Ray Of Hope Live: Celebrating The Life of Nina W. Fields

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:24]Comfort ye. Comfort ye my people sayeth our God. This is the word of God found in Isaiah 40 and 1. Let us pray.

[00:00:39]Oh Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth and thy glory which thou has set above the heavens. Our Father and our God in heaven.

[00:00:55]We come once again before your throne of grace and mercy with thankful hearts and with grateful spirits.

[00:01:05]We thank you, Father God, for being our God.

[00:01:10]We thank you for being the creator of heaven and earth.

[00:01:14]We thank you, Father God, for being the judge of all mankind. And we thank you for being Jehovah Gara, our great provider.

[00:01:24]We thank you, Father God, for loving this world so much that you gave us your only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but shall have everlasting life. And we come to thank you, Father God, for being the giver of life. For it is you who gave the perfect gift of life that's found in Sister Nina.

[00:01:50]Every good and perfect gift comes from you, Father God.

[00:01:54]The father of lights in whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning.

[00:02:00]We come father god to celebrate joyfully and with tears of sadness the beautiful life of sister Nina Fields.

[00:02:18]We come to say thank you. Father God, David said it well in Psalm 136. Oh, give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth forever. You have been a merciful God, a God who has given us a beautiful life in Sister Nina Fields.

[00:02:41]We thank you, Father God, for a good and faithful servant who came, who surrendered her life to Christ, who trusted and believed in you, who honored you, who worshiped you, who served you tirelessly, giving completely of herself, of her time, her talents and her treasures here at the Ray of Hope Baptist Church. For this we are truly thankful and truly grateful.

[00:03:21]We thank you, Father God, for a faithful servant who loved you and who served you with a joyful heart, a thankful and a loving spirit. She was a kind and gentle lady, softspoken, but when she saw you, she gave you a smile that could light up this city.

[00:03:50]She met you with joy and she offered the love of Christ to everyone that she met.

[00:03:56]We're thankful, Father God, and we're blessed to have known her and to have shared the love of Christ with her on this journey to the kingdom.

[00:04:09]For we know, Lord, that the soul of this righteous lady now rest in your loving arms. For truly, Sister Nina has fought the good fight.

[00:04:21]She has finished her course, and she has kept her faith.

[00:04:27]Henceforth there is laid up for her a crown of righteousness, which you, Father God, the living God, the righteous judge, shall present to her on that great day. And not just for Sister Nina alone, but for all them who love your appearing.

[00:04:45]For the family and loved ones, we come praying a comfort and a peace.

[00:04:54]The same peace that Jesus said to the disciples as he was taking our sins to the cross at Calvary. He said, "Peace I leave with you.

[00:05:05]My peace I giveth to you. Not as the world giveth giveth I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

[00:05:16]So as we come forth celebrating a beautiful life, we pray, Father God, that you would bring comfort and peace to this beautiful family, comfort them in a way that only you can do. Turn their tears of sadness into tears of joy.

[00:05:34]For we know, Father God, that this sadness, this pain, and this suffering will only last for a night time. Joy certainly comes in the morning.

[00:05:46]Bless this family and keep them in your loving care.

[00:05:49]Open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing for this family.

[00:05:53]Watch over them and bless them. And in everything that we do, Lord, in the forgiveness of our sins with repentant hearts, we'll continue to give you glory, honor, and praise. In Jesus name we pray. Together, our souls say, "Amen." Amen. And amen.

[00:06:19]Amen. And hallelujah. Thank you once again, choir. Oh, gentle savior, do not pass me by. Thank you, Minister Waters, for your prayer of comfort. I want to take a moment to just honor and recognize all the clergy who are here today.

[00:06:37]Thank you for spending time with this family and giving your prayer and support and we welcome you here at the Ray of Hope Baptist Church. We also want to extend a welcome and honor those representing the law enforcement across Maryland, Baltimore County who have come out once again to give support and hope and offer your prayers to this family. Recognizing Chief McCulla who is here with Baltimore County Police Department and all others at this time, Minister Clifton Harrove of the Ray of Hope Baptist Church will come and give words of comfort followed by the Reverend Dr. William Butler as well. Amen.

[00:07:42]Amen.

[00:07:45]to the family on behalf of the Ray Hope Baptist Church, Reverend Ayana Franklin, our pastor, our leadership, the deacons ministry officers, members, and friends. We sincerely extend our love and condolences to you during your time of bereavement.

[00:08:09]And may the peace and love of God carry you through these times. and know that we're praying for you. And if there's any earthly thing that we can do to help you along the way, please let us know because God is in control of everything.

[00:08:26]And all we have to do is call upon him and he'll be right there by our side.

[00:08:34]And I have a scripture that I would like to leave you with.

[00:08:46]It says, "I tell you the truth. Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed over from death into life."

[00:09:01]This is found in John 5:24.

[00:09:04]And may you find comfort and peace and joy of the Lord in this scripture because the joy of the Lord will be your strength. God bless you. We love sister Nina.

[00:09:20]She has definitely done her work here on this earth. a life that was well lived of a life of service, dedication, and commitment unto the Lord and to a family, a church family.

[00:09:36]So, we will continue to keep her her legacy and that love that she shared and spread it amongst everyone alive with us each and every day. God loves you, family, and so do we.

[00:10:09]Let's give God a hand clap and praise.

[00:10:11]Come on, let's give God glory and give him praise. In this place, one of the greatest saints have gone home to be with the Lord. And we praise God for her life.

[00:10:27]To Reverend Franklin and to the Ray of Hope family. Uh we we give honor to you to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

[00:10:40]We we come also uh Lady Sonia and I have come today just to support the family and to encourage the family that um that this wonderful woman that served the church well has now placed herself in the arms of God.

[00:11:07]And the Lord now is just telling her those words that you and I long to hear.

[00:11:14]Well done, my good and faithful servant. You've been faithful over a few things. Now, come on up a little higher and take your rest.

[00:11:29]Sergeant Major Craig Wlette, who served with me. I we served together in Iraq. I was his I was his chaplain and uh he was the sergeant major. Amen. Um he took care of me um and uh kept me out of trouble. Uh but we praise God for his leadership. Um and um and and we knew his mom, knew his father very very well.

[00:11:58]And uh and so we come just to uh tell um uh brother Willlette that uh along with his family that earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal. And um mom Nina was a great woman. Uh I didn't call her sister Nina but I called her mom Nina because she was one that had great respect. We always saw her. We always respected her to the highest. And uh in in the uh um body of Christ, when you see a woman uh who who stands with honor and stands with dignity, Amen. you call her mother. Amen. Because she was the mother of us all. Spiritual mother of us all. And we praise God for her life and her legacy. And and before I sit down, I just want to encourage Amen. Brother Craig and to his wife and to the entire family, we want you to know according to second Corinthians 5 and1. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle will be destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

[00:13:20]Even though this body has given out, but yet she lives, she has a new body. And we can't wait. Amen. Till we seek her again in her new body. We're going to know who she is when we get to heaven.

[00:13:36]Amen. And we seek her and she her arms are going to be open to us, Brother Craig. Open to us and say, "Oh, come on in." Amen. I knew you can make it. And we praise God. We look forward to that day. But meanwhile, lift up your hearts.

