In Loving Memory of Georgina Lynn Jones
There were a lot of friends and family that were not able to be there with us for Gina’s visitation and funeral. I thought I would leave this here if any of you would like this time for processing. Click on the highlighted sections to be connected to a playlist created for Gina’s funeral. We love you, Gina.
October 10, 1955-November 30, 2023
Opening Songs:
Let It Be
You Raise Me Up
Lighthouse
Words of Grace and Greeting
On behalf of all of our family and friends, we want to welcome and thank you for coming to remember and honor the life of Georgina Lynn Jones. Let us begin in prayer. Bow your heads.
Father God we come before you today in grief but also in celebration of Gina’s life. I pray that you speak through me as today we remember her and Your work through her. We love you and it is in Your Son’s name we pray, Amen.
Communal Prayer of Scripture
Together we will pray/read Psalm 23.
The Lord is my Shepherd
I shall not want
He makes me lie down in green pastures
He leads me beside quiet waters
He restores my soul
Even though I walk through the darkest valley
I will fear no evil
For you are with me
Your rod and your staff
They comfort me
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies
You anoint my head with oil
My cup overflows
Surly your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever
Reflection from Family and Friends
(During this time, we asked Evan-Gina’s best friend-to speak first. She shared of their sisterhood and walk as Christ followers. A few more came and spoke of their time with Gina and her impact on their life).
Please feel free to leave a comment if you knew Gina and her impact or reflection on her life.
How to be a Lighthouse
There are a lot of things that come to mind when I think about my Aunt Gina. The first being her cats. She loved her cats. When I was growing up, I would sometimes spend weekends there, and was determined to get her cat Angel to like me. Angel rarely, if ever, came out of Gina’s bedroom. It wasn’t until I was grown that my Grandma let slip that Angel would walk across the house at night, jump in bed with me, snuggle up, and sleep there until the morning. Then right before I would wake, she would jump off the bed, trek across the house again, never to be seen by me.
Then there was her epic basement. Her neighbor child, Timmy-who was my age, and I would rollerblade on the unfinished floors, attempt to play pingpong, pool, and darts. And then there was Jean Luc Piccard. Jean Luc Piccard scared the living daylights out of me every single time I caught sight of him. I know what you are thinking…who is Jean Luc Piccard. Well, he is who he sounds like. The character from Star Trek. My Aunt Gina had a life sized cut out of Jean Luc Piccard for some reason unbeknownst to me in her basement. Now I can’t hear mention of Star Trek without smiling to myself.
Most importantly, there was music. My Aunt loved music. Whether it was her guitar, clarinet, or singing, she would always be making music. At my Grandparents 50th wedding anniversary, she called in the family to sing for them and gave me my first solo. I was in 8th grade and terrified. I was also terrible, partially because I held the microphone so far away from my face, and partially because even if the microphone had been remotely close to me, I’m pretty sure I just mouthed the words out of fright. Gina, however, was determined that we rehearse and sing not withholding as a gift to Grandma and Grandpa Jones. At the time, I didn’t understand how someone could have that much courage and sing in front of so many people without caring what they thought. But, that was Gina. She was bold, confident, and opinionated. What you saw was what you got and she was not ashamed of who she was.
The thing that I remember most about her, though, was lighthouses. They were everywhere in her house. It was an unspoken thing, at least to my memory, but there were lighthouse paintings, and lights, even her home sort of resembled a light house. I was always curious as to why she had collected so many lighthouses over the years. Now, to be fair, this could have been the doing of my Grandmother, who had an eye for decor and at one point decided that my mothers kitchen should be decorated in nothing but watermelons…however, I think the lighthouses were a Gina choice.
Lighthouses are a unique thing. The first lighthouse was constructed in Egypt for the Pharaoh. Their purposes are both for guidance and warning, telling ships where they can come into habor, but also warming of shallow rocks and shore ahead. The symbol of the lighthouse is hope and security.
Hope. Security. Two things I believe Gina placed above most. First, her hope and trust in Christ Jesus. Gina gave her life to Christ and was baptized, dying to her old self, and being born again in Christ. She walked faithfully as she sought security, not only for herself, but for those around her. I remember us needing a place to stay and without hesitation, Gina’s doors were open. Holidays? Gina’s house. Needing someone to keep me awake so I can drive through the night to surprise my parents from college? Call Gina. Just need someone to talk to? Gina.
There is a reputation those who run lighthouses have, though, after spending so much time guiding and warning ships. When Gina had her first stroke, we all thought she would bounce back eventually, well at least I did. She’s Gina. She taught me how to be strong willed, stubborn, all the things we just listed…but unfortunately that wasn’t the case. I believe most of us slowly said our goodbyes to Gina over these last years knowing that the Gina we all knew and loved so deeply had passed on, though we had glimpses here and there.
The night we heard that Gina died, at first I was confused, and then angry. I don’t know why those were my first responses, but it was almost like someone gave me wrong information and cost me something significant so it made me angry. By the time I had processed it and was getting ready for bed, I had this image. Gina was wearing her favorite white leggings with big navy blue roses on them and her navy blue waffle long sleeve shirt. Her hair is cut just below her ears and blond and she is singing while Grandma and Grandpa are sitting with her, smiling, and promise (one and two) are there, and the cats, and the whole pack of dogs…and she’s about to teach Jesus house to play the guitar. And she is happy, and whole, and healed…and home. The place she so desperately wanted to be.
It is so hard for us to say goodbye to someone we love, especially when that goodbye seems drawn out and painful. But, without a doubt, Gina is living in eternity with our Heavenly Father, because she knew and accepted the gift that Christ came as a baby, lead a perfect life, took on the sins of the world, died on a cross, then conquered death and rose again. Gina lives on in that truth. We all have that gift if we choose to accept it. If you want to talk more about that, please come find me after the service.
Christmas was Gina’s favorite time of year, I’m pretty sure, because this is when our family would all come together, sing happy birthday to Jesus with a cake and all, and enjoy one another’s company. I am thankful that today we can do the same with one another, in memory and honor of her.
Benediction
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of comfort who comforts us all in all our affliction so we may be able to comfort those who hurt with the comfort of the Lord.
Closing Song
Safe and Sound
Graveside Committal Prayer
Almighty God, we rejoice in your promise of love, joy, and peace. In your mercy turn the darkness of death into the dawn of new life, and the sorrow of parting into the joy of heaven; through our Savior Jesus Christ, who died, rose again and lives for evermore. Amen.
