🤍 In Loving Memory of Dad — Pastor Tony 🤍
It is impossible to put into words what it means to say goodbye to our dad.
Dad’s story began in a way that could have left him feeling that he had very little. He was born an orphan, but that never defined him. Dad was determined to build something different. He wanted to create the family he never had — to love deeply, to give generously and to leave behind a legacy that would continue long after he was gone.
And that is exactly what he did.
Dad was a man who never gave up.
He never gave up on people. He never gave up on a difficult situation. He never stopped believing that lives could be changed and that God could make a way.
But there was one person who stood beside Dad through absolutely everything — Mum, Joyce.
Dad and Mum were together for an incredible 69 years and married for 64 of those years. Sixty-nine years of doing life side by side. Sixty-four years of marriage, building a family, serving God, facing challenges, making memories and simply being there for one another.
They did everything together.
They served God together. They pastored together. They travelled together, laughed together, faced difficult seasons together and celebrated the good times together.
They weren’t just husband and wife — they were a team, best friends and partners in everything.
Their love was something we all saw, and they were, without doubt, couple goals. ❤️
Their marriage showed us what it really means to love someone for a lifetime. It wasn’t about everything always being easy. It was about choosing each other, standing together through the storms and never giving up.
With God at the centre of their marriage, they created something incredibly special.
Their relationship is the kind of relationship we aspire to have ourselves.
Sixty-nine years of love is an incredible legacy in itself.
Alongside Mum, Dad faithfully served God and his church for over 45 years. But his love and ministry reached far beyond the walls of the church. He helped, encouraged, prayed for and supported people all over the world.
To so many people, he was Pastor Tony — a pastor, mentor, counsellor, friend and prayer warrior.
But to us, he was Dad.
Dad was blessed with three children, Cherie, David and Sarah. Although our beloved brother David sadly passed away a few years ago, we take comfort in knowing that Dad is now reunited with him.
I can picture them together again — Dad dancing with the angels, with David by his side, both in the presence of Jesus. ❤️
And then came the next generation — Dad’s precious grandchildren:
Philip, Mark, Deborah, James, Matthew, Sharon, Joshua, Bethany and Izaac.
Nine grandchildren who each held their own special place in Dad’s heart.
And then came four beautiful great-grandchildren:
Riley, Peighton, Maria and Martha.
Dad also welcomed Allen and Joel, his sons-in-law, into the family, and Helen and Gabe, his grandchildren-in-law, who became part of the family he had worked so hard to build.
When you look at all those names together, it tells Dad’s story better than anything else could.
A man who was born an orphan went on to create the family he had always dreamed of.
A family that grew and grew.
A family that loved him.
A family that will carry his name, his values, his faith and his memories forward.
But Dad’s family wasn’t limited to those connected to him by blood. Throughout his life, he gathered people around him. He saw people who were hurting, people who needed encouragement and people who perhaps had nobody else believing in them — and Dad would be there.
He had an incredible determination to make a difference.
He believed in people when they couldn’t believe in themselves.
He prayed when others had run out of hope.
And he never gave up.
That is the legacy he leaves behind.
Not simply buildings, years of ministry or memories, but people whose lives are different because Dad was in them.
And now, after a lifetime of serving, loving, encouraging and fighting for others, Dad can finally rest.
We imagine him walking through Heaven, seeing Jesus face to face, and then seeing David again.
No more pain.
No more tears.
No more fighting.
Just Dad, reunited with his son, surrounded by angels and finally home with the Saviour he loved so much.
And after 69 years together, I can imagine Dad looking for Mum one more time — knowing that their story isn’t over, because one day they will be together again.
Dad, you never gave up.
You built the family you always dreamed of.
You showed us what love, faithfulness and commitment look like.
You left a legacy that will continue through Cherie, David and Sarah; Philip, Mark, Deborah, James, Matthew, Sharon, Joshua, Bethany and Izaac; Riley, Peighton, Maria and Martha; Allen, Joel, Helen and Gabe — and through the countless lives you touched around the world.
You finished the race.
You kept the faith.
“Well done Good and Faithful servant”