[00:13:50]We're going to miss her. We're going to miss her smile. We're going to miss her voice. We're going to miss her presence.

[00:13:55]But Amen. Stay encouraged. Encourage one another. And the Lord will see you through. Thank you, Pastor Franklin, for this moment. Amen. To encourage the family. God bless you.

[00:14:11]>> Oh my God. Did you hear Dr. Butler.

[00:14:15]Reverend Butler say he served with brother Craig in Iraq.

[00:14:22]Yet they shared church family in a area very familiar.

[00:14:28]And it makes me think about the word of God that says, "And lo, I am with you always, even until the ends of the world."

[00:14:40]Even right now as he was with you too in Iraq and other places where you have had to go throughout this world, he's with you right here, even in this moment. He is a God that never leaves you nor forsakes you. He brings you covering in ways that you couldn't even imagine.

[00:15:02]He brings you family in different ways that you could not even imagine.

[00:15:09]So even Now he says, "Lo, I am with you, brother. Lo, I am with you, Michelle. Lo, I am with you, Linda.

[00:15:22]I am with you family even to the end all the way to the very end of your feelings, your emotions, your hurt, your grief. I am with you even until the ends of the earth.

[00:15:48]Right now it is time for special remarks and Craig we have you down first and after that it says open for three more people voluntarily two minutes each. Now that's a pretty broad statement there.

[00:16:10]I'm asking permission here. Brother Craig, if you don't mind giving your remarks as the book end, the last stop.

[00:16:23]So that means there are three individuals and he's already given assignments. So there's two individuals.

[00:16:36]Somebody was already volunttoled.

[00:16:48]So if there are two others who wish to give remarks on behalf of the family, you may make your way over to this podium to my left.

[00:17:06]Because once her son gets up to speak, the floor is closed.

[00:17:36]I first wanted to acknowledge everyone here today.

[00:17:40]It brings me peace to be able to look out and see so many people whose lives were impacted for the better by my grandmother's.

[00:17:56]Thank you for being here today.

[00:17:59]and being a part of her life.

[00:18:02]When the idea of addressing the wall this morning came to me, I was just like, I can do it. It's nothing. But the days came closer and closer.

[00:18:14]And last night, I sat and I was like, wait, got a little spice to it. This isn't as easy as I thought it was going to be.

[00:18:24]Yesterday I saw her and I told her I would be able to come up here.

[00:18:31]I'd be able to swallow any sorrow that I have just to be able to bring you guys a little bit of comfort in the same way God has brought comfort to me.

[00:18:46]We have two minutes. So I tried to make this short and she was really good at that in one in some ways more than others.

[00:18:54]So with that, I'd like to share.

[00:19:01]I'm not sad in a way that people might expect because I've been grieving this loss for a long time.

[00:19:08]What's hardest now is knowing she's no longer physically here with us.

[00:19:15]And she's no longer physically here with me.

[00:19:19]When I think of her, I always think about how she remembers the whole off the wall album front to back.

[00:19:29]But she didn't remember my name. She just knew I was that girl. Where is that girl? You did something to her. I want her to come with me.

[00:19:46]She remembers that she got a pretty bonnet. She doesn't remember that she took a shirt off my head.

[00:19:52]And captain, I'm waiting for it back, too. By the way, I'll be at the house later.

[00:19:59]I think about how one of my last time seeing her was just my big sister Tamika.

[00:20:06]But I'll I'll let her remember that for herself. Grandma wasn't pleased with the singing and the dancing. Or was I?

[00:20:15]But somehow these recent memories make me hold on to the little things that remind me of her.

[00:20:25]When I move past all that, what keeps coming back are the quieter moments, the ones that stays with me the most.

[00:20:35]Although I'm a grownup now, I still find joy in watching princess movies. I know it's crazy, but it's not really about the movies themselves.

[00:20:48]It's everything they're tied to that makes me sorry that takes me back to being at my grandmother's house. She had a whole collection full of DVDs.

[00:21:00]And some days we would come over, she would come home from work and I'd be sitting there ready on her bed like, "All right, what are we going to watch today? Let me pick it up.

[00:21:09]We would sit, we would watch Snow White, we would watch Sleeping Beauty, and we didn't need the words. We could just recite the whole movie and sing all the songs. And then there would always be some fun facts in there somehow someway.

[00:21:23]It was always such It was such a pleasure to be in her presence, just feeling like she knew everything.

[00:21:30]Anything that I wanted to know, I could ask her.

[00:21:35]Even to this day, I would see her. I would see her all the time. And we'd still lay on the bed. We watch a princess movie. Even if she didn't remember the words, I remember the words.

[00:21:50]I remember those feelings of being young and sitting beside her.

[00:22:02]Sorry.

[00:22:05]Having those moments with her felt natural to me because I knew she didn't want to watch Elvis for the 500th time. And neither did I.

[00:22:20]Somehow, even all these moments, I share other moments, too. Like now when I'm driving, when I come up on a yellow light, I think about riding with her here to church.

[00:22:33]She would go a little faster every time we pull up. She was like, "I can make it. I can make it. I'm sorry, guys. Hold on." I don't like getting stuck at the red light.

[00:22:42]When I'm driving now, I always just hear in the back of my mind, "I can make it.

[00:22:45]I can make it. I can do it."

[00:22:51]And I still feel that to this day, knowing that I'll be able to make it through this moment in the same way, we all will be able to make it through.

[00:23:02]Finding comfort at a time like this is something that feels so hard.

[00:23:07]But if we lean on each other, if we lean on God, we can do anything.

[00:23:17]It sounds like you have to remember to smile.

[00:23:22]Even when I do smile, I think of her. We took family photos. I think I was years old. Iconic moment.

[00:23:33]And I smiled with all of my teeth in the photo. And when they came back, she hung them over her steps. She said, "Paris, come here for a second." And we stood in front of the mirror. She said to me, "You know you don't have to smile with all of your teeth, right? Just the first row is fine."

[00:23:53]And I'm 8 years old. I'm like, "Why wouldn't I smile with all my teeth? What do you mean? They're there for a reason.

[00:24:01]So, we stood there and we practiced and we practiced just smiling with the first row. And every time I look at a picture of myself, I'm always like, "Grandma, you did me well. I look great."

[00:24:13]Now, it's starting to fade a little bit.

[00:24:15]I'm starting to get back to my all 32 smile.

[00:24:20]But the proper smile became a whole lesson between us, even if I didn't realize it at that time. And now looking back, it all blends together. The movies, the car rides, that hallway lesson. I don't need all 32.

[00:24:36]It was all those small ordinary moments that didn't feel important at the time until it became a memory that I'd have to hold on to forever.

[00:24:46]What I keep coming back to is how lucky I am to have had her in my life in the way that I did.

[00:24:53]I'm not the only one who carries pieces of her like this. She had a way of showing up in the smallest moments and making them matter. And I think that's what we're all holding on to now.

[00:25:05]She meant so much to me.

[00:25:08]And that love doesn't end here because she's gone. That kind of bond doesn't disappear. It just changes form.

