Yesterday, we said farewell to Doug Riley.
I'm not sure of the exact number, but there were several hundred people at Doug's funeral at the CrossPoint Community Church in Gadsden, AL. And, from what I gathered from those who attended visitation on Wednesday night, there were several more hundred who attended that. I do know that at one point, the waiting time in the visitation line exceeded two and a half hours.
Danny Riley told me he wished Doug could have known how many friends he had.
Somehow, I think God let Doug know.
The service began with the playing of "Call Me Gone" (one of Doug's favorite songs) by the Hinsons. Words from Dr. Bruce Word, Senior Pastor of CrossPoint Community Church were next as he used Doug's first name, letter by letter, to illustrate the kind of man Doug Riley was. "D" portrayed Doug's dedication to his family, his career and more importantly, to his Lord. "O" proved to the world that Doug was open to the leading of the Holy Spirit in his life. "U" demostrated the unique qualities of Doug and "G" pointed out that Doug was a Godly man.
As Dr. Word stepped down from the pulpit, Jason Selph of the Kingsmen led a choir of the Southern Gospel community members in the congregation. Jason sang the opening words of "How Beautiful Heaven Must Be" and he was soon joined by fellow members of the Kingsmen, as well as members of the Booth Brothers, Jeff & Sheri Easter, the Florida Boys, the Dixie Echoes, the Inspirations, the Down East Boys, the Isaacs, the Hoppers, the Crabb Family, the Monument Quartet, Hope's Call, the Palmetto State Quartet, Aaron Wilburn, the Nelons, Poet Voices, Crossway, Amy Lambert, Young Harmony, the Galloways, the Mark Trammell Trio, Brian Free & Assurance, Ivan Parker, the Mike LeFevre Quartet, Second Mile and many others.
Rev. Larry Sumrall, Doug's pastor, spoke next and he remembered with great kindness the man who kept telling everyone his pastor looked like Hank Williams, Jr. As he quoted First Corinthians, Chapter 13, verse 12, Rev. Sumrall reminded everyone that we only see this side of death - darkness created by sorrow. But, he continued, Doug is seeing the other side of death - the brightness of an eternal day filled with walks with God.
Gold City's "I'm Saved, I'm Sure, I'm Ready To Go" was played next and then Dr. Quinn Evans, long-time Riley family friend and Christian leader, told everyone about "Doug's Dash". The dash, he said, represented that line that stood between the date of Doug's birth and the date of Doug's death. He gleefully told about how Doug spent those years in his dash and then challenged everyone in the congregation to make the most of their own dash.
Dr. Evans' comments lead wonderfully into Doug's signature song, "Are You Ready?" At the request of the Riley family, an invitation was given for anyone who might need Salvation or wanted to rededicate their lives and it wasn't long before several people filled the altar.
Following the invitation, Jonathan Wilburn stepped to the pulpit to add his recollections of the man he considered as one of his closest friends. "Doug always had my back," he said. "When the going got tough, Doug was always there to encourage me and take care of me on the road. If I forgot something, Doug always came to the rescue." He shared several funny memories of his friend and then as he began to close, he told the congregation he had one more thing to do.
Not too long ago, country entertainer Darryl Worley recorded a song called "Everybody Whistle Dixie." After hearing the song the first time, Doug, according to Jonathan, pointed his finger at him and said "Promise me that if I die before you do, you'll make sure that song is played at my funeral."
For those of you not familar with the song, here are the words...
I have walked greener pastures
And I've made a lot of hay
I've gone fast and even faster
I've been lost and found my way
Got a whole lot out of livin', my simple southern life
Tried to do my share of givin', and I know my soul's all right
So, everybody whistle Dixie, when they lay me in the ground
When that cold wind comes to get me, I don't want nobody
standin' 'round sheddin' tears and feelin' sorry
'Cause I'm gone to see my God.
Everybody whistle Dixie
Let 'em lay me 'neath the sod
There's a peace of mind in knowin' that some things are meant to be
Like the way my age is showin' and that you were made for me
Like the sweet Savannah sunshine, and the Louisiana rain
Things that make this life worth living and keep a man from going insane
So. everybody whistle Dixie. when they lay me in the ground
When that cold wind comes to get me
I don't want nobody standin' 'round sheddin' tears and feelin' sorry
'Cause I'm gonna go to see my God
Hey everybody whistle Dixie
Let 'em lay me 'neath the sod
Lord, I love the land of cotton
Yeah, but someday I'll say goodbye
'Cause there's a better home awaitin'
Yeah, there's a mansion in the sky
Everybody whistle Dixie.
Oh when they lay me in the ground
When that cold wind comes to get me
Don't want nobody standin' 'round sheddin' tears and feelin' sorry
'Cause I'm gone to see my God
Let 'em lay me 'neath the sod
Yeah, everybody whistle Dixie
As the funeral directors began to move the casket up the aisle to the rear of the church, Jonathan fulfilled the promise.
Doug was buried in Crestwood Cemetery in Gadsden. Though the weather forecast had called for heavy rains during the day, the clouds did not loose their water until after the services were concluded.
In closing, I want to pass along something Doug's wife, Amy Jo, said to me as we stood at Doug's casket. She said she was touched by the overwhelming show of love that she had experienced from so many people during the past few days and that she knew Doug would want to tell everyone thank you himself. And then, she told me how much she appreciated all the kind words I had said about Doug.
Amy Jo, it was very easy to say those things.
You see, all I had to do was follow the script.
Doug, through the way he lived his life, had already written the words.
