A couple months ago, our family said good night to a lady of excellence, who after 90 plus very full years on this earth transitioned to her eternal home. Our beloved Aunt Thelma was a godly woman full of grace, class, and dignity – a woman of excellence well respected in her family, community, and church. She set the bar high yet reached down to bring others up, desiring that we all chase excellence.

Everything she did was excellent. She spoke with excellence, dressed with excellence, and conducted herself with excellence. She modeled what excellence looked like in every area of her life.

She won her husband’s heart and remained his bride far beyond his death. She honored him in life and in death, keeping his name and accepting his family as her own – to which we are beneficiaries.  Her deep love for him was evident. There was no one who could or would take his place. Perhaps longing for the day they might see each other again, she kept a sweet photo of them by her nightstand up until her transition.

Though she did not have any children of her own, she watched over her family, taking great pride in her nieces and nephews, and depositing imperishable jewels in their lives along the way. She became one of our biggest supporters and always had an encouraging word to offer. Her family was important to her, whether through blood or marriage, family was family.

Aunt Thelma was the type of woman you never caught off her game. She was intentional and brought her best to everything her did. She was a well-kept woman, who believed in always looking your best. She was always stylish and put together, she had to look good even to pick up her mail.

It wasn’t her appearance or accomplishments that made her the woman of excellence she was. It was the love of the Lord that she carried in her heart. It was her love for Him that motivated her life and service of excellence.

The day she transitioned, my mother and I had the opportunity to have one last visit. My mom looked over with tears in her eyes, smiling and said, “I am happy for Aunt Thelma.” – a statement that can only be understood when you have a relationship with Jesus. We know her works were praised at the gates of heaven, when she heard her Father say, “Well done my good and faithful daughter.”

We honor you Aunt Thelma for being a woman of virtue. A woman of excellence.

Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.

– Proverbs 31:29