[00:25:17]So even in this loss, I'm not letting go of her.

[00:25:21]I'm carrying her forward with me in the way I love people, in the way I show up for my family, and in the quiet moments when I still feel her presence in my life.

[00:25:36]In moments like this, where never feel like enough, there's no perfect ways to make sense of loss and no right way to carry it.

[00:25:45]All we can really do is hold on to what love remains and let that be words for it.

[00:25:52]But I do hope we can all give ourselves grace right now.

[00:25:56]Grief doesn't move in a straight line.

[00:25:58]And it doesn't look the same for any of us.

[00:26:01]Some of us are crying.

[00:26:04]Some of us are quiet.

[00:26:06]And some of us are in between.

[00:26:09]And all of that is okay.

[00:26:12]What matters is that we're not alone in it. We're here together.

[00:26:18]We're connected by someone who meant something real to all of us.

[00:26:24]And even in the sadness, there's still something steady in that.

[00:26:30]Something that reminds us we don't have to carry this by ourselves.

[00:26:36]We also hope we can remember that love doesn't disappear when someone is gone. It stays in the way we treat each other, in the stories we share, and the stories that we tell, and in the small moments where we feel close again without even trying to.

[00:26:56]So, as we go forward from this moment, I hope we can lean on that love.

[00:27:04]I hope we can be gentle with ourselves and with each other.

[00:27:10]And I hope that we can trust that even in absence, there is still connection.

[00:27:15]There is still warmth. And there is still something that holds us together.

[00:27:21]And if there's one thing I hope we all hold on to is this.

[00:27:30]She mattered. And not just in the big moment.

[00:27:34]but in the everyday ones that shape who we are. And because of that, she will always remain a part of us.

[00:27:42]She is still loved.

[00:27:44]She is still present. And she is still ours.

[00:27:51]My first day here, Pastor Ariana Franklin said, "You can let your struggle be your strength or your strangulation."

[00:28:03]I pray that we all choose to let today be our moment of strength.

[00:28:09]Know that we will move past this.

[00:28:12]And though our hearts are heavy, we must continue to stick together. We must continue to keep her in our thoughts to continue sharing her stories. And I thank you all for being here today.

[00:28:26]Please take care of yourselves and please take care of each other.

[00:28:32]I pray that you be here today covered in peace.

[00:28:37]And I pray that you all are blessed.

[00:28:39]Thank you so much.

[00:28:56]Hello.

[00:29:00]Um, although I never really knew my aunt Nina for who she really was, my my my grandmother and my aunt made sure to keep the memory of her alive. told me all types of stories about her. Told me how she was as a person.

[00:29:22]She was smart. She's funny.

[00:29:27]Just a beautiful and kind soul.

[00:29:31]She'll beat you up, knock you in your face one second, ask you how you doing another.

[00:29:40]But But I just I'm just suppose I never never didn't really prepare for this to hit so hard.

[00:30:00]I have all types of dresses and clothes from her. I think I actually think this is hers, which is crazy because you're She was so short. I I love hugging her and and kissing her face. And she would she would sing she would sing along the songs in the car and I would I would sing to her and she would sing back.

[00:30:37]It's a beautiful thing.

[00:30:40]Sometimes she'd remember my name and my face.

[00:30:49]I'm glad I got a chance to tell her that I loved her one last time.

[00:30:58]I never expected I never I never I never expected it to affect me so hard once she was truly gone.

[00:31:14]It's like it's like you lose her for a second time.

[00:31:23]Just want to say that I love you, Aunt Nina.

[00:31:27]I hope you're with Uncle Gregory and I hope you're happy up in heaven next to God and Jesus.

[00:31:38]Thank you. I love you.

[00:31:54]>> I think Hello Uh, I don't have anything scripted, so let's see how this goes. Firstly, I want to admit something. Something a little bit probably messed up, but it's my genuine thought that formed at the time and I carried for a while.

[00:32:23]In a way, I was waiting or wanting this.

[00:32:29]You know, the thought of having someone live, forgetting everything they have ever experienced slowly over time, including the basic thing of speaking and eventually breathing.

[00:32:46]That's not something I want anyone to live through.

[00:32:53]It's just not very favorable for anyone, especially when taking care of that person becomes more and more difficult to say the least.

[00:33:10]or as messed up as I think it is at the time and even now probably better off this way as I'm pretty sure there is no mystical cure we can just find in a lab or somewhere in the middle of Baltimore for all we know and that leads to me feeling different than usual.

[00:33:44]I have seen many people here feel down, cry and whatnot.

[00:33:52]Me, I feel sad. I guess I unfortunately haven't shed a tear because I've been prepared for this.

[00:34:09]probably a bit too much cuz I feel down but still chipper.

[00:34:20]Still feel like my usual self. And that's probably what she wants.

[00:34:28]I mean, that's what Papa wanted it, too.

[00:34:30]I would bet we can have our sorrows, but never let it consume us.

[00:34:44]And that's how I looked at this and wish to ride.

[00:34:52]As much as I feel like I want to cry, I I just can't.

[00:34:58]As much as I want to say crying is for chumps, it's not.

[00:35:04]It really isn't. Otherwise, I would have been an absolute chump when Jerome died.

[00:35:20]Do I have anything else motivational to say? Um, I guess I can try to talk about some of the things we've done.

[00:35:34]You know, being with someone like grandma all your life, it's lead to you having a positive mindset and outlook.

[00:35:51]She always did this thing with me where whenever she was tired, she would always go t i r e d tired.

[00:36:02]And I find myself doing that at random every now and again. It's one of those things you just get stuck in your head like a ring ringorm. Earworm earworm.

[00:36:15]That's a thing. Like a earworm of a song.

[00:36:19]Although it's short and I basically now never know not how to spell tired.

[00:36:30]That's always great.

[00:36:38]God, I really should have scripted something.

[00:36:43]I'm not as brain and motivational as Paris is, clearly.

[00:36:47]nor was I as prepared.

[00:36:51]But one thing I am prepared for is trying to make people um at least cry tears of joy and not sadness all the time.

[00:37:02]Cuz if you don't like your crying not a lot, you can shed a tear and then move on with your life.

[00:37:14]So in the end, I want you all to be uplifted a little bit.

[00:37:26]Not to well in sadness for too long.

[00:37:31]You can have your moment here, but don't let it drag you down.

[00:37:42]That's never good. And that's not what Nita wants. That's not what Gregory wants. That's not what Jerome wants.

[00:37:50]To all the people I known and loved that has died like those three, they only want us to keep moving forward forever and ever until our day comes like theirs.

[00:38:07]Even if they they forgot about it, their soul will never.

[00:38:14]And that's the truth.

[00:38:22]That's my baby.

[00:38:28]I said I was going to try to do this because I wanted to make sure that everybody understood and knew exactly who Nina was. Nina was light. She was warm. She was fun. And she was welcoming.

[00:38:42]To be loved by her was something special.

[00:38:46]Most people say your children are your gift. My mother was my gift.

[00:38:51]I have never in my life experienced that level of love because, or shall I say, I never in my life knew what it was like to not have that level of love. I've had it since the moment I was born. From the womb to her arms, I had my mother's love, and I knew it every moment.

