by Brenda Cannon Henley
(Mar-6-2012) My heart, like so many others, was saddened to learn of our friend, Jerry Valentine’s turning loose of earthly things on Friday night, March 2, and taking hold of the hand of his Heavenly Father leading him into his new home. I thought of so many analogies and can honestly write that no recent death or home going of a saint has affected me quite like that of Jerry Valentine’s. I always thought that we needed him so greatly down here, and that the peninsula as a whole was so much better for his and Debbie’s being here, that God would issue a last minute miracle and heal him of the cancer that ravaged his tired body. It just proves once again that God’s ways are not our ways, but it is difficult to comprehend us without him.

He brought goodness, light, and a great deal of laughter to everything he touched. Jerry was a man’s man, not a goody two shoes, but always had time for the youngest or oldest who needed him. I have tried to imagine what all he has gotten to do in Heaven and I am convinced that there is some casting and fishing in the big picture. He had that wonderful ability, and so rare these days, to make every person he spoke with feel as though they were the most important person he knew at the moment.

I remember one incident where someone was giving me a hard time for no real reason other than jealousy and envy, and Jerry in his wisdom, advised me to simply be the bigger person and ignore the matter. “You know who you are and what you are doing,” he said. “Now, go do it and remember, Girl, I love you.” We worked together on several projects and how I thank God Ted and I got to share his last birthday on earth and to see and hear him at the community Thanksgiving Service at our church. He looked so handsome that night in a bright aqua blue shirt. When I complimented him on the shirt, he smiled that huge, 10,000-watt smile and said, “My little wife bought this for me to wear. She wanted me to look pretty tonight.” And, pretty he looked!

He was well loved in return by family and friends. Debbie is one of our Sisters of the Salt and their story is included in Winds over Bolivar. Jerri, the daughter, who loves her dad with a fierce, loyal love, is one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. I call her lovingly “my crazy girlfriend.” I remember stopping by one day when we were working on the deck covering and finding Emma with a wooden red fish that her grandfather made for her. We stopped and took photographs of the precious granddaughter and her loving grandfather. I thought at that moment, “What a relationship. Everyone should have at least one like that.”

I could have chosen at least one hundred things to write in this column in honor of my friend, but after reading and praying over the matter, I have chosen this simple, old writing because it fits. This one’s for you, Jerry. We’ll be seeing you soon on that other shore where we will never say goodbye in glory.

A builder builded a temple,
He wrought with care and skill.
Pillars and groins and arches
Were fashioned to meet his will.
And men said when they saw its beauty,
“It shall never know decay.
Great is thy skill, O Builder,
Thy fame shall endure for aye.”

A teacher builded a temple,
He wrought with skill and care.
Forming each pillar with patience,
Laying each stone with prayer.
None saw the unceasing effort,
None knew of the marvelous plan.
For the temple the teacher builded
Was unseen by the eyes of man.

Gone is the builder’s temple,
Crumbled into the dust.
Pillar and groins and arches,
Food for consuming rust.
But the building the teacher builded
Shall endure while the ages roll.
For that beautiful, unseen temple
Was a human’s immortal soul.

Of all the attributes applied to Jerry Valentine in the coming days, none are stronger than the stories from people of all walks of life as to how this man of God influenced them in their own walk. Some, he led to the Lord as he did, Debbie, his wife. Others he encouraged at a rough place in their road. Many, he clasped their hand or hugged their necks when that was the single most important thing that could have be done. Many he helped by meeting physical needs, building them something, making arrangements to see that they had help, and on and on I could write. Never one time have I heard a single word that indicated Jerry was unkind, not helpful, uncaring, or rude. God bless your memory, our friend, and Heaven is truly sweeter for all of us this week.

A celebration of life will be held at First Baptist Church of Crystal Beach on Saturday, March 10, 2012, for Jerry Valentine, beginning at 2:00 PM. It would honor his memory and bless his family if you would plan to attend.

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