Funeral Homily for Linda Garner

 

Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

            Today, we gather with gratitude, sorrow, and hope. Gratitude for a life so richly lived, sorrow at our loss, and hope rooted in the promises of God. Linda Garner’s life gives us much to give thanks for—and today’s Gospel gives us words to hold onto.

            Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd, He is one who knows his sheep by name, who walks with them, who leads them, protects them, and never abandons them. This image is comforting because it reminds us that our lives—our journeys, our loves, our adventures, and even our endings—are held in God’s care.

            Linda lived a life of shepherding love and reflected the life Jesus calls us to live.

            Linda loved learning and believed deeply in the power of knowledge. Education was not simply something she achieved; it was something she shared. She earned her degree from Tift College and later her master’s from The Citadel—at a time when women were still pushing open doors that had long been closed. She was proud of that, and rightly so. Teaching and learning were important to her. Tedd said a philosophy she passed down to her family was this: “knowing how to do something is like having money in your pocket.”            

            Linda loved history and adventure. From volunteering as a docent for the Davenport House and plantations in Charleston to working as a Savannah Trolley tour guide, she loved sharing stories of history and architecture with others. Her granddaughters remember times going on her tours and counting all the lion statues around Savannah. They say that there are more than you might think! On family vacations, she made sure the family stopped at every historic site to take in a little history.

            Married to her husband, Tim, for 59 years, they lived the typical Air Force lifestyle, living in Germany, Guam, and all over the United States. For their last 30 years of marriage, they made their home on the Isle of Hope. The water, it’s history, and sense of community, caught her heart. She loved tending to her own garden and sharing quiet moments on the back porch with a glass of iced tea. She loved sailing with Tim, meeting friends out on the water, and savoring life’s simple joys—including oysters. Anyone who saw her at an oyster roast, oyster knife in hand, knew she was thoroughly enjoying God’s abundance.          

            As a grandmother, Linda made boredom impossible. There was always something to do, something to learn, somewhere to go. Fishing, boating, hiking, gardening—she invited her grandchildren into the fullness of life.

            Tedd told me that his mother had a reputation for being prim and proper — until she wasn’t. Those who knew her best knew her humor, her strength, and her willingness to surprise you. One time, after finishing a bowl of she-crab soup in a Greenville restaurant, she said it was so good she wanted to lick the bowl. Someone at the table said, “There’s no way Linda Garner would lick her bowl clean in public.” So Linda picked up that bowl and licked it clean—to the delight of everyone at the table.

            Linda made sure that wherever life took her family—across the country or around the world—they found a church, a place where their faith could be nurtured and shared. She trusted the Good Shepherd and helped others stay close to that guiding voice.

            And Linda loved this church. St. Thomas’ was her spiritual home for many, many years. She served faithfully on the vestry, worshiped here, celebrated here, and found strength here.

            In John’s Gospel, Jesus says, “I know my own and my own know me.” Linda lived as someone who knew she belonged—to her family, to her friends, to this church, and ultimately to God. And now we trust that the Shepherd who guided her all her life has called her by name and welcomed her home. The voice she trusted now says, “Well done.” Her journey continues, not into darkness, but into light. And one day—by God’s promise—we will hear that same voice, and we will be gathered together again, one flock, one Shepherd, in the fullness of God’s kingdom, where there is no more death, no more sorrow, and no more parting.

            Linda Garner lived a life of intelligence, grace, humor, and adventure. She lived a life of learning, love, and service. So today, we commend her to the care of the Good Shepherd, confident that she now rests in green pastures, beside still waters, known fully, loved completely, and held forever in God’s peace. Amen.