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[Silence] [President George W. Bush] ...still walk, [Music] and not faint.

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[Music] We come together as the family of God and as friends, [Music] to celebrate the life of Sister Ida Bell Doxie Hill.

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[Music, sound of horse ln grove] [Music, sound of horse ln grove] [Music, sound of horse In grove] [footsteps]

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[ Music ] ♪ Ask me not for angels, Savior ♪ ♪ Here my arms unfold ♪ ♪ For the lovers of our calling ♪

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♪ Do not pass me by ♪ ♪ Savior ♪ ♪ Savior ♪ ♪ Hear my call ♪

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♪ La la la la la ♪ ♪ One another's love unfolding ♪ ♪ Do not pass me by ♪ ♪

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♪ Let me ask the God of mercy ♪ ♪ Kindness we believe ♪ ♪ ♪ Living prayer in deep contention ♪

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♪ Help for our need ♪ ♪ Savior ♪ ♪ Savior, Savior ♪ ♪ Hear my humble cry ♪

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♪ While others bow their heads ♪ ♪ Our calling ♪ ♪ To the grass ♪ ♪ We ♪

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♪ Go ♪ [music] [applause] I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.

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"My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved. He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

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Lord is thy keeper. The Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil.

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He shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth and even forevermore. Let us pray.

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O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth. We bless your name today for the gift of this, thy servant, sister, Ida Bell Hill, for the love that she did send forth,

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for the works that she performed, for the faithfulness which she exhibited. We give you thanks, O God. Help us in this hour, through your grace, to say

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that the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. We pray, O God, that you might teach us to so number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom

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and be prepared for facing that great getting up morning with a sense of hope and triumph. In Jesus' name, amen. [Music]

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♪ He shall receive the crown ♪ ♪ When the Holy Spirit comes upon you ♪ ♪ And he shall be thy witness then ♪ ♪ And he shall be thy witness then ♪

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♪ Unto the ends ♪ ♪ Unto the ends ♪ ♪ Of the earth ♪ ♪ We shall receive ♪

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♪ From ♪ ♪ One divine ♪ [Music] ♪ He shall bring the dead ♪

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♪ He shall bring the dead ♪ ♪ To the end of the earth ♪ ♪ The end of the earth ♪ [MUSIC]

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♪ Today ♪ ♪ Ah ♪ ♪ Strawberry o'er ♪ ♪ How he lives on the air ♪

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♪ Jerusalem ♪ ♪ Today I'm all ♪ ♪ So very old ♪ ♪ At the end of the earth ♪

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♪ In the sky ♪ ♪ In the blue sky ♪ ♪ In the truth ♪ ♪ Today you're ♪

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[Choral singing] ♪ To the very origins of the earth ♪ ♪ With the spirit of love ♪ ♪ With the spirit of love ♪

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♪ To the very origins of the earth ♪ ♪ Of the earth ♪ ♪ We shall receive it all ♪ ♪ God be our refuge ♪

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♪ God be our refuge ♪ [Music] [ Applause ] Sunset and evening star and one clear call for me

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and may there be no mourning at the bar when I put out to sea. Sunset and evening bell and after that the door and may there be no sadness or farewell when I embark.

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As we try to understand the mysteries of death and reconcile our heart to the sadness and grief are experiencing by the homegoing of Sister Ida Bell Hill, the words that seem most appropriate are "Thou will, O Lord, be done." Sister Hill united her membership with Ebenezer Baptist

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Church in 1921 under the pastorage of the late Reverend L.L. Campbell. She was dedicated to the cause of Christ and let nothing separate her from his love. She served faithfully and untiringly in his vineyard. During her years of service, she served as a member of Second Number Eight and was presently serving as a member of Second Number Five. For many years,

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was president of circle number seven and 13. Sister Hill held this post of duty until her health failed. However, she continued to work as a member. She worked also as a teacher of the adult women's Sunday school class and as a member of the Baptist training union. Through her vast knowledge and experiences and a strong commitment to serve, she has

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provided a great and glorious heritage for her children and to all with whom she shared companionship. Maybe in the scheme of universal things, her role was to give to the community, wherever she was an example of unselfish love and devotion.

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For if she could plant a rose where thorns had been, dispel the gloom and let the sun shine in, I'd have some broken life to rise again. This was her desire as shown in her daily life. of the dedicated and consecrated service of kingdom building,

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because of her loyalty and service to the Baptist Church throughout many, many years. Because of her service and inspiration to Ebenezer Baptist Church and for her heritage in which she provided for her children,

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because of her wise counsel and Christian fellowship, Ebenezer gives thanks to God for sharing this beautiful life with us. Whereas it has pleased our Heavenly Father to call our friend and sister from labor to reward, resolve that we strive to emulate her beautiful life,

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that we express the deep sympathy we feel personally and collectively to her loved one, that we commend them to our gracious Father for comfort and solace. And finally, that the date of her demise be inscribed in the records of the Church and this resolution be given unto the hands of her family.

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Humbly submitted, Ebenezer Baptist Church. The Reverend Marvin C. Griffin Pastor, - The harbor you'll see Phillips Creek. (somber music)

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♪ (ominous music) Wise men of ancient Israel have bequeathed to us a model for a virtuous woman. It is enveloped in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament. begins with this pungent and potent question.

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Who can find a virtuous woman? Who can find a woman of sterling character? A woman who is engaged in the pursuit of moral excellence. A woman who is dedicated to uprightness, a woman who walks in wisdom's way,

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a woman who fears the Lord, who can find a virtuous woman? Such a woman is a precious possession, a priceless treasure. Her price is above rubies, for there is no value that this world can place on a virtuous woman. The question who can find a virtuous woman calls for a diligent and painstaking search.

