This is the update I have prayed that I would never have to send.
At around 8pm tonight (Friday, July 26), Will passed away.
I don't really know what to say. My heart feels like it has been ripped out and my world has stopped. Will is my love and will always be my love. I can't imagine life without him. The beauty and color of life seems to have gone with him.
William, thank you for loving me. Thank you for sharing the last 12 years of life with me. Thank you for marrying me and being my husband. You made my life better; you made me better. I don't know how I will continue breathing without you, but I'm thankful for the love we have that is more beautiful than either of us deserves.
Will lived an amazing 33 years and didn't waste a moment. Everything he did was done with great intentionality and love.
A couple of years ago, we went to a poetry reading. Will chose this poem to share with the group...
Late Fragment
by Raymond Carver
And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.
Will is definitely beloved, by so many people. The love we have been shown has been overwhelming. Thank you all for loving us so well. Thank you for caring about our lives and sharing in them.
GIVE MONEY
25 Comments
Linda Burnette
July 27, 2013Angie and Will’s family and your family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. God bless.
Lindsey
July 27, 2013Praying for you Angie. May you feel the love our savior stronger now then ever before. I consider it an honor to have known Will. #goteamgray
Bob Selvester
July 27, 2013Angie–
I don’t know you, but I’ve lived your story. My wife of 11 years, Christy, died when she was 34. The pain, sadness, and probably sense of abandonment are real, but they get better. Eventually I remarried, then Jenn also died. Through it all, God is always right there with you. I’m so sorry for how I know you’ll feel in the days ahead, but I rejoice in knowing how you’ll recover in the end. God is faithful!
Meghan
July 27, 2013May the prayers of the saints hold you right now Angie. People you’ve barely or never met, like me, are crying out your name to God. I’m so sorry for all you’ve lost.
Thena Beam
July 27, 2013My heart is breaking right now… We are grieving with you, Angie. I wish we could be there to comfort or help in some way. We love you, and are so thankful to have known Will, and you.
Ruby Busche
July 27, 2013This news has sadden me so much. Although I don’t know either one of you God does and knows my heart. I heard your story on Jennifer Jessen face book page and it touched me so much that I have thought and prayed about this special couple so much in the past 4 months. I also feel your loss for 6 months ago I also loss the love of my life of 50 years but time doesn’t mean that much when you share so much with that person. I know that you are both a better person because you have shared so much with each other and having half of you gone will not be easy but at the same time you did not want them to be going through so much pain with their physical body. I just want to let you know there will be many prayers for you in these days ahead and on each step of your walk without Will. Grief is there and will be for a while as we never want to lose the ones God chose to live out life with. Praying Praying Praying and want God to wrap His loving arms of Comfort tightly around you. Love Grows, ruby
Keith
July 27, 2013He is healed now. Angie I hope love surrounds you especially now. Will was a brave soilder.
Kathy B
July 27, 2013I’m so sorry. You are an amazing woman and Will was an amazing man. I have been truly blessed to read each piece of your and Will’s story. Both of you have helped me to grow spiritually. I’m sending many prayers and pray you feel comforted and feel loving arms around you. May angels be with you. I hope you can feel the love that so many are sending to you.
Natalie Dean Caviness
July 27, 2013I am definitely praying for you to know that God’s arms are wrapped around you in love and comfort at this time. I am also rejoicing with Will as he is with his Savior and is no longer suffering. I love you. AOT
Kina
July 27, 2013I have been praying and I will continue ton pray that you to cam heal now. May Gods perfect peace be with you.
God Bless, comfort, guide and keep you.
Peggy Simpson
July 27, 2013Deepest sympathy is extended to ANGIE , other family members , friends and GOTEAMGRAY members. Will has been a blessing to so many in different ways giving them his all and will be missed forever. I pray that Angie will be given peace and strength needed in the days to come … You have been a blessing to Will as he has to you… Will had many friends and loved ones being a blessing to all and will be missed. Will is in a better place , free of pain in the loving arms of JESUS …..RIP ……..
