(Here is the eulogy delivered by Bill Arnold for Christy (written by Ben and Ann) on Wednesday morning at the 11 a.m. worship service at First Methodist Church Lexington.
EULOGY FOR CHRISTY ANN WITHERINGTON
Christy was born in the shadow of Durham Cathedral in northern England on August 14, 1979 and died January 11, 2012 in Durham, North Carolina.
Christy loved her British roots. Her summer term in England studying Shakespeare at Stratford-on-Avon with Ben’s English Prof from Carolina, Chris Armitage, was a true life highlight. She called and said, with her newly-minted British accent, “Hello Mum and Dad”. Fortunately she was able to twice more visit her homeland and explore its rich heritage. Christy was not just an Anglophile – she was born British.
She loved cathedrals, high-church music and rich liturgy. Her faith was deep but private, nurtured by years at her ‘favorite church’ – Trinity Lutheran in Ashland, Ohio. For Christy, the highlight of Christmas was always the beautiful Christmas Eve service at Christ Church Cathedral in Lexington.
Christy loved purple. Christy was our purple girl from a very early age – from sweaters to bicycles to eye shadow to ballroom gowns. In Durham, she tangoed and waltzed in bright shades of glitter purple. Dancing at the Fred Astaire studio provided unique opportunities to swirl in glittery costumes.
Christy loved the beach. So many summer vacations were spent at Cherry Grove where she body surfed, pedaled beach bikes, explored the fishing pier, designed elaborate ice cream sundaes at Jenet’s, and relished her favorite she-crab soup at the Sea Captains Restaurant in Myrtle Beach. Last summer she and Sara visited Barefoot Landing and discovered a candle shop. This Christmas each family member received a glow candle themed for that person. She loved candles!
She did love food and became quite the cook. At her home, Tuesday night was board game night attended by a dozen of her friends and preceded by Sara’s Indian cuisine or Christy’s American creations. And this past Thanksgiving she cooked for a crowd of friends.
Christy loved animals. Amy, the Arabian horse, was her special pal for so many years. In Ashland she rode in 4-H. In Lexington, she and Yuliya once rode Amy all the way to Wilmore – quite the adventure! And she leaves behind her 100+ pound white Pyrenees, Gandalf, and her 100+ pound white Anatolian shepherd, Boo. And we know that Stevie, JoJo and Jolly, her three cats, are missing her touch.
She loved to travel – by plane and boat and train through England and France and Italy. And by motorcycle on board her bright red Dukati or her shiny Suzuki to experience the joy of cruising down a country lane.
Christy loved books. Her first job was at the Ashland Public Library. From children’s books to fantasy novels to illuminated manuscripts, she devoured them all. And she designed two beautiful cherry cabinets, Amish-built, for her special displays — the Folio Society books.
No surprise, she loved to learn. However, it seemed as if she was on the “sampler plan” — taking classes at Transylvania, Asbury, and UK, before finally finishing at Purdue University in 2002. Christy was never a mathematician. So imagine everyone’s surprise when she moved to North Carolina, established residency while working for PPD, and completed an intensive degree at N.C. State in analytics which landed her a job with IBM.
Christy loved her family and friends deeply, and the feeling was mutual. It was a singular providence of the Lord that despite the pain from her recent spate of illnesses, she was able to come home for two weeks at Christmas and be here with her friends and family for some of the best quality time ever. As was her custom, she hand-delivered each present to Ann, Ben, David, her Russian sister, Yuliya, and her beau Sara. The Lord saw the far horizon, and blessed us with one more wonderful Christmas with our Christy girl, or Cici as her brother David named her.
And through it all Christy fought her health battles. “My body is my mortal enemy” she admitted. Christy crises, as they were known, happened with regularity. But her e-mail address says it all – ‘untamed spark.’ She persevered through so many periods of medical mayhem. “I think I’m getting better” was her usual remark. You are all better now, Christy. No more pain. You are now ‘Forever Free’ to be you in the land of the Lord of Healing.
Now we all look forward to many more such good times with her in the Kingdom. We can picture Christy sitting on a cloud solving yet another 1,000 piece puzzle or playing board games with the angels. Her enjoyment of life, despite the times of pain, was profound. Her smile is her feature best remembered.
It was Jesus who said, I came that you might have life and have it abundantly. He was true to that promise. As the saying goes, she lived well, laughed often, and loved much. So we look forward to seeing her again, with a glitter halo, purple wings, and a resurrection body immune to disease, decay and death — suffering, sin and sorrow.
It was C.S. Lewis who said that you can tell the depth of how much someone loved and was loved by the depth of the grief when that person goes on. Christy loved us deeply, and we grieve deeply. But we will continue to remember her sparkling smile, and cherish personal memories we hold close in our hearts.