[00:39:14]I made sure she knew how I felt about her. every moment that woman could drive you crazy and she you knew you could drive her crazy, but in the end y'all were crazy together.

[00:39:30]My mother was responsible as an adult to make sure that she loved you. She ch um she cherishes she cherished you. She wiped your tears. She um she cleaned your diaper. She changed your clothes.

[00:39:46]She got you ready. She hugged you up.

[00:39:49]She comforted you. When it was her time, I made sure I hugged her up. I gave her love. I changed her diaper. I washed her body. I washed her clothes. I did everything I needed to do for her.

[00:40:06]Anytime it felt like it's a burden, I said to the Lord, I don't want to be unbburdened.

[00:40:14]In the end, I felt like she gave me what I needed instead of what I wanted. What I wanted was her. What I needed was her.

[00:40:23]And then I realized something else. I was so lucky when I had her. I was so lucky to be given her.

[00:40:33]Even though I was l I'm lucky to have my brother. Even though I told my mother, "Please, mommy, y'all, you should do something about him. please. He's embarrassing us.

[00:40:44]But in the end, the whole thing is I now know why I have never won the Power Ball or the Megaillions because all my luck was given when I got her. So Lord, now you owe me. You owe me. Cuz I never give her away unless I can get her back. And he did the same thing to me. He gave her to me. Now he took her back. And now I would like to have the Megaillions in the Power Bowl whenever you have seed.

[00:41:09]Thank you, Lord. Thank everybody for coming. For everybody who's here, you know the quality of what it's like to be loved by a woman of that caliber. And all I can tell you is, even though y'all know what it feels like, you have absolutely no idea cuz you've never sat in my seat. And I can tell you this much. I don't have the ounce of guilt or grief that comes with not doing for your mother what you supposed to do for your mother because I never took her for granted. I just took it for granted that she would never go anywhere because I felt like she had to be here. She was a part of life. She was my life.

[00:41:52]But I'll tell you this much. I do still feel that lack of what's going on right now because I have so much love still bundled up for her. And all I can say to you, mommy, is this. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you more than more. There is no words that can ever be said. And all I can tell you is this.

[00:42:13]That as much as you know that I love you, you still have no idea how much I really love you. From the bottom of my feet to the top of my head, I love you.

[00:42:25]And all I can say is, "Thank you, God, you gave me her. Thank you, God, you gave me her.

[00:43:03]workman. You got the stopwatch for >> now. You know who the favor was.

[00:43:15]I received came with only because I love 100 of those that I got of coming out.

[00:43:38]Our story is a strange story. We were going toow my like, "Oh, I know." You know, it was a big mom and a daughter named after We got it.

[00:44:20]It was a strange day.

[00:44:24]This was when my father passed away and he came to represent the family. I was in Iraq at the time and everybody not he ran away so many times.

[00:45:07]We would have spaghetti and spaghetti and I play through together.

[00:45:38]always wrote handwritten always.

[00:46:10]I say that because we had another All right.

[00:46:43]Okie dokie.

[00:47:03]Okay, we still represent her. She always I got a white suit for Christmas. I got a magic set for $200.

[00:47:30]I'm still working on the magnet.

[00:48:14]Matthew, huh? She got what I need. That's what I like.

[00:48:46]I don't know.

[00:48:50]Some of us get treated well and some other treated hard That's what I learned. I don't see the bus.

[00:49:30]I just knew my up.

[00:49:57]I wouldn't say we were doing something and I said my mom loser can't You win.

[00:50:20]I'm taught how to win. You taught me how to win. She better learn how to win on her own.

[00:50:45]She like I knew that he I want to see this really All this all this life is not easy.

[00:52:02]We know you know if I do I just want to thank all pleasure to have all this out there.

[00:52:49]Everybody stop.

[00:53:07]>> And now you see why I said he had to go last. Right. Absolutely. And the way you do it is the same way that I've done it and many others. one day at a time.

[00:53:20]Our CM Franklin choir is coming forth now to give us another selection.

[00:53:27]After that, I'll come forth with word.

[00:53:30]Oh, I'm sorry. After that is the acknowledgements and the obituary reading by Sister Sharon Wright.

[00:53:38]Um followed by the eulogy and we'll continue on. Amen. Amen.

[00:53:50]Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

[00:53:54]Our deedant was married to a great man named Deacon Gregory Fields. And I believe he's the happiest man anywhere.

[00:54:04]But his bride made it through the gate.

[00:54:06]And it was he that would sing this song.

[00:54:09]One of his sister's favorite God is. So, as the son of saying, let's turn this into a celebration for a great woman.

[00:54:19]Yeah.

[00:54:31]>> Yeah.

[00:54:38]Hey God, GOD is my everything.

[00:54:45]might >> I ever my sorrow.

[00:54:54]>> Yeah. He's my hope.

[00:54:56]>> He's my hope for the Lord.

[00:54:59]Hey, he's my body.

[00:55:20]mighty >> I am everything.

[00:55:31]>> I am I am everything.

[00:55:34]>> Don't you know God is >> I am my joy.

[00:55:43]Hey, he's my rock.

[00:55:46]>> He's my rock. My rock. He's my rock.

[00:55:51]>> He's my WE might >> You can call on God.

[00:56:13]Mighty everything might everything I ever >> He's my joy.

[00:56:32]>> My joy in sorrow.

[00:56:35]>> Say he's my hope >> for tomorrow.

[00:56:38]>> For tomorrow.

[00:56:39]>> Don't you know? Don't you know? Don't you know he's all right? Now we >> might go >> you can call on >> God say I am everything my Everything.

[00:57:12]>> My everything.

[00:57:13]>> My everything.

[00:57:15]>> My everything.

[00:57:16]>> He's my hope.

[00:57:17]>> My everything.

[00:57:18]>> Hope for tomorrow.

[00:57:21]He's my conquer.

[00:57:23]When I'm in sorrow, >> everything.

[00:57:26]>> He's a lawyer in the courtroom.

[00:57:28]>> Everything.

[00:57:28]>> He's a doctor in the s in the middle. In the middle of a wheel.

[00:57:36]>> MY BIRD.

[00:57:38]MY heavy Lord Jer he'll supply your need. He's my burden.

[00:57:48]THEY MY nephil my mother my brother. Yeah. He my sh my God. My God been with me. Every day I was born. Yeah. Say he's my prayer keeper. YEAH. MY BURDEN THERE.

[00:58:13]KEEP MY HEAVY heavy heavy Lord.

[00:58:16]He pick me up WHEN I AM DOWN. YEAH. He my feet on solid ground. Yeah. He's my hope.

[00:58:27]>> My everything >> and he's my peace. Yeah. My everything.

[00:58:34]My everything. Yeah. He picked me up.

[00:58:38]Hey, when I was lost. Hey, I went on the job. Hey, take off my Hey, my everything.

[00:58:48]>> My everything.

[00:58:50]>> My everything. Everything.

[00:58:53]>> My He will everything >> in the middle of a wheel.

[00:58:58]>> Everything.

[00:58:59]>> Hey, He's everything. Yeah. He's a God that heal.

[00:59:08]He's there in everything.

