Bella Vista Church of Christ
LIFELINES
Sept 18, 2002 Randall Caselman
In Memory: Vernice Roderick and George LeBar
Vernice Roderick passed from this life Monday, August 26th, at Bentonville Manor. Vernice was born April 9, 1906 in the Evening Star community southwest of Bentonville. She was the daughter of Lewis Shores and Essie Sears Shores. Vernice was a lifetime resident of the area. She married Lawrence Roderick July 22, 1929. He preceded her in death after 54 years of marriage. She is survived by three nephews, Don and Eddie Shores both of Cave Springs, and John Shores of Bentonville. Vernice was well known as a faithful member of the Bella Vista Church of Christ. She was also well known in the area for selling Tupperware, which she did for 57 years. Perhaps she was best known for her love of children, and her contribution to orphans homes and Christian schools in our brotherhood. Vernice loved to be with and support children in their spiritual pursuits.
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George LeBar passed from this life Sunday, September 8th at the Springdale Health and Rehabilitation Center at the age of 93. George was born August 3, 1909 in Kansas City, Kansas, the son of John and Katie Bauer LeBar. He was a resident of Kansas City for 62 years. George married Dorothy Mae Henry in 1929. They moved to Bella Vista in 1972. George was a faithful member of the Bella Vista Church of Christ. George worked for Phillips Petroleum Company for 38 years as a maintenance supervisor. He enjoyed bowling and golf with his family and friends. He was a hard worker in various projects in and around the church. He was proceeded in death by his wife Dorothy on November 5, 1987. He is survived by four sons: Tom LeBar of Orlando, Florida; James LeBar of Phoenix, Arizona; John Le Bar of Durham, North Carolina; and Jerry LeBar of Lenexa, Kansas. He is also survived by one sister, Elizabeth Croswaite of Kansas City, Kansas, as well as four grandsons., five great-grandsons, seven granddaughters and six great granddaughters.
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When the Son of Man comes in his glory... And all the angels with him... He will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him... And he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat... I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink... I was a stranger and you invited me in... I needed clothes and you clothed me... I was sick and you looked after me... I was in prison and you came to visit me." Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?" The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
Jesus was teaching here in Matthew 25 that our reward in heaven has a lot to do with how we treat one another--even those we may not know. In fact, He said that how we treat one another is how we treat Him. In the beginning when God said, "Let us make man in our own image," He seemed to be saying that there is a bit of His nature in each of us. So how we treat one another is really how we are treating God. The Apostle John taught that we have no right to say that we love God unless we love our fellowman.
George LeBar and Vernice Roderick understood this principle better than most of us. They didn't focus a lot of attention on the material things of this world, but rather upon the people of this world. They loved--and served--the Jesus in others, especially those less fortunate than themselves. This is smart reasoning, because while we cannot take our worldly things to heaven with us, we can take our good deeds done to others. Scripture says that not only will our good works
follow us, they will be
rewarded there.
If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward... When his righteous judgment will be revealed... God will give to each person according to what he has done... Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord... For they will rest from their labor... And their deeds will follow them.
Vernice had a loving heart. I wonder how much money she gave to our brotherhood's children's homes? I wonder how much money, time and energy she spent making things for Ozark Christian School while it was in existence? I wonder how many Tupperware items she sold to support missionaries around the world? I wonder how many fresh vegetables and canned goods we have all enjoyed because of her unselfish generosity? I wonder how much money she has given the Lord over the years? Vernice did not give from her riches, but from her poverty! She frequently did without in order to give to others. Indeed!... She gave the widow's mite.
The first time I caught a glimpse of George's heart was shortly after we came here in 1986. Dorothy's health had begun to fail, but George vowed to care for her until the end. George was a rough and tough man--a man's man--and no one expected him to do what he did. When it became impossible for Dorothy to do anything for herself, George was faithful to his vow. He cared for her at home with a love that few of us will ever understand, much less demonstrate. How many times did we witness him carrying her from the car to the building so she could enjoy another worship service, another time of fellowship with friends?
One cold frosty morning in 1992, George called and asked if I knew where Patrick, Arkansas, was? I did, and I wondered what he knew about Patrick. It is a little wide place in the road, just a Post Office and an old country store. George asked, "Can you take me there?" It turns out there was a couple whom George had been helping, who had moved to Patrick; he had heard that the lady was sick.
We went to Patrick. It is back in the sticks. We drove up and down the Main Fork of the White River for a couple of hours looking for this family. Finally, after getting directions from the Post Office, we walked for almost an hour in the woods. Then we found it: a camp fire with a pot of beans…an old pickup shell for a bedroom…a canvas lean-to for a living room…and a crude clothes line with ragged clothes hanging. We found the lady seriously ill. George took her to the doctor. He gave them money, food, clothes. He talked to social services about funds for medications.
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It matters not the kind of house we live in…the car we drive…the clothes we wear. What matters is the kind of heart we have. What matters is if we love and serve others.
I believe Vernice and George are enjoying their rewards today for the kind of hearts they had, for the cups of cold water they shared with others, for their lifting the burdens of the poor, for their supplying young children with food, clothing and shelter, for their serving the Jesus in their fellowman. I believe Vernice and George heard Jesus say
"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share in the Joys of your Lord... As often as you have done it to the least of these... You've done it unto Me."
RANDALL CASELMAN
