Celebrating a Life Well Lived

This post is #190 in a series ... Through this series of posts I plan to share our family's experiences during and following our 17-year-old daughter's year-long battle with brain cancer, which began in February of 2008. My desire is to process through the events of that period from the perspective that a decade of time has brought ... for myself, really. But if you'd like to follow along, you're welcome to join me.

March 1, 2009

Hannah's life was celebrated at First Baptist Church in Hot Springs on this date ten years ago.   We had two goals for the service -- to honor Hannah's life and to point people to Jesus.

I remember stepping into the church building feeling so very raw and exposed.  Even though Hannah's death was not a surprise, it was a shock, and I was very much still reeling from effects of that shock.  Walking down that long aisle to be seated in the front row was an incredibly surreal experience. 

The service began with Hannah's youth pastor, Donnie Burrow, singing an original song he wrote for Hannah. It was beautifully done, and so very special. Our pastor, Manley Beasley, then read the obituary and led in a prayer, followed by the Casting Crowns song "Praise You in the Storm", sung by Danny Baxter, our church's worship pastor.

Bethany and Brad each took a turn speaking in tribute to Hannah, followed by the Chris Tomlin song "I Will Rise", sung by our dear friend (and Hannah's ophthalmologist), Tommy Moseley.  I loved that he sang the entire song with a big smile on his face, clearly reveling in the fact that because Jesus had overcome and the grave was overwhelmed, Hannah had won the victory!

Our dear neighbor, and semi-retired pastor, Gerald "Tiny" Taylor, brought a message about the peace of God, and the service closed with a slide show of pictures of Hannah, and another prayer by Brother Manley.  The gospel was shared, and the hundreds of people in attendance heard it clearly, some of them perhaps for the first time.

I was so glad that Brad and Bethany each took the opportunity to speak that day.  Bethany was just fourteen years old, and it took a lot of courage for her to stand up before that huge crowd and speak from her heart, but she did it.  She talked about how she was now an only child and the depth of that loss, but she ended by declaring that we really didn't lose Hannah ... we knew exactly where she was.

Our goals for the service were accomplished, and we were pleased.

When the celebration service concluded, we all went to Hannah's high school cafeteria, where a dinner was served by friends from our Sunday School class.  So many members of our extended family had traveled across the country to be with us for this special day, and it was wonderful to have this opportunity to visit with them.

Hannah's obituary ...

Hannah Joy Sullivan

Hannah Joy Sullivan, age 17, entered Heaven on February

26, 2009, after a year-long battle with brain cancer. She was

born on October 22, 1991, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, to Brad and

Jill Sullivan. She attended Magnet Cove High School, where she

was junior class president and an honor student. She was a

member of Hot Springs Baptist Church, where she was an active

member of the youth group. She battled her cancer with grace

and strength, never complaining, and accepted her “storm” as an

opportunity to be a witness for Christ. We know that now, in

Heaven, she is more alive than ever before. 

Her family would like

to thank the staff of the Arkansas Children’s Hospital

Hematology/Oncology Clinic and the staff of St. Joseph’s Mercy

Clinic on Airport Road in Hot Springs for the wonderful care they

provided to Hannah over the past year.

Hannah is survived by her sister, Bethany; her parents, Brad

and Jill Sullivan; her grandparents, Charles and Nina Sullivan of

Van Buren, Arkansas, and Tom and Betty Persenaire of Mountain

Home, Arkansas; and a host of loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and

friends.

Visitation will be Saturday, February 28, from 6:00 to 8:00

p.m. at Hot Springs Baptist Church; and a celebration of her life

will be held on Sunday, March 1, at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist

Church of Hot Springs. There will be a private family burial on

Monday, March 2, at Mount Zion Cemetery in Briggsville,

Arkansas.

Arrangements are by Hot Springs Funeral Home.

I'd also like to share a poem which was included in the funeral program that day.  It was written by our school nurse, and it really captures our Hannah ...

Hannah, Beautiful Hannah

Hannah, beautiful Hannah,

with your big, bright smile

We know at first glance

You know who holds tomorrow

and who holds your hand.

The way you carry yourself

and respond to others 

shows us

You know who holds tomorrow 

and who holds your hand.

The way you lift others up

even in your hour of need 

shows us

You know who holds tomorrow

and who holds your hand.

Your reaction to all you have been through

at such a young age 

shows us

You know who holds tomorrow

and who holds your hand.

Your love for the Lord

and your confidence in His promises 

shows us

You know who holds tomorrow

and who holds your hand.

None of us know about tomorrow,

but if we know the Lord 

as our personal Savior as Hannah did

We can all know with confidence

Who holds tomorrow

and who holds our hand.

~Shawn GoodKnight, 2009