JB Burrell - Papaw

SAN ANGELO — James Bernice “J.B.” Burrell, 91, went to be with the Lord on Friday, July 27, 2007, at home in Kerrville surrounded by family. He was a longtime resident of San Angelo and Odessa.

J.B. was born Dec. 21, 1915, in Gist, Texas, to Henry Ervin and Nora Lee Gist Burrell. He married Dot Eugenia Norman on April 16, 1939, in Miles and enjoyed 68 years of marriage to his bride. They raised their family in San Angelo. -

-excerpt from the Obituary for my grandfather - Papaw.

Sarah and I attended his funeral in San Angelo on Wednesday of this week. We drove to meet my brother in Waco, then drove together to San Angelo. The Funeral was a great time of celebrating with family the life of Papaw, worshiping his Creator and Lord- who's presence Papaw is now enjoying- and grieving the loss of his presence on earth with us.

I was most encouraged and challenged by the remembrance of Papaw's simple life of humility, love, obedience to, and faith in Christ. He led his family into the satisfying embrace of their Heavenly Father leading daily devotionals and consistently attending church. Through the generations that have followed this message and love from Papaw's Savior has been been taken around the world. Papaw's faith has truly rippled down through time and out across the nations in a way that I'm sure he never would have imagined.

Papaw was not a wealthy business man that lived a luxurious life, nor a revered theologian that meditated on the doctrines of scripture. He was a humble man that worked with his hands and walked obediently with Christ living a life of faith, hope, and love. All of which he is now enjoying the fulfillment of. He laid up for himself treasures in heaven.

We were challenged at the funeral to consider life and death, and where our priorities lie with our life left on earth and our life eternal.

Photo taken on Thanksgiving 2006 with Mamaw and Papaw

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinth 15:54-57

We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

2 Corinth 4:14,15