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A virtuous woman is not a title which is ours to restore according to our whims. It's a title given on the basis of merit. It is related to life and work. In the search for a virtuous woman, we are advised by the wise concerning the kind of woman to look for.

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Her husband can safely trust her. She will richly satisfy his needs. She finds wool and flax and busily spends it. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household.

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She goes out to inspect a field and buys it. With her own hands, she plants a vineyard. She is an energetic and hard worker and watches for bargains. She works far into the night.

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She sews for the poor and generously gives to the needy. She has no fear of winter for her household, for she has made warm clothes for them all. She makes belted linen garments to sell to the merchants.

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She is a woman of strength and dignity and has no fear of old age. When she speaks, her words are wise and kindness is the rule of everything she says. She watches carefully all that goes on throughout her household and is never lazy. Her children stand and bless her, so does her husband.

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He praises her with these words, "There are many fine women in the world, but you are the best of them all." Charm may be deceptive and beauty doesn't last, but a woman who fears and reverences God shall be greatly praised. Praise her for her mighty works.

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Let her good deeds bring her honor and recognition. Who can find a virtuous woman? Let us for a brief moment consider the works of the beloved pilgrim of the way whom we honor here today, Sister Ida Bell Doxie Hill.

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Early in her existence she made the decision to try to please the Lord. The words of her favorite song, "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior," became the guiding motif of her life. Pass me not, O gentle Savior; hear my humble cry,

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While on others thou art calling, do not pass me by. Sister Ida Bell Hill was married to Brother Jerome Hill, a marriage which lasted some fifty-nine years. So they are, as we would call it, pioneers of this community with deep roots in this community and in this church.

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They became the parents of seven children. And they labored together through these years, courageously and triumphantly, in providing for the needs of the family.

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With limited income and facing adverse circumstances, they succeeded in doing an unusual job in the rearing of their children and in making a meaningful contribution to the ongoing of society.

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And one of the things I think that stands out most is that Sister Hill and Brother Hill established and maintained a strong family unit based on love, honor, obedience, integrity, knowledge, hard work, and reverence for God. Now, low economic status, other circumstances that may be considered difficult or adverse, did not appear to them as a deterrent to these principles. For you

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see, virtue has to do with essence. Virtue is the stuff that life is made of. It has to do with the determination of one's character. So Sister Hill labored with her husband hard and long to build a strong family. Quiet, unassuming in appearance, strong,

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sturdy, faithful, and true. She administered justice with love." So as we consider in our time what many call the deterioration of the black family or the deterioration of family life in this country. We need but only

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look at this example which defies such a conclusion. Because this was something in which both found in life. I came really to know this family. Brother Hill said to me one Christmas, he said, "Rev. I want you to come by the house on Christmas Day because I want you to meet meet my family. He took great satisfaction in the family. And so did Sister Hill. We

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remember just a year ago when the family had its homecoming and they worshipped here at Ebenezer that Sunday morning, how she seemed to have been with satisfaction when the family was presented. But you see, her activities were not confined to the family. They went beyond the immediate family to the wider circle of God's family. She became identified with

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the family of God here at Ebenezer almost 59 years ago. And since that time, she served in many capacities, Sunday school teacher, leader of the Starlight Band, Circle President, member of the Sunday school and training union, and a faithful attendant and diligent worker until the end. She did not rust out, she wore out her body, rendering loving-hearted service,

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glad and free. In this biblical design of a virtuous woman, the highest point in her career is expressed with these words, "A woman who fears and reverences God, she shall be praised."

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This is the most distinguishing mark of a virtuous woman, faithful in the home, industrious and enterprising. But a woman who fears the Lord, her strength and dignity are to be praised.

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No fear of old age, she's able to laugh at tomorrow. Why, you see, charm can be deceptive and beauty doesn't last, but virtue is an enduring quality of life. Lord God in heaven spoke to the angelic assembly, saying,

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Who can find a virtuous woman? The angels descended to this earth and scattered themselves in every direction. And one tall angel came to Austin to the Ebenezer family and found Sister Ida Bell Hill singing, "Pass me not, O gentle Savior.

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Do not pass me by while on others thou art calling. Do not pass me by. And the second stanza expresses her weariness with the sufferings of this life. Let me at the throne of mercy find a sweet relief.

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Kneeling there in deep contrition, help my unbelief. So the angel took Sister Hill in his arms and carried her to the throne of glory and stood in the presence of the Almighty and said, "Lord, I have found a virtuous woman. I have found a woman who has been in yonder's world for 87 years and a faithful wife for 59 years,

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A woman who has nourished and nurtured seven children under her wings, and five of them remain in yonder's world to perpetuate her memory with good works. Lord, I found a virtuous woman, a diligent worker in the home and a devout disciple in the church. I have found a virtuous woman.

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Strength and honor are her clothing. She opens her mouth with wisdom. Her tongue is the law of kindness. Lord, I have found a virtuous woman.

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And the Lord looked at the angel and said, "Well done." And he looked into the face of Sister Ida Bell Hill and said to her, "You are my kind of woman." And Sister Hill smiled and said, "Thank you, Lord.

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Thank you that you did not pass me by. Thank you, Lord, that you heard my feeble cry. Thank you, Lord, that you saved my soul." And what shall we say then? Say thanks to God who gives us this victory, this victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us pray.

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Gracious God, our Father, we offer unto you our thanks and grant unto us your Spirit with which to guide us in days to come that we may be prepared for that great meeting which you have arranged for all who love you. ask in Jesus name amen

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