My Grandfather's Eulogy

Several years ago I met a man at a yard sale that I was having.  He asked who I was and I said “Haley Terry but I was Haley Hensley.”  He stopped and asked me who my parents were and I told him that I was Rex and Susan Hensley’s daughter.  He asked, “Is Delmar Ray your grandfather?”  I smiled and said, “Yes sir.”  He sat down beside me and looked me in the eyes.  He said words to me that I think tell my grandfather’s testimony so beautifully.  He said “He was the meanest man I ever met before he met Jesus.  Now, since meeting Jesus, he is the nicest man I ever met.”  I smiled and thanked the man.  I told Papa D about it a few days later and he got a huge smile on his face and said, “I guess that’s about right.”

I don’t know a lot of my grandfather’s early story.  I know he was spoiled as a child because he was the baby and he has told many stories of his brothers and sisters spoiling him.  They often did his chores or defended him.  But as he grew, he was rough.  From what he has said, he drank a lot, fought a lot, and got put in jail several times.  BUT, then he found Jesus, and that was his story.  Jesus changed his heart.  He knew Jesus loved him and forgave him and then he became the man I knew. (**Since reading this at the funeral, I asked my mom and dad how obvious the change was.  My grandmother said it was immediate.  He went down the aisle and laid it all down and he was done with it.  My dad said it was very obvious to him.  The pastor who spoke said that when my grandfather told him his testimony he said that after word got around that my grandfather got saved 3 different counties laid off police officers J )

If I could think of one word to describe my Papa D I would say the word “generous.”  He gave his time, money, material things, and most of all love.  He gave of his time coaching sports teams most of his life.  Later, he attended almost every event Josh and I ever had.  He always had a drink and candy for us and usually for our friends.  He bought more team drinks than anyone I know.  Giving his money was no big deal to him.  He worked hard for it, but he always said he couldn’t take it with him and he had rather watch us enjoy it, so he spoiled us with it.  We could try to tell him no but he would always outsmart us.  Many times I know he and Granny gave people free rent in their rental trailers, bought their groceries, or even their Christmas presents.  They never wanted recognition.  They had struggled before and just wanted people to know that someone cared.  I cannot begin to count the number of knives, state quarters, or gold dollars he gave away over the years.  Many of you here today probably have some.  (**After I spoke, several people came up to tell me they had their knife in their purse of pocket or knew exactly where it was at home.  One even pulled his pocket knife out and showed me and said that one was given to him by Papa.) 

When I could drive and had to park in our yard, my windshield would get frosted over.  Papa D would drive down to our house before I went to school and scrape my windshield. Then, he would go to Punkin Center and sit on the bench to wave at us as we went by.  If we stopped, which Josh and I did most mornings, he would buy us a coke, give us some gum, and wish us a good day.  We knew that he just wanted to see us.  Many people go their whole lives without knowing what it is like to feel that important to somebody.  He showed us daily that nothing mattered more than his family.  The greatest thing he gave us was love.  If he loved you, you knew it.  He showed his love in so many ways and was never afraid to express it.  He loved to spend time with you, do things for you, eat with you, laugh with you, and talk with you.  He truly valued what you had to say.  A few years ago, he tallied, for a week, how many people stopped to see him under his big tree.  Not counting my mom, dad, Josh, or I, the count was 61.  In a week.  Sixty-one people to stop and see him.  To talk with a man that touched their life.  Proof that when you invest in and love other people, it pays off.  Legacy lives on.  60 years of marriage.  57 years of fatherhood.  27 years of being a grandfather. 9 months of being a great grandfather.  I am so proud that he has left such an incredible legacy.  Not just with his family but with all who knew him, and that legacy was absolute love.