Tag Archives: family

by Ulysses Stephen King, Jr.

“Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?’” — Job 1:8

I want to begin by honoring Mr. West’s only child and son, Seton West, who loved and cared for his father until he left us. Seton has been an obedient and faithful son who would do anything to assure his father was well taken care of and his needs were completely and fully met. He sacrificed his own time and life so that his father could enjoy the quality of life he so richly deserved. The scriptures laud you, Sir. Exodus 20:12 says, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” Brother Seton, job well done!

This may be one of the most difficult eulogies I’ve ever done. Not because Mr. West lived a difficult or sinful life; on the contrary, his life was exemplary. He was a man of humility and grace. Sharing memories in the life of Mr. West brings us joy. It is not difficult for us to say good things about him or to find words to express our appreciation, thanksgiving, and honor for a life well lived. He was a man who exhibited Christlike character, integrity, and faith: he was filled with love and service. 

Words flow from our lips into a fountain of praise and thankfulness to God for giving us such a man as this. There are some people, unfortunately, we struggle to find something good to say about them. Words don’t come easily, particularly when we know the life they lived was not above reproach. This was not so with Mr. West. 

So, what is so difficult about this eulogy than others I’ve given. It hurts just a little because we all loved him so. I’m not unfamiliar with preaching eulogies for deceased persons, but this one is more personal. This is not just another man who just died. This is Mr. West. This is Mr. West who was an exemplary father, husband, grandfather, servant, mentor, teacher, a lover of people, a community bridge-builder, a child of God, a saint. Anyone who came into his presence left changed for the better. 

Wisdom and history poured from his lips. He could literally tell you the history of African American’s sojourn and migration from the South to the West, known as the Second Migration. He was a walking and talking history book of knowledge. He knew and could tell you about Black families that struggled to move from West Oakland and by homes in Berkeley and North Oakland. Blacks were not always welcomed in these communities. We will miss his wit and wealth of knowledge.

“This is the day the Lord has made,” he would remind me. When I asked him how he was doing, he would reply, “It’s a good day! God has given each of us 24-hours in a day and we should use each one wisely.” His mother, Mrs. Carrie Carr West, was his teacher. He spoke of her as his foundation for life. Family was extremely important to him. He quoted from the life lessons and lived experiences she taught him. The Book of Job was his favorite book in the Bible. The life of Job and Job’s struggles resonated with him. 

History books of the African diaspora lined the walls of his home. He desperately wanted black youths to know their history. He was a walking black history book. He could cite dates, times, and places and events that took place around the world.  

Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” It broke his heart to witness the miseducation of our children in schools and the deaths of young black men in our cities. He wanted to show them by example that they too could rise above their circumstances and become great. He was our example and witness. 

He was unselfish. He believed in giving and sharing with others whatever God blessed him to prosper in life. Months before his death he wanted the men of our church to organize two special events: One was with the men of our church and the other was to show appreciation to the women. He chose to have lunch and dine with him at one of his favorite restaurants, Golden Corral. I tried to talk him out of doing so much and his reply was, “Pastor, God has blessed me to receive more than I could ever ask for. I can’t take it with me. It’s only paper.” Those of us who knew Mr. West understood that whenever he made up his mind to do something it would be wise to just to shut up and let him do it.

I will never forget the day that I almost died in a car accident, April 26, 2019, right on the corner intersection of 58th Street and Telegraph Avenue, the corner where our church sits. I was about to make a left turn on 58th Street to go to my office. I don’t remember or recall to this day what happened or who was at fault. Two other cars hit my car coming from opposite directions. My car was totaled, and I was knocked unconscious. They put me in the ambulance. And just before the paramedics were about to close the doors, I felt a hand touch me and I heard this voice saying, “This is my pastor. He is the pastor of the church right there on the corner.” I opened my eyes and looking into my face was Mr. West. 

Nearly every Sunday he would walk faithfully from his home to the church stylishly and immaculately dressed. I was a little embarrassed because I looked like a homeless man when I stood next to him. 

He was an encourager. After every service, regardless of who the speaker was, he would come down the aisle from where he was sitting to shake the hand of whomever the speaker was that day. He wanted to show his appreciation for the sermon that had just been delivered. He encouraged the musicians too.  

He knew what time I would leave my office each day, and he waited on his porch for me to come out. Then he would walk over to share his wisdom with me. He listened attentively to the sermon, and he pointed out a verse of scripture or something I had said that caught his attention. Then he would pour into my life wisdom that I needed.

Careful not to offend me he said, “I’m not trying to preach to you, Pastor. I know you already know these things.” Truth is, even if I did, I needed to be reminded of the lessons and lived experiences from my teacher. And further, I immediately realized I didn’t know as much as I thought I did. An apology was not needed. I will truly miss my teacher, philosopher, theologian, and friend. 

After service the brothers would gather someplace in the sanctuary or outside to hear and receive wisdom from their leader. They stood there silently listening to his wisdom, advice, and counsel. Yes, his place will be missed. There was nothing in our church that he didn’t take part in if he was physically able.

As I pointed out earlier, Mr. West connected with the story of Job. Job had been a worshipper of God all his life, but now he sees that God is far greater and more glorious than he had ever grasped before. Job realized that all of the questions he has about his life are just a tiny fraction of what he does not know. Living 95 years, Mr. West understood this all too well. There are more mysteries in God’s vast universe than he could begin to comprehend.

Job had been trying to make sense of the mystery of his suffering. Demanding an audience with God—really, he felt he was on trial with God. But when he saw the glory of God, he opened his spiritual eyes, he found that he was able to live with his pain and his unanswered questions. Job’s friends turned him inward. God turned him upward, and that was when things changed.

Earlier in this narrative Satan challenges God: Satan appears before the throne of God after roaming the earth. God boasts about how righteous Job is. Satan scoffs, claiming that Job only fears God because God protects Job, and has given him wealth and many children. Satan claims Job only does what is right because of the transactional benefit he gets from God. God permits Satan to test Job, but not to harm him physically.  

Job asked why without ever losing faith, but he was close to the edge once too often with God. When he saw the glory of God, he realized just how close to the edge he had been, and he says, “I spoke of things I did not understand. Therefore, I repent.”

Job teaches us that pain and suffering will come in this life—tragedies will happen—the key to these times is to trust and have faith in God. Job asks this question, “If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes” (Job 14:14). The decision we make will determine if we get a spiritual breakthrough and/or fall deeper into a spiritual breakdown.

The Psalmist tells us to, “Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD! Ninety-five years is a long time to wait. But ninety-five years is nothing to compare to eternity with the Lord. Mr. West understood this. He lived this life to live eternally with Jesus. 2 Peter 3:8 says, “. . . beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

Mr. West doesn’t have to wait any longer. “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Finally, at the end of the week before Sunday, I looked forward to seeing him in service. I would call out to him from the doorway of my office while he was standing on his porch. “I’ll see you in service on Sunday,” I said.  Then he would shout back to me, “And God willing, if the creek don’t rise, I’ll see you in the morning.¹” 

1. “If the creek don’t rise” is an African American phrase that essentially means “God willing, and barring any unforeseen obstacles,” implying a strong belief that something will happen as planned unless an unexpected event occurs, similar to saying “if all goes well.”  ↩︎