[00:59:11]He'll be your sister. He'll be your friend.

[00:59:17]God will keep you from the beginning.

[00:59:21]Hey, he's everything.

[00:59:24]He's everything.

[00:59:26]He's everything.

[00:59:28]Yeah. He's everything.

[00:59:39]Oh yes, >> I am everything.

[00:59:58]Yes, God.

[01:00:03]>> He's everything.

[01:00:05]>> Yeah, he is.

[01:00:10]>> My everything.

[01:00:11]>> Yes, he is.

[01:00:13]>> Sister Sharon Wright is going to come forth now to read acknowledgement in the orbituary. Thank you.

[01:00:27]To God be the glory for the great things he has done and indeed he has done a great thing. Pastor Franklin protocol has already be been established.

[01:00:40]The family would like to thank Reverend Ayana L. Franklin and the church family of Ray of Hope Baptist Church, the CM Franklin Ensemble, and Dr. Daisy Franklin for her words of encouragement.

[01:00:57]Roz Gaskins for her continuous support during this difficult time. The family would also like to thank everyone for all of the kind words of encouragement and comfort expressed while we navigate the heartbreak.

[01:01:19]In lie of the many many cards that the family has received, they would like to acknowledge just a few to represent all. Your father knows exactly what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6 and 8.

[01:01:42]Asking him to help when the path seems unclear to bring reassurance. He's always be near to show you each promise he made will come true. Praying and all things he'll carry you through.

[01:02:02]God's presence.

[01:02:04]May you find comfort for God is near to walk with you through this time of loss.

[01:02:12]May you find peace, for God is near to care for your heart's deepest need. May you find hope, for God is near to assure you of his unfailing love in the uncertain days ahead. Karen and Dr. Daisy Franklin, I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will hold on to you.

[01:02:44]Isaiah 41 and10.

[01:02:49]God cares about all you're going through. He knows your needs. He sees your struggles. And even now, he's acting on your behalf. He's not going to stop working. And I'm not going to stop praying.

[01:03:08]Roz and Tom Gaskins praying for you and the loss of your mom.

[01:03:16]There will be things that trigger tears and things that bring laughter.

[01:03:25]Things that you never expected, but they gently remind you of all the wonderful details that made life with your mom so precious. Love and Queen's Chapel United Methodist Church, Beltsville, Maryland, in loving memory of Mother Nina Wlette Fields.

[01:03:58]For we know that when this tent we live in, our body here on earth, is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in. A home he himself made which will last forever. Second Corinians 5 and one.

[01:04:22]Whereas in the wise providence of the almighty God, he has brought to you a close the mortal life of your beloved mother, Nenah Wlette V, the pastor, first lady, officers, and members of Queen's Chapel United Methodist Church, Beltsville, Maryland, prayerfully find it befitting to express our support and prayers to Craig Wlette during the homecoming of your beloved mother. We recommend you both to God our father who knows best and never make mistakes.

[01:05:09]Therefore, be it resolved that we bow in humble submission to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ and find the family to be encouraged by this poem.

[01:05:27]When tomorrow starts without me and I'm not here to see if the sun should rise and find your eyes filled with tears for me. I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today while thinking of the many things we didn't get to say. I know how much you love me as much as I love you. And each time you think of me, I know you'll miss me, too. When tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart.

[01:06:10]But every time you think of me, I'm right there in your heart.

[01:06:17]Therefore, be it further resolved that we rest in the knowledge that one day we will be united with your mother Nenah.

[01:06:29]Again, enjoy and the fullness of God's tender mercy. May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

[01:06:47]Prayerfully submitted Reverend Dr. Will and Lady Sonia Butler and the Queen's Chapel Church Map Ray of Hope Baptist Church, the Miracle Church, 30,000 Parkside Drive.

[01:07:06]Isaiah 40 and31 says, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint. Whereas almighty God has called our dear member, Sister Nina Fields, from this earthly home to eternal rest.

[01:07:38]Reverend Ayana L. Franklin officers and the entire Ray of Hope membership extend their profound sympathy and God's blessings to the family.

[01:07:52]Certainly an empty and irreplaceable space will forever exist in our hearts. But be it resolved that God knows and shares your grief today. and he promised you you will see her again. Revelations 21 and4 tells us, "God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.

[01:08:26]Sister Fields loved her church, her pastors, and was faithful in her attendance, her giving, and her service until her illness. She proved her love for God by serving on the mass, the CM Franklin inspirational choir, the ensemble, the mass choir, and the drama ministry. Truly, she will be missed by the entire Ray Hope Baptist Church and by all who knew and loved her. Love and death are a part of life.

[01:09:05]But there's something beyond tears and loss. There is always hope. We can comfort one another with the hope of the resurrection and a future reunion.

[01:09:19]The Lord has promised to prepare a place in heaven above, a home where we will always be with him and those we love. Be it resolved that a copy of this resolution be given to the Fields family and a copy kept on record at Ray of Hope Baptist Church sorrowfully submitted the Ray of Hope Baptist Church. Reverend Ayanna L. Franklin Pastor Minister Clifton Hogrove Chair Deacon Board.

[01:10:01]But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

[01:10:18]Against such things there is no law.

[01:10:22]Galatians 5:22 through 23.

[01:10:29]Nina Wlette Fields, born Joyce Mildred Nina Ly on April 21st, 1951 in Baltimore, Maryland to the late Dolores Harrington and Matthew Li. She departed this life on April 22nd, 2026 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Nina was educated in the Baltimore City public school system and graduated from Dunbar High. She married her teenage sweetheart, Marshall Wlette.

[01:11:13]And from this union were born two children, Craig and Michelle.

[01:11:21]A gifted and hardworking woman, Nenah worked as a forklift operator at Bethlehem Steel. She excelled in sales as an encyclopedial salesperson and later as a top insurance agent with Western and Southern.

[01:11:41]Alongside her close alongside her close friend Arlene Washington, she also created handpainted apparel designs that became widely known throughout Baltimore in the 1980s.

[01:12:01]In 1984, she graduated at the top of her class from John's Hopkins School of Radiology and went on to manage the radiology department at East Baltimore Medical Center for more than 20 years before later working at Advanced Radiology until her retirement.

[01:12:26]Nina shared a lifelong love with Gregory Fields, whom she married in 1993.

[01:12:36]Their marriage lasted for 30 years until his passing in 2023.

[01:12:45]The two joined Grail of Hope Baptist Church and remained faithful and devoted members of the church. Beyond her accomplishments, Nenah will be remembered most for her warmth, humor, creativity, and unwavering loyalty. She loved poetry, arch, and learning new skills, never allowing obstacles to limit her. A devoted mother, sister, grandmother, and friend, Nenah inspired those around her through her strength, kindness, and resilience.

[01:13:32]Nenah shared a close relationship with her former sister-in-law, Darlene Felder.

[01:13:41]She had an especially close bond with her sister and lifelong best friend Linda Harden.

[01:13:53]Even during her illness, Nenah never forgot the love and protection they shared.

[01:14:01]Nina was preceded in death by her beloved husband Gregory Fields, mother Dolores Harrington, father Matthew Lyall and nephew slashson Jerome Harden Jr.