Tiffany Kelly
July 27, 2013We are praying for all of you during this time. May God send you His comfort and peace.
Peggy Simpson
July 27, 2013Deepest sympathy is extended to Will wife Angie , other family members , close friends and members of GOTEAMGRAY. WILL is in a better place , free of pain in the loving arms of JESUS…. My prayers are with everyone today that was connected with WILL in any way . I pray you will be given the peace and strength to carry on with the days to follow family and friends …. Angie praying for you that you will have the peace and strength needed the next few days ….. So many have been bless by Will and ed RIP WILL………
Babatunde and Gretchen
July 27, 2013Dear Angie,
Our hearts are broken to hear of our loss of Will. We are at the same time so blessed to call you both dear friends and family in the Lord. Will’s legacy of hope and trust in the Lord has forever impacted and changed us. Our hearts are broken, yet we rejoice that he is with our Lord, and suffering is now over forevermore. Death is not the end for Will.
In our mourning, we’re resting in this faithful truth of God’s promise:
“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” -1 Thessalonians 4: 13 – 18
We patiently wait until we see Will again with our Lord. We love you, and will continue to pray for you and all your family!
Blessings in Christ,
Babatunde and Gretchen
Kim Jenkins
July 27, 2013Angie, I pray for God to give you comfort. I praise God that Will has comfort and peace and no suffering. I am so sorry for your loss and sadness. I pray for God’s living comfort for Will’s parents. The days to come will be hard but I know Will is singing today in heaven! In that we can take comfort! God bless you sweetie.
Becca Drace
July 27, 201333 is a special number. I was praying for healing of a different kind but what better way to be healed? Still lifting you up in prayer!
Colleen Bonilla
July 27, 2013Angie,
We’re so disappointed for this loss, but so relieved for the end of Will’s intense suffering. You are loved. You are being lifted to God’s throne in our prayers. We serve a mighty God. I will never forget Will’s amazing, steadfast faith.
Debra & Ed
July 27, 2013If you have an opportunity to read today’s devotion from Jesus Calling, do so. With Will in our thoughts, we opened this book and, as is often the case as God directs, it spoke about the hope of Heaven and the uphill journey we take in this life to get there. We tearfully read it and prayed for you and the family and thanked God for Will’s life, testimony, and his residence in Heaven. We praise God for the assurance to carry us through. We will be praying for you.
Stacey
July 27, 2013I have been following your love and pain through a Church friend’s postings.
May your love and faith hold you up, may they simply hold you…
I am praying for peace and comfort for you.
Anne
July 27, 2013Angie, Praise the Lord. Will is happier in his new home but he will continue to look upon you with love and hope for your future. Celebrate your lives together even though sadness and loss is in your life at this moment Time does not erase what love has created. Your are in our thoughts and prayers for peace and comfort.
Chris
July 27, 2013Prayers and blessings for you in this time of sorrow. We will hear will’s music in heaven I have no doubts.
Brian Layson
July 27, 2013Angie,
I’m an old acquaintance of Will’s. Our bands used to perform together a good bit. I’ve been following your story. I’m so very sorry to hear about this. You and Will had an amazing journey, trial, and testimony that will go on to touch the hearts of countless people. You two showed such strength and faith in a time of unimaginable adversity and God will use this for His good. Bless you and all of Will’s family.
Brian Buck
July 27, 2013Angie, I’m so sorry for your loss. I met you and Will briefly during a visit to Jackson quite a few years ago and am a friend of your sister’s. Just wanted to pass along my prayers that I’m sure are one of many, many more being sent. While it is very likely Will’s happiest day as you mention, I pray that Jesus will wrap you and hold you extra tight in His love.
Danielle Hoff
July 27, 2013Angie,
Was continually amazed and humbled by you and Will during this fight. Praising Jesus that Will is with him and praying that you are wrapped in comfort, peace, and love.
-Danielle, Enver, and Ella Hoff
Tiffany
July 27, 2013I am so sorry for your loss. Praying the Spirit of perfect peace will fill you, your family, and all of Will’ s loved ones with a peace that passes understanding.