William Carlyle Eure
September 8, 1955-July 18, 2016

In Southern Protestant churches communion tables often have the words "In remembrance of me" engraved across the front. That phrase comes, of course, from the last words of Jesus spoken around the table with his family of choice at the end of his life.
 
Bill and I talked briefly about what he wanted done in remembrance of him. Ever the pastor's spouse, he immediately thought about what Virginia-Highland Church needs. We had talked several times about how we need new communion ware and more contemporary paraments. One of the many things Bill has done since we arrived in Atlanta is take responsibility for our weekly communion. Only after his diagnosis did we finally get around to training others to do that task.
 
The fact that Virginia-Highland Church practices weekly communion, just as our church in Dallas does, has always meant a lot to both of us. Hardly a Sunday went by that I didn't get a little choked up serving Bill communion. I had no idea that the last Sunday of June would be the final time I'd have that honor. Still, I will never again talk about the "communion of the saints" or that "great cloud of witnesses" without picturing one particular face.
 
So, we will buy new communion ware in memory of Bill as he had been after me to add additional servers on Sunday because the church has grown so much. Still, that doesn't seem like enough, at least not to me.
 
In remembrance of Bill, I will try to be more disciplined about my devotional life; in remembrance of Bill, I will seek out the shyest people at church and make sure they feel included; in remembrance of Bill, I will resist the urge to save the best wine for special occasions and, instead, try to make every day a special occasion; and, in remembrance of Bill, I will seek more ways to serve others that no one ever knows. In remembrance of Bill, I will seek to become the person he believed I am, the one he tried so hard to love me into being. In remembrance of Bill, I will seek to embody the sweet, bighearted, warm man who lived and loved among us, and who lives and loves within us now.

Blessings,
 
Rev. Michael Piazza

Two memorial services will be held. The first will be Saturday, July 20, at 1 p.m. at Virginia-Highland Church in Atlanta. Plans for a second service to be held in Dallas are pending. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Virginia-Highland Church altar guild.   


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