[01:14:20]She leaves to cherish her memory her children's Craig Nathaniel Wlette, Trina Wlette and Michelle Wlette Allison Damon Allison her sister Linda Harden Jerome Harden senior niece daughter Angel Harden honorary daughter Tiffany Griffin honorary son Anton Jones sister-in-law Elizabeth Evans. Grandchildren Tama Wlette, India Wlette, Asia Wilson, Paris Wlette, Delin Allison, and Sierra Wulette.

[01:15:06]One great grandson Anton, niece Andrea Stewart, great nephew Montre Harden, great nieces J. Hardy, Aaron Harden, and Ava Harris, and a host of loving family members and friends.

[01:15:28]Mommy, how do you say goodbye to a mother held so dear, who never made us fight to be seen or strained to feel you near. From your womb into your arms, we felt both safe and sure.

[01:15:50]You filled our world with wonder and light. Your love so deep and pure. You gave us every part of you. Your wisdom, heart and soul. We never doubted your endless love. You made our spirits whole. We know this pain will soften with time. Though it feels so still, just to know we loved you more than words. We always have and always will.

[01:16:24]There isn't a such thing as a per perfect parent, but is a beautiful thing when your children think you are.

[01:16:34]Mommy, we are completely convinced you were sheer perfection. God knew he didn't have to make us rich, thin, or powerful.

[01:16:47]He just had to give us you. Lovingly submitted Craig and Michelle to my dear sister.

[01:17:00]As I sit here contemplating what to say and how to express my words, I hear your voice saying, "Get it done."

[01:17:13]You know me better than I know myself, so I will just get this done.

[01:17:21]As children, we didn't have much, but we had a loving mother who instilled in us the true meaning of love and togetherness.

[01:17:33]Treat each other with kindness and protect each other. She instilled a bond within us that was never broken.

[01:17:43]When you bear children, they became my children.

[01:17:50]When I had children, they became your children.

[01:17:56]As we became adults, we looked after our mother in any way we could, making sure that she always felt wanted and loved.

[01:18:07]There was nothing that she couldn't ask of her girls. Sure, we had some rough times and some good times, but we fiercely loved one another and our bond was never broken.

[01:18:25]I will always remember the times we shared and how you could lift me up as no other could. There were times when I faltered and you with that perfect knowledge always knew what to say to bring me back to reality.

[01:18:48]I sit here crying quiet and sometimes loud tears because I do miss you. There is a pain in my heart that I know will never heal.

[01:19:06]I just can't get it out of my head that I have lost my one and only sibling, my best friend and confidant.

[01:19:18]But God perceived that you were getting tired, so he took you home.

[01:19:25]I just love love love you. Tell mama I did my best. Tell Jerome that we love and miss him and tell Gregory that he is truly missed. As someone once said, Alzheimer's may fade memories, but it can never erase the love. Lovingly submitted, your sister, Nandanda, don't cry for me.

[01:20:01]I am sitting on my throne. It is the gift that God gave to me the moment he called me home.

[01:20:11]My soul is free to travel as much as I like to roam because the body is only temporary. It was given to me as alone.

[01:20:23]So rest assured, my family, as I sit upon my throne, the Lord fulfilled his promise the day he called me home.

[01:20:44]Amen. Amen. Amen. Let's continue to give the Lord some praise in this house and continue to encourage this family. Oh, what a time that we are continuing to celebrate Sister Nina and hearing all of how magnificent and beautiful that she was. The CM Franklin Ensemble is coming forth with one final selection.

[01:21:13]Come on. Y'all got two minutes. No, I'm kidding.

[01:21:18]Kidding. Not kidding. I know.

[01:21:48]Oh my god.

[01:21:59]I put it all in his hand.

[01:22:02]All of the I put it all in. All my burdens.

[01:22:12]If I had a question, I put it all.

[01:22:17]Yes, I put it all.

[01:22:21]I put it all in his hand.

[01:22:30]All in his head. I put it all in his hand.

[01:22:36]All in his head. I put it all in his hand. All of my brother.

[01:22:45]If I had a question, I put it all.

[01:22:51]If I put it on, I put it on. Yeah.

[01:23:04]All in all, all of my burden Papa Never mind.

[01:23:49]All of my it put it all All in his hand. I put it all in his hand. All of my problems.

[01:24:28]If I had a question, I put it all.

[01:24:33]Yes. I put it all.

[01:24:37]I put it all in his hand.

[01:24:42]Yeah.

[01:24:45]Whatever the problem, I put it all in his hand. I know that you put it all in his hand or that I put it all in his hand.

[01:25:08]I put it all in. No matter my way or the master of their home, I put it all in.

[01:25:21]>> Yes, I put it all.

[01:25:24]I put it all in his hand.

[01:25:32]Whatever.

[01:25:33]>> Whatever the problem, I put it on.

[01:25:39]>> Whatever the problem, I put it over.

[01:25:46]>> Whatever the problem, I put it on his face. I know that I put it on his I put it all in his or that.

[01:26:08]I put it all in his hand.

[01:26:11]This or that.

[01:26:14]I put it all in his hand.

[01:26:18]This, this, or that.

[01:26:21]I put it all in his hand.

[01:26:24]This, this, this, or that.

[01:26:27]I put it all in his hand.

[01:26:31]Check for that.

[01:26:33]I put it all in his hand.

[01:26:38]For that, I put it all in his hand.

[01:26:44]For that, >> I put it all in his hand. No matter how great or small, he's the master of them all.

[01:27:01]Put it all.

[01:27:02]>> It all it >> Hallelujah.

[01:27:27]So glad that we can put it all in the master's hands.

[01:27:32]Well done. Well done. Well done. So glad to see you up there, Sister Linda.

[01:27:38]Amen. Amen. Amen.

[01:27:44]Let us pray. Dear gracious and heavenly father, we come just still blessing your name, Lord, for you are worthy to be praised. Oh God, you have called home your loved one.

[01:27:57]Sister Nina feel Lord this family grieavves in these moments dear heavenly father but you are a comforter great provider and a promiseke keeper and you have promised us night doesn't last that joy will come and in each of those night seasons you are still there.

[01:28:37]So Lord, as we continue to honor and celebrate the life of Sister Fields, God, we ask that you be in the midst of this service, Lord.

[01:28:49]Continue to pour out your blessings of comfort. We praise you now today, Lord.

[01:28:57]Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight. Oh Lord, my strength and my redeemer. In the precious name of Jesus, we say amen. Amen. And amen. Amen. Amen.

[01:29:10]Oh family, once again, on behalf of myself, Reverend Ayana Franklin, all of our ministers here at the Ray of Hope Baptist Church officers, leaders, and friends, we offer our deepest condolences. Sister Nenah was a part of this family just as much as uh the late Deacon Fields. Um, for those who don't know, don't remember, I wasn't always here in this role. I was just a young lady looking for a church, rolled by Ray of Hope Baptist Church, stopped in to visit and never left because of people like Deacon Fields who would get up during the greetings and tell the corniest dad jokes in the middle of church. Or Sister Nenah, who was so loving and lovely but yet so little and small. And when she smiled at you, it was like she had perfect teeth as well.

