Thank You Larry Clements!

It’s almost been a week since Brother Larry went to be with the Lord. I’ve thought about what I’d say here some but all I’ve thought about are the memories, so here it goes:

Brother Larry came back to Pauline serving as the senior adult pastor around 2014 (I think). At the time I served on the search committee. I had to be out of town for work right as our committee was beginning the search. I’ll never forget the call from a fellow committee member and strong leader in Pauline Baptist Church. He said he had a conversation with Brother Larry and he had agreed to prayerfully consider it. You see Brother Larry had served as the lead pastor of Pauline for 20 years and we were excited for the possibility. Now fast forward he did come back to Pauline and just recently retired (again).

Now I’m sharing a bit of my story here. I’ll cover the part of the story where I was in rehab for 5 weeks coming soon. In rehab I’d do the therapy work, eat lunch, then take a nap after lunch before an evening visitor would come. You see this was all during the Covid-19 restrictions so visitors were limited to one per day in a few hours around supper. I’ll not forget the day. I was taken back to room after lunch and attempted a nap. I do not remember actually taking a nap but do remember being awake when there was a knock at my door (not at visiting hours). Brother Larry stuck his head in the door! We visited for a while then he had to head back south. After his visit was the scheduled visiting hours for the day. I wondered if I’d get another visitor that evening but did not figure I would since the restrictions on visitors. But much to my surprise my dad was able to come up that evening. You talk about a special day, two visitors (both role models) in one day. Just what I needed!

A little over a year ago Brother Larry invited me to a bible study he lead with several men from Pauline on Wednesdays at 5:30 AM. I’m so very thankful for the opportunity to study the word with Brother Larry and these men since.

Reading his obituary you can see the list of churches he’s served at plus all the places he went on missions. It’s pretty special to know he served our God since he was 17 and preached a sermon on the day he was called home.

Thank you Brother Larry for investing in me over the years!