He does . . . and He will forever.
2. Romans 3:23 You Are a Sinner The greek word translated sin, is an archery term, armatia. It means to miss the bullseye. When you sin . . . you miss the bullseye – the manifestation of the glory of God. So little ones, when you disobey your parents or teachers, you’re missing the bullseye. Children, when you go to school and think socializing with friends is more important than listening to teachers, you’re missing the bullseye. Adults when you make your job more important than your time with God, you’re missing the bullseye. Now, do I have to spend a lot of time on this fact or can we just go ahead and agree? I am a sinner. Go ahead. Say it out loud. Tell your neighbor . . . Now, neighbor, you do NOT have to say, “I know.” . . .
3. Romans 6:23 - Your Sin LEAVES you dead. This is where the stakes get high. We all know what a wage is, right . . . Get a job, work your time, payday comes, they OWE you. If they don’t pay, you have an issue with that. Has anybody here ever worked a job and then on payday they didn’t pay you? NO, they pay on pay day unless they went out of business before payday. Our sin, our missing the mark, earns death. Death simply means “separation.” There are actually TWO deaths in scripture. One is the death we’re gathered around today – when the spirit (who you really are) is separated from the body (the shell, if you will, for your spirit). Think about a hermit crab. It lives in a shell, but then it begins to outgrow the shell it is in, so it just leaves that shell behind and moves into another shell. One day, our spirit will so totally outgrow this shell we’re in that we have to move. Daddy’s shell became too confining. He couldn’t walk anymore. He often couldn’t talk so that he could be understood anymore. He couldn’t see clearly anymore. It was time for James to find another shell. It was time to apply the promise of II Corinthians 5:1 . . . For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Daddy’s earthly tent was destroyed. One day my earthly tent will be destroyed. One day your earthly tent will be destroyed. That’s one death that occurs because we miss the mark. But that is not the worst death. The second death, is a separation from God. We can be walking around in our shell, but separated from God. We can make all the money we want, and still be separated from God. And . . . as long as we are missing the mark in our relationship with God . . . if we die separated from God, we will spend eternity separated from God. Final breath on earth, first breath in eternity. With God . . . or separated from God . . . the choice is ours. God will NOT force us to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. This is what we all need to deal with. Are we missing GOD’s mark regarding the relationship He wants with us NOW and forever?
4. This is where fact four comes in (Romans 5:6-8) Jesus died for you. Go ahead and make it personal. Look at your neighbor and say it . . . Jesus died for me. What does that mean? What is that about? Jesus is the only person who never missed the mark with God. That has everything to do with the fact that, before Jesus put on His person shell, He was equal with God . . . He had no shell. When Jesus took on the shell, He still kept Himself in perfect harmony with what God wanted from Him. When God let Jesus die, like a criminal, on that cross, God was creating a way to give you and me a bulleye regarding our relationship with Him. Because Jesus died in my place. When God looks at me, He sees a bullseye. Our relationship becomes something that NOTHING can separate. Listen to Romans 8: 35 and 38: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? . . . I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. When Jesus died, God created a super glue that would allow us to become insepable from His love. Sin cannot stop it . . . BUT WE CAN . . . Fact number five. Acts 16:30 We must trust Christ’s death for us. When the Phillipian Jailer asked what to do to be saved. Paul didn’t say, “Don’t worry about it, everybody will be saved anyway.” NO, Paul said believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and both you and your household will be saved. Two quick words I need to explain. BELIEVE. This is more than what you think in your head . . . although it does begin there. What you are believing is what you be living. You believe that water will hold you up so you jump in the pool. Me, I’m not so sure, so I wade in slowly . . . and seldom let my feet leave the floor of that pool. We be living, what we are believing. So Paul said to the jailer, and to you and me . . . be LIVING that Jesus is LORD. Second word . . . LORD. Simply put. That means BOSS. What saves me, is a determination to be living my life with JESUS as the boss. What saved Daddy, what saves me, what saves you is when the decision is made to live the way Jesus says to live. That’s it. PERIOD! If the Jesus part is just one of many options for an eternity that is right with God, then why did God put Jesus through that agony? No Jesus is THE WAY! Determine to live with Jesus in charge!