[01:30:11]And then she was creative. And so there were always these kind of performances, whether they were during service or they did them as part of a lunchon or tea.

[01:30:22]And they would do these plays and all kinds of other fabulous things. And so I was just captivated to stay here because it was so much going on. And so when I think about the 20 years that I have been here at the Ray of Hope Baptist Church, I count it all joy that I was able to know our members just as members and come to know them as family. And so as we go back on pictures, there she is at our anniversary banquetss, at my wedding, and even um a few about five years ago now, my installation banquet being just as beautiful as she wants to be and as stylish as she always was. And so on today family, you have done your mother proud.

[01:31:16]She was a beautiful woman. You are a beautiful family.

[01:31:24]And from what I always hear the um the stories and even with Deacon Fields, I'm telling you, there has got to be um some special moments within this family. I mean some special art moments of just laughter, stories, travels, um all kinds of things because if what we got at church was just a little bit of it, I can only imagine what was happening in the home. All right.

[01:31:57]So as God has laid on our hearts Galatians 5:22 that you have put so lovingly in this obituary. But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and against such things there is no law. Everything you share today represents Sister Nina as exhibiting the fruits of that spirit.

[01:32:26]But on today, I do wish to lift up how creative and artistic and she was. And so I'm going to go from the standpoint creatively created, creatively created. And I tell you, it is only in these moments that I come to find out or when I'm visiting members when they are in the hospital that the name that we've come to know is not their real name.

[01:32:59]Yeah. I've shown up many times and I'm like, "Oh, can I see Sister Tiny, but it's Yodora?" Right. We got a Miss Liz, but it's really Lillian. Right. Exactly.

[01:33:13]So, we've got a Miss Nina that we've loved. Who's really Joyce?

[01:33:18]All right.

[01:33:21]Sister Joyce, Nenah, Mildred, La Fields, all five names. Beautiful. But we know her as Sister Nenah. And sometimes there are some people whose lives cannot simply be described with just ordinary words. Their lives are too colorful, too bold, too meaningful to layer with simple language. Joyce, Nina, Mildred, La Field. See, as you know, she needed five names to capture all of who she was. Lovingly though known as Nenah. She is one of those people. So today, we do not merely sit and mourn or have grief for a beautiful woman who was blessed to live 75 years, but we celebrate her as a masterpiece created creatively by God himself. For the Bible tells us in Psalms 139, "For you created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well. And the works that speak for Sister Nenah let us know that she was fearfully and wonderfully made. We know this full well. This scripture reminds us that God is not only creator, but he is an artist. Before Nenah ever painted what we have known and learned about the apparel that she painted back in the 80s, before she ever became a forklift operator, before she sold encyclopedias and insurance, before she managed a radiology department, before she became a wife, a mother, sister, grandmother, and friend, God had already painted her life with divine divine intention when you study art. And note that I didn't study art. I don't have an artistic bone in my body, right? Maybe a little bit, but not much. But I don't have enough to go paint clothes and sell it, right? But she did. But when you do study and learn about art, man, this is how you know God is an artist in his creation. Because in the study of art there is what there is what is known as seven essential elements.

[01:35:56]Seven essential elements. And we know seven to be God's number for perfection.

[01:36:03]There's line, there's shape, there's form, there's color, there's value, there's texture and space. So today I believe every one of those elements can help us understand the beautiful masterpiece for which sister Nina was.

[01:36:22]Lines lines the direction of her life.

[01:36:26]In art, line creates movement. It guides the eye and tells the story of where something is going and where it begins and where it ends. Nah's life was a line of perseverance and faith. She was born in Baltimore 1951 to the late Dolores Harrington and Matthew Laus. She walked through life with determination and resilience. Even when seasons changed, relationships shifted and hardships appeared. Nah kept moving forward. Her line was not broken.

[01:37:01]She graduated high school. She worked hard, raised her children, built a career, survived any heartbreak, endured seasons of illness. And guess what?

[01:37:11]Through every chapter of her life, she testifies, "I may bend, but my line is not broken." God drew her story with purpose. Then you have shape. Shape is what gives art definition and recognition. Without any shape, you can't distinguish one object from another. Nah had a distinct shape on her life. She was intelligent, creative, elegant, strong willed, warm-hearted, funny, cute, little, not a little elf.

[01:37:45]She was petite and beautiful and loyal.

[01:37:49]She was uniquely Nenah. You could see her shape in terms of how God shaped her and the way that she carried herself, in her smile and in her laughter, and clearly on the way that she loved on her children, family, and friends. She was gifted in many areas. She was brilliant in her career as a radiologist. She was respected in the East Baltimore Medical Center and Medical Field. And yet, with all of her accomplishments, her greatest identity was not based in any of these titles. It was in how she made people feel. Nenah had the kind of presence that clearly left fingerprints on each of your hearts. her line, her shape and now form. The depth.

[01:38:41]Art gets dimension from its form. It takes something flat and gives it depth.

[01:38:49]That means nah wasn't superficial. She wasn't just surface. She had depth.

[01:38:56]Anybody can smile when life is easy. But depth reveals your character when things become difficult. Nah survived her storms even after her first marriage.

[01:39:09]God would give her a second chapter in her life where she would marry the late Deacon Gregory Field. In a time that will last almost 30 years until he was called home to glory. Nah continued to build, grow, love, and achieve. And even in grief, she remained full of grace.

[01:39:30]And even during her long battle with Alzheimer's, though memories may have faded, love is what sustained. That's where depth comes from. That is form.

[01:39:42]That is strength. Only created by the artist of our God. Line, shape, form.

[01:39:49]Then there's color. Color is what brings emotion to art. It's what attracts us to it. And there was one thing that you all shared about Sister Nina. Oh, she brought color to the situation. She brought color to the world. She was creative long before the creator uh before anyone knew of her creativity. In the 1980s, alongside it says her dear friend Miss Washington, she then she also created handpainted apparel. Aaron, do you have any of that apparel? You said you got some things of hers, right?

[01:40:29]Nope. None of the hand painted things.

[01:40:32]Okay. Who has them? Oh, they said Craig had them. She painted that She painted that jacket.

[01:40:41]No, no, just just joking. Humor adds color. Generosity adds color. Wisdom adds color. Loyalty adds color. Even now, many of you can still hear her voice, remember her smile, replay moments that still make you laugh. That is because colorful people never truly leave us. Their color remains on our soul. Line, shape, form, color, value, the worth of her life. In art, value refers to light and darkness.

[01:41:22]And Nah, like many of us, experienced both. She knew joyful seasons, painful seasons, seasons of suffering and seasons of gain, seasons of health and seasons of sickness. But here is the beauty in God's artistry. Even the dark places have purpose. Alzheimer's may have touched her mind, but it never erased her value. The world sometimes measures our worth by productivity, our mental ability and capabilities.

[01:41:58]Oh, but God the creator measures the worth of our heart and what we've done for others. Nah never stopped being valuable because she never stopped being a child of God. She never stopped being valuable because she loved the Lord and he loved her. She never stopped being valuable because she planted seeds of love in the heart of each and every one of her family members and they loved her back. She never lost value because even when her memory faded, you all remembered for her. Her life mattered, her presence mattered, her loved mattered, and the evidence of her value is sitting right here in the room today.

