From Charlie Gray:

One of my dearest friends said goodbye to his dad last week. He lived a great life of 95 years and left behind a wonderful family and a bounty of friends who loved and will miss him. He proudly served his country as a Seabee in the US Navy building infrastructure in combat zones. He later enjoyed a successful and fruitful civilian career in his home town in eastern NC.

I have fond memories as a youth growing up just down the road, always admiring the pristine and well kept landscape around his home. The grass was always cut with precision and the plants were always neatly trimmed. He was a sharp dressed man. His shirts always starched, his pants pleated and his boots always displaying a glistening shine. Speaking of shine, that was his nickname. All knew him as "Mr. Shine". The story goes that his grandmother first gave him that name because of his pleasant and outgoing personality.

Mr. Shine modeled the directive we find in Ephesians 6:4 to "bring up your children in the Lord’s discipline and instruction". My friend embraced many of his dad’s traits and characteristics. He went on to answer a call to the ministry and has been a blessing to my family. There is no greater responsibility than that of a parent. It is a divine accomplishment to leave good things "in" your children when you pass. That way, you continue to impact the world long after you are gone.

Thanks be to God for the life of Mr. Shine and for all the good things he has left behind.