January 24, 1937 – December 23, 2014
Like all of us, Grandma Carolyn had a dash between two dates. Today as we place her body in the ground I am so glad she chose to use her dash for Christ.
My friend, you too have a dash. You are spending it with every breath you take. Please, spend it wisely!
I have heard it said: “No one has made progress in the school of Christ who does not joyfully await the day of death and final resurrection.” That is why one of our Christmas presents this year was learning that my Grandma had gone home to be with Christ! Psalm 116:15.
We drove up on Friday and I have been enjoying a wonderful time of fellowship and memories as we celebrate with family the life of a wonderful servant of Christ who is now home to be with Him for eternity. Thank you Grandma for living your life as an example to all of us.
For Christians, death really is something to celebrate! All death can do to the believer is deliver him to Jesus. It brings us into the eternal presence of our Savior.
John MacArthur once said:
Where sin has been removed death can only interrupt the earthly life and usher in the heavenly.
Obituary for Barbara Carolyn McGinnis
On December 23, 2014, Barbara Carolyn McGinnis of Imboden, Arkansas graduated to Heaven, having finished her course as set by her Savior, Jesus Christ. As a family, we are grateful that she has been reunited with her husband, Walton McGinnis, her parents KD and Myrtle McLeod, her great grandchild Annie Grace Lange and many, many other friends and loved ones.
Carolyn’s surviving family members include daughter, Jo Hovind of Pensacola, Florida; son, Michael McGinnis of Imboden; brother and wife, Billy Gene and Margot McLeod of Clarksville, Arkansas; brother and wife, Larry and Mary Lea McLeod of Imboden; daughter-in-law, Stacey McGinnis of Peoria, Illinois; grandchildren include: Kent Andrew Hovind and wife Danielle, Eric Hovind and wife Tanya, Marlissa Dublin and husband Paul, Terra Lange and husband Aaron, Stephanie McGinnis, and Tammie Flores and husband Thomas; great-grandchildren include: Stephanie Hovind, Angie Hovind, Jordan Hovind, Kailey Hovind, Matthew Hovind, Weston Lange, Kyler Lange, Dean Walton Lange and Victor Flores.
Carolyn McGinnis served the Imboden Community in many ways since returning to her hometown in 1981. As an employee in McLeod’s General Store, her abilities in accounting were invaluable, as well as her helpful smile and spirit to customers during her ten years serving beside her brother, Larry McLeod.
As a tax preparer for over 30 years, Carolyn worked tirelessly to help individuals with the task of preparing their annual tax returns. Many elderly and others having fallen on hard times experienced no charge for her services. As organist for the Imboden Baptist Church for 35 years, and the Imboden Methodist Church for five years, hours of preparing music to enhance the worship services were her joyful contribution.
As host and contributing cook for many family and community events, her welcoming home and delicious dishes blessed untold numbers of people. Carolyn’s often silent witness for her Savior included helping hands and a prayerful heart for many.
Visitation will be at the First Baptist Church of Imboden, 405 U.S. 63, Imboden, Arkansas on Sunday, December 28, 2014 from 1:00 to 3:00 with the funeral service celebrating Carolyn’s life immediately following at 3:00pm. Pastor Michael Freeman will be officiating the service.
McNabb Funeral Home, 2129 North Park St, Pocahontus, AR 72455, will be handling the funeral arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Cedar Glade Camp, 5671 U.S. 63, Imboden, AR 72434.
The Dash Between
by Ron Tranmer
I knelt there at the headstone
of one I love and cried.
Name, with dates of birth and death
were perfectly inscribed.
I pondered these two dates
and how little they both mean
when compared to the tiny dash
that lies there in between.
The dash serves as an emblem
of our time here on the earth,
and although small, it stands for all
our years of life, and worth.
And our worth will be determined
by how we live each day.
We can fill our dash with goodness,
or waste our life away.
To ourselves, as well as others,
let’s be honest, kind and true,
and every day, live the way
we know God wants us to.
May we look for opportunities
to do a worthy deed,
and reach out with compassion
to those who are in need.
For If our hearts are full of love
throughout our journey here,
we’ll be loved by all who knew us
and our memory they’ll hold dear.
And when we die, these memories
will bring grateful, loving tears,
to all whose lives were touched
by the dash between our years.
Thanks for reading,
