Bandaddy.

"Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as you ever can." -John Wesley 

It was just a normal Saturday morning at Sharptop Cove in Jasper, GA. We had just played some field games and we were heading up to the Wheel House for club. I decided to check my phone and saw that I had 5 missed calls from my sister, 2 from my aunt, and a text message from my mom. I immediately knew something was wrong. My mom's text said that Bandaddy had a seizure and was in the hospital. Overwhelmed with emotions, I started screaming at everyone around me to help me find a ride to Gainesville. The Lord was faithful to provide a sweet, sweet couple that drove me all the way home. Will and Mallory, I am forever grateful. 

When I arrived at the hospital, the majority of my family was there. We were still waiting on Louisa to drive down from Spartanburg, SC and Rand to fly in from Miami, FL. My mom went into more detail about what happened with Bandaddy that morning. After the seizure, externally everything was fine. The doctors were about to send Bandaddy home when he said his head started hurting and he was really light headed. They decided to take him in for a CT scan and found a massive subdural hematoma. My mom informed me that this was probably going to be it. The bleeding was too large to salvage anything. 

A 5 day emotional roller coaster ride filled with intense decisions, many tears, no sleep,  and hard conversations, landed the majority of the family in Bandaddy's hospice room on Wednesday morning. He had not slept well Tuesday night and was really struggling breathing, but he continued to keep fighting.  Talking to him the whole time, we told him it was okay to go, we didn't want to see him suffer. My mom mistakenly said "Dad, we're all here. Well, except for John & Anna, but they're on their way." At that point, we knew Bandaddy was going to do everything it took to wait until they got there. About a minute after the last two family members walked in, I started praying..."As hard as it is, Jesus, we stand here as a family and surrender our Bandaddy to you..." That was it. In that moment, Jesus took Bandaddy home. As terrible as death is, it was beautiful and I couldn't have imagined it happening any other way. 

The celebrating of Bandaddy's life has only just begun. I want to share with you the words of some of my family members and friends from around the community of Gainesville, GA. 

Louisa, my best friend and little cousin, represented the 7 grandchildren at the funeral and talked about how special our grandfather was to us. Her words are perfect. I couldn't have said it better myself. 

"We have all come to know John Jacobs Jr. as a father, grandfather, brother, cousin, or friend but to his 7 grandchildren he had a title no one else has. He was our Bandaddy which is a category all on it’s own.

When we think back on his long and prosperous life, we realize that he was a pretty unique man…. one of those people you hope to come across in your life. His character is multi-faceted; making him accessible and he easily connected to everyone he met. We are blessed to have shared so much time with him, and even more blessed to have inherited some of his amazing traits.

Rand is the oldest grandson and shares Bandaddy’s ongoing tenacity and perseverance.

Lydiann the oldest granddaughter has his unconditional love for our family and the vision for achieving more that Bandaddy was known for.

Mary London shares his overwhelming passion for life and his ability to connect with people no matter the circumstance.

Her twin brother, Haughton has the ability to serve others without the need for recognition.

Then there is Emmy who without a doubt received his dramatic flare and like Bandaddy, never avoids the opportunity to shine.

The baby of the family (though definitely not in size) John carries the name, the looks, and the commanding presence of Bandaddy.

The trait I share is the reason I am up here today. Bandaddy and I both love being in front of people and of course we both love a good party.

While we each contain a piece of Bandaddy in these traits, we are amazed that he had them all.

In him, we had someone there who believed in us. Whether we were on the basketball court, working as a chef, performing as the star of the show (I was Annie in the play Annie), or doing mission work, Bandaddy whole-heartedly supported us.

When remembering his life, we realize especially how the past week has changed us all. His last few days gave us a strength we were unaware of… one that could come only from his never-ending love.

And that is an emotion he shares especially with Meme.

On their 50^th anniversary we all gathered to celebrate. I remember all of us asking how they met. Meme and Bandaddy told us of their love story where they met on the Queen Mary. Of course we asked questions like, “Did you stay up all night?” and “Meme, did you kiss him?” but as the 7 of us questioned our grandparents on their story, Bandaddy was looking at Meme the whole time with nothing but a smile.

Meme and Bandaddy have shown the 7 of us what seemless love is. Bandaddy loved you , Meme and that has proven to us that we should never settle for anything less than what the two of you shared.

Bandaddy was a legend whose legacy is far reaching and lives through each of us. 

88 years was not enough for any of us…not by far…. but we remember the unspoken lessons he taught and pledge to live them every day.

We know that he is up there right now telling God all about the 7 of us, and God is smiling saying, 'Well done my good and faithful servant.'"

My mom boldly spoke at the funeral after Louisa and shared about why her Dad was so amazing.

"But the greatest of these is love.

If what you’ve already heard was not done with love --as it clearly declares, in I Corinthians 13 – it would’ve be only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

But that wasn’t the case.
My father had love. He gave love. He did everything in love.

When I was a sophomore in college, I failed a course. I’m sure Dad had all the normal parental reactions - but what I remember was the handwritten letter I received from him. What came across in his words gave me the drive to never have that happen again, encouragement and most of all – his never ending love.

For the last decade, my father pretended to be retired. As Jay and Anna took over the reins of the family business, they could be assured of a daily visit to the office or a very early morning email. Whatever ideas, promotions or projects my father shared in those visits and emails, he ended them with the words -- love always, Bandaddy.

My dad effortlessly showed his love for God.

He willingly showed his love of people, his country, his community and his profession.

His grandchildren continually felt his loving encouragement.

He loved my brother, Jay  -- and me. As children, we never realized how much our father gave to others – we thought he gave it all to us! The longer he lived, the more we treasured him and the time he shared with us.

Especially, he loved my mother.  He loved her from the time he met her on board the Queen Mary. It didn’t too take long for him to convince her of that either! He proposed 10 days after they met  -- and he loved, cherished and honored her for 53 years.

Love always perseveres. Love never fails.
Just like our memories of Dad. "

After my mom spoke, the Lord led me to pray in front of the massive crowd that was there for Bandaddy.

"Heavenly Father,  I come before you today full of thankfulness. I thank you for the life of Bandaddy. I thank you for the many lives that were impacted simply through the radiation of your love through him. I thank you that death has already been conquered and victory is yours through Christ Jesus. I thank you that because of the death and the resurrection of your son, Bandaddy is now perfectly healthy, perfectly full of joy, and most importantly, in perfect communion with you. I praise you for Bandaddy’s life and for the display of your constant goodness throughout his 88 years on earth.

Lord, we thank you for community and that you do not call us to walk through hardship alone. Spirit, we claim that you are the mighty comforter and the mighty counselor and that we need you, especially in this time. Jesus, we are desperate for your grace, for your mercy, and for your love every second. And we praise you because you are always faithful to lavish that on us daily. We love you and give you all the glory. It’s in the powerful name of Jesus I pray, Amen." 

It wasn't just John Jacobs' family that was impacted by his life. Here are just a few of the articles written about my stud of a grandfather.

Mitch Clarke- "Jacobs' legacy will live on in grandkids."

Katie Austin- "Remembering John W. Jacobs Jr." 

AccessNorthGa- "Community remembers business, civic leader, John W. Jacobs Jr."

Jay Andrews- "Words of Mr. John W. Jacobs Jr." 

Thank you, Jesus, for the life of John W. Jacobs Jr. 

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time." Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8: 31-39

"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs. 

Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations."

Psalm 100