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
Barb Frizzell Carver
July 29, 2013Angie. I never met you and Will but heard about you from Jason and Brittany. I’m so sorry to hear the news about Will. I also lost a husband, several years ago. I felt my world was turned upside down. The well planned future I looked forward to turned to a blank slate. Please know that the deepest time of grieving can be the sweetest fellowship with our Lord. During those first weeks and months God showed me how to rely on Him and not focus on the overwhelming unknowns of my future. God held me close, through the fog of the grief and into the sunlight again. My heart breaks for you. Hold tight to your friends and family…let them love on you. God is the husband to the widow. He is our tender, loving, personal God.
God bless you,
Barb Frizzell Carver
Naomi and Craig
July 28, 2013Angie, and family,
This is not what we were hoping and praying for. I can’t imagine your pain. It is painful for us too. We really cherish the time we were all in CG together. Will led more than once, but we wanted him to lead much more. He was such a godly man. We are all the better for having known him. Being able to have such great faith in the face of such great trial has been an encouragement to me to have even greater faith in the midst of smaller trials. Something to add to your gratefulness wall – you, and Angie. We love you guys.
Marion
July 28, 2013We have never met, but we are praying for you here in Texas.
Kate's mom & dad
July 28, 2013Will is a new name for courage at our house. Thanks for fighting the good fight. Finishing well takes on new meaning. Grace to you!
Jennifer
July 28, 2013Angie, I’m so sorry to hear the news. We were just talking about hom on Friday. I’m so glad I got to visit with yall before yall went to AZ. I’m here if u ever need anythingand my life is ddefinitely blessed now that I have yall in my heart. It is so rare to find a love and partnership that yall shared. I’m headed back to *Louisiana next week but I hope we keep in touch. I don’t want to bother u by texting you but if u need anything let me know I’m here. I will text you later after some time goes by so yall can get everything taken care of and you can respond when u feel fit. Again so sorry love you and I’m here if u need me.
Lori Cave
July 28, 2013Dear Angie,
You don’t know me, but I’m a friend of Jacinta’s. She told me about Will quite a while back, and told me she had a friend that needed prayers. She told me Will’s name and just told me he was a wonderful musical artist and he was sick. That’s all I knew, but I started praying. Then she forwarded me the Go Team Gray website. I’ve followed the journey with you the past few months with my whole heart. It’s like having faith in Jesus; not knowing you or Will, but believing in you and sharing in your love and your pain. My heart is breaking for the loss of your sweet love Angie, but our hope is in Jesus Christ. May he hold you tightly in the palm of His hand and keep you close. I love you.
Ji
July 28, 2013Hi Angie, we don’t know each other but we are PCC family. I remember hearing Will sing and saying ‘hi’ to him in passing after service. What an incredible light he was on earth. You two together seemed like a force like no other! Thank you for sharing your story and your heart – it has touched me and so many others. We pray for you and for God’s comfort during this time. We pray that Will is rejoicing at home and is singing and dancing to his heart’s content in heaven.
Connie McClure
July 28, 2013I grieve with you knowing that you do not grieve as those who have no hope.
Our hope is in Jesus Christ.
May He embrace you and comfort you with the peace that passes understanding.
May He guide you explicitly on the path of your future and the destiny He has prepared for you.
May He heal your heart miraculously and leave no scar.
As He says in Jeremiah,
“May He prosper you with the plans He has for you, with a future and a hope.”
in His love,
Connie McClure
Broke (but not broken), a final post | Michael Joel Green
July 28, 2013[…] http://goteamgray.com/2013/07/27/passing/ […]
Tammy (friend od Meredith)
July 28, 2013I am so sorry for your loss. I also lost my husband when he was 33 years old to leukemia. It was not easy. I relied on my parents for help with my children. Don’t know what I would have done without my family there to help me. I hope and pray you have a loving family to get you through. Rely on them and on God. They will help you, and it will get better with time. Again, I am so sorry. God bless you.
lisa
July 28, 2013Although I never had the pleasure of meeting Will and Angie, I followed their journey after Will’s former Union classmates shared this site. A selection from our morning’s worship and praise in song made me think of Will and Angie and where their faith and strength always was and where it remains……
“10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)”
Matt Redman
‘Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
You’re rich in love, and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name’
Blessed by Will’s legacy and praying for his family and friends in the days and months ahead. Our God is faithful……
Jamie
July 28, 2013My heart is aching. I can’t even begin to find the words. Although I am not able to wrap my arms around you and hold you tight, just know I’m thinking of you and praying continuously for you and the family. Love you guys.