6. The sixth fact is the confidence fact. I John 5:10-13 – You can know that you are saved . . . that you are not separated from God anymore, forevermore. If being saved was something you did by some great work, that would be bragging. But remember, GOD does this. GOD sent His Son . . . GOD makes this new covenant . . . GOD remembers our sin no more. So, when I say, I am saved. I’m not bragging about anything I did . . . except that I agree and live with what GOD did. When you determined to make Jesus boss, GOD saved YOU. Eternity with Him is your guarantee.
7. NOW, this is the fact we like to skip. But I’m not sure we can. Acts 5:29 God saves us to obey Him rather than people , or satan, or anything else. This is why Daddy LONGED to be able to read the Bible. Because, even though, in Christ, we have the law written in our heart, part of that law is to know the Word of God. Part of that law is to be a part of the body of Christ . . . The Church . . . part of that law is to give time, talents, and yes money to the work of telling other people about these facts. That’s why Daddy was the usher that he was. He gave his time to see that those who came to God’s house were taken care of . . . and to teach others how to do it too. He gave his talent of being a total people person, to making strangers feel at home when they came into the church. He gave His money. So many times in his nursing home confinement, Daddy asked me not just, did I give some money to the church, NO Daddy wanted to know if I returned his tithe. God’s law in his heart told Daddy to give and he gave it all he had! The greatest part of the law, according to Jesus is to love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. These are all acts of the will made in response to the facts of God’s plan. As we leave today, I want each of you, especially my family, to be completely sure that you are building your life on these seven facts. You Miss the mark. Missing the mark separates you from God. Jesus died to hit that mark for you. You must, then LIVE with Jesus as LORD. You can be confident that, in Jesus, you are saved. You must obey God above all. Getting started is not complicated. Just pray to God: Dear God. I am a sinner, separated from You in life and headed for eternal separation from You when I die. You offer me the option . . . Eternal life in Jesus Christ. I surrender myself to You, through the power of His life, death, and resurrection. I will follow Christ in obedience to You so that I can follow Christ to eternity with You. Save me LORD, I pray. In Jesus’ Name. Amen
Now follow this prayer with commitment to a church that teaches based on these seven facts. If you don’t know how to find such a church, ask God. He will direct you. Daddy was never in a town for long without having a church home there. In his heart was written that part of the law found in Hebrews 10:25 -- - do not neglect to get together with other believers. Yes, you can worship God alone, but you cannot fully serve Him alone. Will you commit in your heart today to do what it takes to end the separation that exists between you and God? I have some New Testaments that my dear friend Peggy Puckett was kind enough to make labels for. Those labels inside the New Testament, placed in honor of the legacy my Daddy leaves, list the seven facts, give you a sample of the prayer to pray, and remind you to commit to a church where you can be taught how to serve God in keeping with these facts. These New Testaments are on the table as you leave the room. If you are making the decision to live with Jesus as LORD today, please take one of those New Testaments and read it. Read 20 minutes a day. Work through one book of the New Testament each month, read it as many times as you can in those twenty minute chunks. So for March, read through Matthew, 20 minutes a day. Whenever you finish, if it’s still March, start it again. On April 1 leave Matthew, move to Mark. Read Mark in 20 minutes segments a day, over and over during April. Each month, a new book. Family members, I have copies for you in the front here, so you can get one also. In a time where fatherhood is questioned and devalued, I am so grateful that I have a father who lived to the end what he believed: God above all. Family next. Then unapologetically live out the gifts God has placed within you. The two most important days of your life: the day you are born and the day you discover why. My Daddy knew why and his legacy is rich because of that. If you didn’t know why when you came here today, I hope you do now. Live to honor God through Jesus Christ. Live Your Purpose -- With JOY!
