That moment when you’re reading Facebook posts, everyone is referring to your friend in the past tense and your realize things will never be the same... What a bizarre piece of news to read on a cold Sunday morning in December, to find out someone whose life you seemingly mirrored has passed. You initially question is this one of those celebrity Facebook hoaxes, wishing it were so, but understanding quick enough that it isn’t; the pain and disbelief in the posts is too real. A good man is gone and family and friends are left to grieve. While I didn’t know him as a youth, Calvin Felton and I both grew up on the coast of Virginia graduating high school within a few years of each other. We both worked at the shipyard in Newport News where we were trained to be health physics technicians. We were both recruited by the Tennessee Valley Authority to work at Watts Bar Nuclear plant in East Tennessee and that’s where we first met. At the time Calvin was serving the Lord, I was on a different trajectory. I remember meeting Calvin at Watts Bar; he was excited about his faith. He loved the Lord and it showed. Although he was a massive man (and former football player) he was one of the gentlest men I knew. You knew he had strength and power, but he always kept it under control. He was one of the men that guided me back on a godly path. Calvin had settled in Athens, Tennessee; I eventually settled in Athens, Tennessee. Calvin attended Overcoming Faith Christian Center; I soon called the same church my home. Calvin had all daughters; I had all daughters. Our daughters had daughters; we were both surrounded by women. Calvin was heavily involved in the church, becoming the youth pastor; I became an ordained minister at the church. Calvin poured the love of God into everyone that would receive it from him. I would like to imagine people say the same about me. While I no longer see his family on a regular basis, I will be praying strength and comfort for Cassandra, Shernita Felton and Crystal Felton. “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” (Psalm 73:26)
Posted on: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 13:36:10 +0000
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