Janice Bailey White

Janice (Jan) Bailey White Aug. 10, 1937 to Feb. 5, 2006 "You are reading in the newspaper that I am dead. Do not believe a word of it, for I am more alive than ever before". I "borrowed" this quote from D. L. Moody, because I couldn't think of a better way to give such good news. I am now with my Savior. I am now in my real home. This body that I have no more use for is dead and will be put in the ground, but I can assure you that I am not there. If you want to shed tears, make them tears of joy that I have been released from all pain and tears. That I am with my Lord and have joined all that have gone before me. I was born, at home, in the, then tiny, town of Bertram, Tex., to Lois Bozeman Bailey and Woodrow (Woody) Bailey. Attending my birth was my precious grandmother, Leona Sivley Bozeman. All have gone on before me, but with my brother, Jerry W. Bailey, my grandfather, Hubert Bozeman, and my Aunt Wanda Dearing, and many other relatives, I am now with them once again. In fact, we will be together for all eternity. I have had a life blessed beyond belief. I was 11 years old when my Father died, but my Mother, and my maternal Grandparents did a wonderful job, if a hard one, of raising my four brothers and I. But we had a good life growing up. What could be better than being "big sister" to four wonderful brothers? And those brothers blessed me with precious nieces and nephews. There were also many Aunts, Uncles, and cousins that were an important part of my growing up years. I am still blessed with cousins, though there are fewer as the Lord takes us home. But, how wonderful to be with the next generation and see God's continuity of family. Another precious, and undeserved, blessing was my dear friend, Mary Gorham. God brought us together when we were very young women. She became my friend, my confidant, my encourager, my shoulder to cry on and the sister I never had. We have become closer through the years, as we have gone through together, the trials and joys of life. Most importantly, I knew that Mary prayed for me every single day. From Mary, I learned unconditional love and I will remain grateful throughout eternity. My greatest blessing from God was my husband, Bruce Lamar White, Jr. He has been everything to me. Especially my best friend. We married on March 15, 1955. He has been what every real man should aspire to be. The most important thing he did was keep our marriage together. He was much better at it than I was. His appointment calendar was never too full or his schedule too busy if I needed him. Protector, provider, and the best Father in the world to our three children. They were, of course, our most precious blessing. Our son; Kevin Bruce White and his wife Becky, who gave us two granddaughters, April Lynn White and Kerry Kathleen White; our oldest daughter, Kelly Diane Dailey and her husband Regan; our youngest daughter; Kristy Lynn Vick and her husband W. Lee, who gave us another two grandchildren; Matthew Alexander Lee Vick and Bonnie Kathleen Lynn Vick. And of course, I can't forget our seven grand dogs. The greatest blessing God has given me is the knowledge that all my family, my husband, all three children, all three of their spouses, and all four grandchildren will follow me to heaven because they have all received Christ as their personal savior. I have had love and prayers wrapped around me all my life. And I've been reminded each day of the depth of God's grace in my journey of forgiveness and restoration. I've spent my life cradled in the arms of my Jesus. I think that right this minute I'm dancing in front of His throne, singing "Holy, Holy is The Lamb". That's my picture of heaven. For any who might be reading this, quite a lot is said about heaven in the bible. May I suggest you do a study, then ask yourself..."if I die today, where will I spend eternity". If I'm wrong, I haven't lost a thing, because I've tried to live my life as if God was as real as someone sitting right beside me. (Of course, I have "missed the mark" more times than I like to think about.) But His presence, in the form of the Holy Spirit, has always been with me. And what if I'm right? If anyone would like to do something in my memory, please don't put flowers beside a dead body. There are so many ministries that are close to my heart. Just a few: The Magdalene Project, the Austin Baptist Chapel, (the Angel House Soup Kitchen) Lifecare, Mercy House in Amherst, Mass, Texas Special Olympics, and of course, my wonderful home church, Manchaca Baptist Church. This is where I found a new family. The body of believers in this church have ministered to me in countless ways through the years. Not just by being good friends, but by lifting me up in prayer through many illnesses. I have a large stack of cards and notes, (I can't bring myself to throw them away) that mean love and caring to me. Countless offers of help in any way. This church body behaves like a body of Christ is supposed to behave. We cry together and laugh together. These are special, caring people who know the loving art of bringing joy to others by sharing from the heart. I thank God that His plan included our blood family, then the church family, led by our precious pastor, Tom Gautier. I wish I could list all of you that have meant so much to me, but that isn't possible. All of you know how I have loved you. I have also been blessed by working with some of the ministries I mentioned. When we bring pleasure to another human heart, we have followed in His footsteps and we've had a little part in serving Him who loves us. I'm very sure that in serving those around us, we serve and please Him, too. I thank God for the opportunities He's given me to serve. I have never ministered to anyone, at any time, that I didn't receive the greater blessing. When you read this, I will have taken my last breath here, and the next in heaven. Many of you I will see again. Some I won't, and that's the saddest thing in this world. God has made provision that "none should perish". That provision was the sacrifice of His Son. You are all too valuable and cost Him too dearly not to receive that gift. And it is a gift. There is no way we can earn our way into heaven, or buy our way, or work our way. The only way is through Jesus Christ. The most quoted verse in the Bible is John 3:16. Most of us learned it when we were children in Vacation Bible School. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believed in Him would not perish, but would have everlasting life". Please let that verse sink into your heart and receive that gift of salvation so we will meet again. Blissfully and blessedly happy, Jan. Memorial service will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 11, 2006 at Manchaca Baptist, 1215 F M 1626, Austin. Arrangements by Harrell Funeral Home, 4435 Frontier Trail, Austin, Texas 78745 512-443-1366.