Mrs. Wagner, an amazing woman, went home to be with her Lord and Savior today. Although I am sure I don't have enough words to show what she meant to our family, I will try.

I don't exactly remember the first time I met Alice, but I know she's taught, and given, my family so much. It was just a few weeks ago that her husband of 52 years, went to be with the Lord. As we remembered him and how sweet he was, we couldn't help but reflect on Miss Alice, too.

For those who may not have known her by name; she was the wonderful woman in the suit and hat every Sunday. She never wore pants, but she loved those moo moo dresses to relax in! When Alice was around; you knew it. She had an air about her that just drew your attention to her. The thing was, the attention was because she obviously had something that you wanted to be a part of…and that was her passion for Christ!

She was an original member of Green Valley Baptist Church; one of the few members who have been around longer than hubby and I! Each Sunday, she'd expect a hug while she planted a kiss on your cheek; and you needed to make sure you didn't wipe off the lipstick until she was out of sight! She was not afraid to shout out an "Amen!" or "Praise the Lord!" in the middle of a song or sermon. And she wasn't afraid to tell you exactly what she thought you ought to know!

During my childbearing years, she'd say to me, "You about done yet?"

When I was five months pregnant with our third child, she came up to me one Sunday and said,

"You pregnant again?"

I replied with a, "Yes, Miss Alice."

And laughed when she remarked, "Oh good! I thought you were just getting fat!"

That was B-boo. Miss Alice gave her some beautiful porcelain dolls when she felt B-boo was old enough to take care of them; and every once in a while, she'd ask, "Do you still have those dolls I gave you?"

One Christmas season we were in JC Penney and we came across a blue hat like Miss Alice would wear. B-boo refused to leave without it…and so the next week, Miss Alice got a new hat to wear with her blue suit!

There wasn't a Sunday that went by that she didn't ask how my family was doing and what she needed to pray for. She called while I was sick to check in with me even though her husband was sick himself. She'd check on me and update me on Moses.

Miss Alice would sometimes call and request our presence…and when Miss Alice asked you to do something, you didn't refuse! And if that meant driving over to her house to get something from her, you did it. She'd invite us into her home, the whole while talking and telling you what to do…and you loved it, because she was just that way.

I have many good memories of Miss Alice, but mostly, I remember the lessons she taught me. I was a new Christian when I met her, yet she never made me feel less when she was teaching me about her Lord. I was blessed to have her as my caller when we had the 24 hour prayer chain. She was scheduled to pray before me, so would call when she was done and update me on whatever it was that needed prayer. But she didn't stop there. She'd always insist on praying together before we hung up and I began my prayer time. I was afraid to pray in her presence…what if I messed up? But she simply stated, "Before we begin, we need to ask for forgiveness so the Lord can hear our prayers." And she'd pray. And you knew she meant every word of it.

Miss Alice was big on manners and taught me ways to properly do things.

Her faith was amazing; when she lost her leg, it didn't seem to faze her; she stayed strong.

When Moses died, she stood up there and praised the Lord and told us not to worry about her, because she had her Lord with her.

52 years of marriage.

This morning, I was surprised to hear the news that she'd gone home, too. But I praise the Lord, for her work is done here and she is able to praise Him in person.

I can just see her up there in her white suit, bossing the angels around; and I smile.

She was one of the great ones; and she will be missed.

And I am so glad to have known such a woman as she!