Linda Price
July 28, 2013Eccl 3;1-2…..Unto everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted. William has been plucked by God because he has fulfilled his purpose under here on earth. God planted Will as a babe to Barbara and Johnny. They loved and reared him physically and spiritually to prepare him for his role as a husband and companion to Angie who loved and supported him in his quest as a child of God. As Christians we KNOW God has prepared for us another home. A heavenly home where there is no more pain and suffering. May this thought of William be of comfort to Barbara, Johnny, Michael and Angie: William is now in the arms of our HEAVENLY FATHER. May he give us all the strength to accept his will .
Annie
July 28, 2013I was at Union with Will, and though I didn’t know him personally, I gave me such great joy to pass him in the hallway and hear him making music. I loved that so much. He was a blessing to me in that way. I am so sorry for your loss.
Ryan Russell
July 28, 2013Hey Angie,
I’m Reva Williams brother. I know that over the last couple years Will has been a huge piece of her life. She talked with me about him often and I occasionally shot an message to Will. He was always so kind and I invited him to come to Myanmar and play with Reva.
In college Reva gave me Will’s bands CD Scratch Track. I played the CD until it wouldn’t work anymore. I missed their performance when they came through Knoxville but my roomate made the show. He hung out with Will and his band mates after the show…..that’s when I knew how cool Will was because my roomate was alot of handle :) .
I never personally met Will but I feel like I’ve known him for 8 or 9 years. I’m sad to hear of his passing and sad that I never got to hang out with him. I know that my family will miss him.
Praying,
Ryan Russell
Beverly Vos
July 28, 2013Angie, We’re in deep sorrow for you. We will pray that God will be your comfort and your light on your way.
Anna Robillard
July 27, 2013Dear Angie,
My heart breaks for you as I know what true sorrow feels like. I hope you can find comfort in knowing that Will is no longer suffering and he left this world surrounded by love. He will never leave you. I know no words can really bring comfort right now. Just know you are being lifted up in prayer, even by those of us who don’t know you. Let God help you and let yourself grieve. The prayers will keep flowing for you.
With love,
Anna Robillard (friend of Ryan and Joy Schunemann )
Betsy,Tracy(Ross) Galvin
July 27, 2013Will, You have shown;
Will to Live, Laugh, Love
Will to fight cancer like a true soldier, giving your all…never giving up
Will to love and cherish your savior, Jesus Christ
Will to be so devoted to your beautiful , supporting, and loving wife, Angie
Will to be so talented and amazing……..You have inspired all of us, family, friends, fans
You, and your story will never be forgotten!
Angie, we love you very much and have been forever touched ….You are in our thoughts and Prayers
Tia Apisa Tutwiler
July 27, 2013Angie, my name is Tia. My brother Tony is married to Emily Sanders, Kelly’s friend. I have been following and praying for you both. As my heart aches and tears fall, I thank you and Will for the amazing testimony of faith and courage. You both have touched my life and strengthened my faith. Peace be with you and I look forward to seeing Will in The Kingdom.
Joanne
July 27, 2013I live in Paris, TN and know some of Will’s family, though I don’t know him personally. I have been praying for you both and will continue to do so. Your story has touched me, and I can feel true empathy for you because I also lost someone that I loved dearly to cancer. I was unfamiliar with Will’s music, but tonight, I listened to everything I could find and watched every video I came across. Will was a very talented man and this world has lost a gem. Sending love and peace from Paris.
Erica Harris Mowry
July 27, 2013What a legacy left for such a short time on this earth! My thoughts are with you during this time and beyond as you move through what must be unimaginable grief.
Love and strength to you, Angie.
Evelyn Hamlin
July 27, 2013You have been through a lot too Angie. God Bless and Keep You…ourprayer.org
Jen
July 27, 2013I have followed your story since the first day my friend shawn posted about Will. Will had the very same cancer to what my dad had. And my dad lived 8 months and Will 9 months. My heart breaks for you Angie and I am definitely praying for you during this extremely difficult time. I am so grateful for Will’s life and his heart to be used by The Lord. Now he is in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as my dad is. Just so hard for us still here on this earth to watch our loved ones go through what they did and to keep going on without them. May The Lord continue to give You the strength to make it through each and every day. I look forward to the day that we will be with my dad and Will again.
Kimberly
July 27, 2013I first “met” Will through watching his documentary, which my best friend Tina Parker showed to me. I perceived him to be easy-going, soul-filled, joyous, handsome, energetic, special. My heart aches for you. Your love, this story – inspirational. As soon as I read this post, Ben Harper’s Beloved One ran through my mind. I hope it touches your heart as it has mine: http://youtu.be/Lxg6wWOPmi8 You are in my thoughts and prayers. <3
Judy and Don Linn
July 27, 2013Dear Angie, We are so sorry to hear your news. You and Will showed us such incredible faith and determination. We were simply awed by the courage you were both able to muster up each and every day. Thank you for allowing us to share in your journey. Make no mistake about it…you and Will have touched and changed many, many lives. Our heartfelt love and sympathy to you and all your family.
Judy and Don Linn