I was truly humbled and awed today at the tribute
my church paid to one of our special DS children,
a man-child named Phillip William Ellis who was just
9 days shy of his 25th birthday when he passed on
the eve of Palm Sunday.
There were about 400 persons at his service, including
a 20 man contingent from the fire department where
he was honorary chief. Phillip grabbed the heart of
everybody he knew. It broke my heart to hear big
tough grown men choke up as they told of his delight
in their fire station.
I will remember him especially for the way he would
sing off key and about a beat behind in church or
when he would just hit the high spots of the Lord's
Prayer .... again about half a phrase behind. It did
not bother him one bit and lifted the hearts of us all.
Here is the tribute his family included on the service
bulletin:
"Phillip lived hard, played hard, and loved hard. He
took every moment to the maximum and knew no strangers. "
"Brought into this world with odds stacked
against him, Phillip not only succeeded in leading a
full and gracious life, but managed to touch every
life that has entered his. "
"Much more than a son, brother and friend to all
that knew him, he was an example of what a person should aspire to become. He will be remembered as a true angel on earth."
Yes, Phillip was an angel on earth and I know he is
singing with the angels in heaven, but not off-key
anymore.
God bless you all.
Charlie
my church paid to one of our special DS children,
a man-child named Phillip William Ellis who was just
9 days shy of his 25th birthday when he passed on
the eve of Palm Sunday.
There were about 400 persons at his service, including
a 20 man contingent from the fire department where
he was honorary chief. Phillip grabbed the heart of
everybody he knew. It broke my heart to hear big
tough grown men choke up as they told of his delight
in their fire station.
I will remember him especially for the way he would
sing off key and about a beat behind in church or
when he would just hit the high spots of the Lord's
Prayer .... again about half a phrase behind. It did
not bother him one bit and lifted the hearts of us all.
Here is the tribute his family included on the service
bulletin:
"Phillip lived hard, played hard, and loved hard. He
took every moment to the maximum and knew no strangers. "
"Brought into this world with odds stacked
against him, Phillip not only succeeded in leading a
full and gracious life, but managed to touch every
life that has entered his. "
"Much more than a son, brother and friend to all
that knew him, he was an example of what a person should aspire to become. He will be remembered as a true angel on earth."
Yes, Phillip was an angel on earth and I know he is
singing with the angels in heaven, but not off-key
anymore.
God bless you all.
Charlie
