欧美视频

About 1,000 students, alumni, staff and friends of 欧美视频 gathered March 30 in 欧美视频鈥檚 Mabee Chapel to honor the life of Judy Taylor, wife of 欧美视频 President Dr. C. Pat Taylor. Together, they are the longest-serving president and first lady in the University鈥檚 138-year history. She passed away Saturday, March 26, 2016, in Bolivar, leaving behind a legacy of dedicated service to the kingdom and the University.

The celebration of life service included remarks from speakers such as Dr. Bob Agee, who was president of Oklahoma Baptist University during the time that the Taylors lived in Oklahoma and served at OBU. He recalled fond memories of Judy and how she lived her life with joy and enthusiasm and reminded attendees that the Gospel brings hope amid grief.

"I have had to remind myself frequently in recent days that I am not to grieve like those who have no hope, and that's tough, but the more I look at that verse, the more I realize that He did not say 鈥榙o not grieve,鈥欌�� Agee said. 鈥淚n fact, I think the tears that we shed in this moment are really simply expressions of love and care and the exposure of our own humanity to the realities of pain and sadness. The difference is the verse says there really is a right way to grieve. We don't grieve as those who have no hope. We shed our tears, but with a reality that death is not the end. For Judy, this is a new beginning, and she liked new beginnings."

Remarks were also made by people whose lives were touched by Judy, including Stephanie Rovenstine, who served as her caregiver during her final years and whose testimony was read by Dr. Pat Baker, as well as her goddaughter Robin Parrish McAlister, who fondly recalled Judy鈥檚 caring and vivacious personality.

鈥淚 count myself among the lucky ones to have been a daughter of Judy,鈥� McAlister said. 鈥淗umor, kindness, wisdom, grace, joy and Southern charm: these are the virtues she embodied and exuded.鈥�

Judy鈥檚 faith and great love of music was celebrated through congregational renditions of songs such as 鈥淐rown Him With Many Crowns鈥� and 鈥淰ictory In Jesus,鈥� the performance of which was led by Dr. James Tarrant, 欧美视频 professor of music and director of choral studies, featuring the 欧美视频 combined choirs and orchestra. They also performed classical works such as 鈥淗allelujah from Christ on the Mount of Olives鈥� and the 鈥淗allelujah Chorus鈥� from Handel鈥檚 鈥淢essiah.鈥�

Dr. Charles Graham, a music evangelist who attended 欧美视频 who is photographed at right, sang several songs in Judy鈥檚 honor, including 鈥淚 Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb鈥� and 鈥淚 Bowed on My Knees.鈥� He also shared about her impact on the 欧美视频 campus and throughout the community. 

鈥淭he reason we loved her so鈥攁nd we love her so鈥攊s because she knew the Lord, the Savior which she served,鈥� Graham said. 鈥淎nd out of that relationship, she lived, she loved, and she gave. What an amazing example of Christ in the earth and in our lives. And for that, I am forever grateful.鈥�

Additionally, Dr. Bill Brown, who retired in 2015 as provost of 欧美视频, performed a selection of songs on the piano, including 鈥淢oonlight Sonata鈥� and a Gospel medley.

The Rev. Billy Russell, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Bolivar, shared about Judy鈥檚 great love and passion for God, life, her family and others as he preached from her favorite passage of Scripture, I Corinthians 13.

鈥淪he was gifted to do so many things, and it pleased God鈥攊t was His will and good pleasure鈥攖hat in the many different roles that she played in our church, our community and our University we were allowed to see the Spirit of God at work in a person鈥檚 life,鈥� Russell said.

He also explained that her joy and love for others flowed out of her relationship with the Lord and were rooted in His great eternal love.

鈥淏rothers and sisters, let us embody this love,鈥� he said. 鈥淟et us practice and pursue this kind of love because it lasts, and that鈥檚 why Judy鈥檚 memory will outlast her life.鈥