Phillipa Graceline Bennett (12 Jan 1966 - 27 Nov 2016)

"I can help somebody, as I pass along,
If I can cheer somebody, with a word or song,
If I can show somebody, that he's travelling wrong,
Then my living shall not be in vain." Mahalia Jackson

Truly, Phillipa Graceline Bennett, your living was not in vain...

Dear, Dear Philippa,

I was blessed to have known you and had you as part of my life for part of my life. Although there were years when we weren't in contact with each other, the friendship forged years before through shard experiences, remained and as you said when we saw each other only 7 days before you died, "It's like no time has passed since we last saw each other" It was a precious time with you, a lovely evening for all of us who were there - an evening of fun, positivity and laughter. I didn't realise it was the last time I would see you. I was planning to visit you again and then heard you had passed. We loved our singing, having sung together in Tribute and then after you started the Rainbow choir at Streatham Baptist Church , you reluctantly came with me an LCGC rehearsal after much persuasion. I knew you would love the experience and that visit started your long association with them, singing, administrating, selling merchandise and so much more. Later, many years ago, you told me that you felt it was the right place for you to be, helping out in the office as you were at the time, I felt proud, when LCGC met and celebrated your life, to hear testimony of how you had touched the lives of LCGC members. and how deeply you were loved, and I was inspired to write the following poem that I read at your funeral as a Tribute to you:

SPECIAL THREAD

We are all threads in the time fabric of life
Woven together by the Master's hands
Carefully crafted to form an intricate design
Each thread uniquely reflecting His glory
Each bearing a name and quality all our own
Creating patterns as we cross each other's lives
Forever part of each other
Adding our own unique quality where we appear

We gather today to celebrate the patterns and textures left in our lives
By this SPECIAL THREAD of life named PHILLIPA
We celebrate the sections where she showed up in our lives as
- a daughter
- a sister
- a wife and soulmate
- a mother
- a friend
Never afraid to be herself - distinctly unique ... ...
In one corner lending a hand
In another raising a laugh with her dry humour
And in yet another place making an impact with a wise word
Creating a pattern of influence only she could bring

Now the Master weaver has removed this thread from our time section of fabric
Leaving fibres of memory
And scattered patterns showcasing shocking pink
Intense in one place - less intense elsewhere
As we continue creating patterns with our own thread of life
We will take with us these fibres of shocking pink representing PHILLIPA's contribution and influence On the fabric of our own lives.

PHILLIPA - Thank you for being yourself
We loved you
You have left us but the love we have for you remains
We give thanks for your life
God gave you to us
Now he has taken you back
BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD

I will continue to love and support your loved ones with prayer and presence as much as I can.

Millie xxx