Graveyard Humor
Michael J. Brooks
My long-time mentor and friend, Pastor Jim Auchmuty, died this summer. He had a unique ministry in his later years conducting countless memorial services for families without local pastors. I’d talked with Jim earlier in the summer about superintending my funeral, so this matter is yet out for bid.
I must admit I’d not read Jim’s book until recently. He published “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Funeral” in 2018, and in it he regales with stories about funerals he superintended.
I wrote in a recent column about unusual funeral music, and Jim recounted some tunes he’d heard, including, “Prop Me Up By The Jukebox If I Die,” “Lord, Won’t You Buy Me A Mercedes Benz,” “Delta Dawn” and the Auburn University fight song, “War Eagle,” complete with toilet paper covering the trees in the funeral home foyer in replica to Toomer’s Corner in downtown Auburn after a football win.
I’m not often asked about funeral music in preparation for a service, other than the availability of instrumentalists or sound equipment. However, when asked, I suggest familiar hymns by congregation or soloists rather than ballads whose story could be hard to follow, and whose theology may be shallow.
I’ve been called on to assist writing obituary notices over the years. I always tell the families that mine is simply a draft, and they have the deciding vote. But I’ve never written anything like the obituary Jim shared in his book: “In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks that donations be sent to the American Cancer Society or to the campaign of whoever is running against President Barack Obama in 2012.” (That was Gov. Mitt Romney, who fell short.)
I do like the “in lieu of flowers” phrase, though. I normally suggest, when appropriate, gifts to the home church or a worthy benevolence.
Some liturgical traditions believe a funeral service should be filled with scripture and prayers and somber reflection. My denomination believes this, but we also try to personalize the service with pleasing character references.
I remember directing a funeral of a church member I’d not met since I was the new pastor. I read Solomon’s tribute to the godly woman from Proverbs 31. Afterwards I learned the deceased was single.
As a deacon told me later, “Her husband didn’t praise her in the gates, for she never married, nor did her children rise up and call her blessed for she had none of them either.”
Stories such as these underscore the humanity of Christian ministers. None of us has reached perfection. We often fall short in word and deed.
But Jim Auchmuty reminded me of the healing value of humor, even in times of loss. -30-
“Reflections” is a weekly faith column written by Michael J. Brooks, pastor of the Siluria Baptist Church, Alabaster, Alabama. The church’s website is siluriabaptist.com.