Blessed are those who die in the Lord, says the Scripture. She has met her Maker. And we believe she is loving every minute of it.
Thank you again to all our friends. Kyrie eleison.
THanks for sharing this JP – It is nice to be able to read some parts over and over while praying for my church family – Their sorrow becomes mine and yet their triumph is mine too – GOd is good – Thanks be to GOD
Dr. Ben, please know that you and Ann are in my prayers! I cannot imagine the depth of your grief, and will hold my children a little tighter today, and say another prayer for you. My children know who you are, as I always pause the TV when you are on and bore them with stories of our many conversations in Solomon’s Porch. I am thankful that Christy is free, and will continue to hold you and Ann up in my prayers.
Hello Ben and Ann,
My heart aches for you. I am so sorry for your loss. Lara and I will be praying for you and your family.
Thank you dear brother for letting us enter into your sacred space. My heart has been deeply moved… I add my prayers to the many who are lifting Christy’s earthly family to the Master. We share with you the hope that one day we will be reunited with our loved ones before the King of Love, our Great Shepherd who weeps with us now! Non omnis moriar!
Dearest Ann and Ben, David and Emily, Joyce and Laura,
When I returned home late last night from volunteerting at Brenner’s, I thought about checking to see if you had posted the eulogy yet. Then I thought, I, too, am still too fragile from grief – better check tomorrow. For once, I did make a wise decision. Ann, Ben – your eulogy was so perfect, so how I remember Christy being in my kitchen for dad’s memorial – how perfect she was with her grandmother, my mother’s best friend. She was so cute, so polite, so genuine, so kind when she felt so bad and once more (hey, I’ve been there!!) was lovely and cooperative while ‘dad’ did his thing. I am very sure, I was never as gracious as Christy. My heart aches for each of you – I am trying so hard to embrace your love and faith while thinking of mom, Ben, dad, and Joyce. How we do remember our babies with glitter halos, purple/pink wings, etc. (so daddy, Christy, and Mary Carol!! – even more than mom and Joyce!!!) My love to each of you as I fight to find your faith and love to understand God’s love. David and Emily, I embrace both of you and wish for you the deep love Emma and Anthony have found and all the years of love of Ben and Joyce and Mark and Mary Minor had. May God’s love keep each of us safe. Carol
I am so sorry for your loss. The Lord bless you and your family.
Dear God, Ben. I am terribly sorry for your loss. Will be praying
Sorry for your loss but thank you for this beautiful description of her life and soul. She is waiting for you and all of us. I look forward to meeting her some day.
I don’t know you personally, but read your blog. May the Lord of life grant you his comfort, peace and healing during this time of loss.
May the comfort of Christ find you. Amen
Dr. Witherington, I’m very sorry for your tragic loss. My prayers are with you and your family at this time.
Dr Witherington:
I am an avid reader of your blog and books! I pray that the Lord continues to love and entreat you and your family. My deepest sympathy for you all.
Godspeed,
Cory Crabtree
Columbus, Ohio
beautiful.
Wow! What a terrific woman Christy was on earth. I wish I could have known her. I would have enjoyed working those big jigsaw puzzles with her, playing board games and eating food she cooked. I would have wanted to hear her stories of her times in England and thoroughly enjoyed playing with her dogs and cats. She filled up her life with living, though suffering through the physical difficulties. This part I understand, too, having had a chronic (though not particularly life-threatening) illness for over 20 years now. I really like your daughter, Ben. I can’t wait to meet her in heaven. Writing while seeing through eyes glistened with tears. Much love to you and your family through our wonderful Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit because of the grace of God.
Wow! What a terrific woman Christy was on earth. I wish I could have known her. I would have enjoyed working those big jigsaw puzzles with her, playing board games and eating food she cooked. I would have wanted to hear her stories of her times in England and thoroughly enjoyed playing with her dogs and cats. She filled up her life with living, though suffering through the physical difficulties. This part I understand, too, having had a chronic (though not particularly life-threatening) illness for over 20 years now. I really like your daughter, Ben. I can’t wait to meet her in heaven. Writing while seeing through eyes glistened with tears. Much love to you and your family through our wonderful Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit because of the grace of God.
Wow! What a terrific woman Christy was on earth. I wish I could have known her. I would have enjoyed working those big jigsaw puzzles with her, playing board games and eating food she cooked. I would have wanted to hear her stories of her times in England and thoroughly enjoyed playing with her dogs and cats. She filled up her life with living, though suffering through the physical difficulties. This part I understand, too, having had a chronic (though not particularly life-threatening) illness for over 20 years now. I really like your daughter, Ben. I can’t wait to meet her in heaven. Writing while seeing through eyes glistened with tears. Much love to you and your family through our wonderful Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit because of the grace of God.
My prayers from Brazil.