[01:42:46]lines, shape, form, color, value, texture.

[01:42:55]Texture is what gives art feeling. And Sister Nah's life had texture. She knew what it meant to work hard, to love deeply, to rebuild, to care for others, to keep going when life became difficult. Her hands carry texture because her hands were on the plow. Her hands carry texture because they could create things. Her hands carry texture because she knew how to comfort her son and daughter when they needed her most.

[01:43:28]Her hands carried texture because she could help her family and friends. And one of the most beautiful textures in her life was the bond she also shared with her sister, her best friend, Linda.

[01:43:43]None girl is what I'm going to call you.

[01:43:47]That was no ordinary sisterhood.

[01:43:51]Yeah, that was a color purple kind of sisterhood.

[01:43:55]The kind that'll call your sister back deep from across the ocean, no matter where she is. that kind of sisterhood that understood that without saying a word, if something was wrong, we ain't got to speak about it, we can just look at each other and know that it's going to be all right. That kind of sisterhood, that kind of love, that kind of texture that only sisters could endure. Even during her illness, love remained recognizable because real love leaves texture on the soul.

[01:44:31]line, shape, form, color, value, texture, and finally space. The legacy she leaves behind. In art, space is what remains around the masterpiece. It is what allows the work to breathe and continue to speak even after the artist is gone. Today we recognize that Sister Nina leaves a space, a space at the dinner table, a space at family gatherings, a space in the conversation, a space in the car ride, a space sitting in the living room, a space in the hearts of her children, grandchildren, sister, nieces, nephews, and friends.

[01:45:27]But note that space is intentional around a work of art. And space is not emptiness.

[01:45:35]Space is just the room to remember. It is filled with memories, filled with laughter, filled with lessons, filled with love, filled with imagination. And while we grieve the absence of her physical presence, we thank God that love does not die. The masterpiece may leave the gallery. Oh, but the impact of the art remains forever. See, we understand that for an artist, it is customary for them to inscribe their name somewhere on the work of art as to identify who the original masterpiece belongs to. I remember before my daughter could write her name and when she would come home with her little art pieces, she didn't have her name on it, but sometimes it would be her handprint down in the corner. She didn't know how to write her name, but she knew how to get enough paint on her hand to put her handrint on the corner so that I would always remember who was the artist out of the three children that it belonged to the little one. We are so glad that God signs and marks every work of art.

[01:46:49]He inscripts his name on the heart of every believer. But not only does he inscript his name, he places his hand right upon us. We have a mark as the children of God. We have a mark as a masterpiece. We have a mark for those who are creatively created by the master. We have a mark that lets us know that we are unique and a one of a kind.

[01:47:15]We may be here in this gallery known as earth for a limited time. Oh, but the master artist is coming back to reclaim us to himself. And those who know the Lord are marked by the Lord and bear his handprint and bear his signature. The artist has reclaimed what originally and always belonged to him because she was creatively created by the master. May every beautiful brush stroke that painted the beautiful life of sister Nenah forever bring beauty, joy and love to your lives. So today as we say farewell to Joyce Nenah Mildred Lo Fields, a woman creatively created by God, a masterpiece of resilience, a portrait of loyalty, a canvas filled with strength, intelligence, humor, creativity, and love. Oh, she done laid her brushes down. Thank God that the struggle is over, the suffering has ended, and heaven now rejoices. May we honor sister Nina not only with our tears but with your lives. May you continue to know that you too are creatively created by the master. You are wonderfully made by God. That you too are a piece of work. And I'm not just talking about a piece of work cuz you act up sometimes. But you are truly gallery worthy. You are created engraved with the master's signature. He has placed his handprint upon you. And may you continue to honor, Sister Nina, who was creatively created by the master.

[01:49:03]Perhaps there's someone here today who doesn't know how to access where Sister Nina is.

[01:49:16]You've heard about how wonderful her life was, how filled with joy and beauty.

[01:49:24]You've heard about the joy that she brought to family and friends.

[01:49:31]And perhaps you've been questioning, well, how is that so?

[01:49:36]Considering all that she may have gone through, how is that so when life is always filled with so many uncertainties? How's that so? When she lost a husband, how's that so? When she had a sickness that so unfair, how's that so?

[01:49:55]Because she loved the Lord.

[01:49:57]And when you have a faith, there's a peace that surpasses all understanding.

[01:50:05]When you have faith, you understand that you've got victory.

[01:50:13]that no matter what it looks like on this side of Jordan, hold there's a glorious place and only those who love the Lord shall have a home in glory.

[01:50:33]And there's only one way there.

[01:50:37]You may say, "Oh, I understand the creator.

[01:50:40]I understand God.

[01:50:44]But if you don't know his son, you're on the wrong road.

[01:50:53]She knew what the scripture said in John 3:16.

[01:50:59]For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

[01:51:12]So right now if there is someone who wishes to give their life to Jesus Christ that you may have a peace that surpasses all understanding. It doesn't mean that your life your days might not have trouble. Oh trouble will come because trouble is in the world. We are sinners saved by grace.

[01:51:34]We invite you to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Oh, because family already knows where Sister Nah is. She knew how to get there.

[01:51:45]Amen. Amen. Amen. Family and friends, continue to encourage this family right now. Let them hear your love in the room this afternoon.

[01:51:56]May you make a joyful noise one more time.

[01:52:01]We are going to ask that our funeral directors come forth to give us um instruction for how we are to depart from this place after which I will give the benediction. We ask that you do move expeditiously once they give their announcements and the protocol for how we are to move for we do have a time in which we need to be to the interament.

[01:52:22]Amen.

[01:52:28]God on today for the wonderful celebration of life that has taken place. I want to certainly thank pastor and this wonderful church family for your kindness and consol.

[01:52:36]If it is your desire to continue with the family in this celebration of life, it will conclude at the Garrison Forest Veteran Cemetery. We have a 1:45 p.m.

[01:52:45]appointment. So, if you love this family, I need you to go directly to your car. Um, line up, turn on your hazard lights and your headlights and follow close as we depart this place going to the bare round. Once we are ready to recess, we'll need the assistance of a few to come forward and help bear the floor arrangements. And those wishing to serve as paulbears, please meet at the hearse to serve in that capacity. God bless you.

[01:53:08]Amen. Thank you. May we stand for the benediction.

[01:53:22]Now may we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. And the church said, "Amen."

[01:53:30]Amen. Amen.

[01:54:14]It's over.

[01:54:18]my way.

[01:54:26]at the show.

[01:54:30]My way for me.

[01:54:49]Hallelujah.

[01:54:54]Fly away.

[01:55:01]Fly away. Oh, glory.

[01:55:13]Hallelujah.

[01:55:14]By my way.

[01:55:25]Fly away. Oh, glory away.

[01:55:37]Hallelujah.

[01:55:43]Fly away.

[01:55:49]Fly away.

[01:55:51]Oh glory when I hallelujah away.

[01:56:43]Yeah.

[01:57:04]Where are you going?

[01:57:09]Where Where I am going?