Serving Others

William was born on April 5, 1989 and was raised at Church at Charlotte from the age of 2. While here, he gleaned so much from Jim’s sermons, Karen Apple’s Children’s Ministry, singing in the Children’s Choir with Robin Ivey, Sunday School with Drew Rush and Kathy Templeton to name a few and AWANAS. 

Jim baptized William in Karen Apple’s pool when he was 9. He had come to know the Lord at about age 4.  His verse for baptism was Psalm 18:2 and it held us together during the weeks of chemo/total body radiation. William was diagnosed with AML (a very aggressive form of leukemia, not usually found in kids) at the end of October 1998 and went to Duke for a stem cell transplant (from his mom, yahoo!) in December.  He passed away on April 10, 1999.

William loved NASCAR (Jeff Gordon was his favorite driver) and enjoyed playing soccer and video games.  The church playground is dedicated to his memory (and Zach Hilbert’s) and was the loving effort of Steve Weaver, Russ Everett and his committee.

Not long after William was diagnosed we were having a devotional in the kitchen reading, “Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning,” Psalm 30:5 (a favorite verse of William’s great grandpa’s). During this time William said, “We don’t know how long the weeping will go on, Mom, and the joy may not come until in heaven.” I know today that he is enjoying his morning of joy forever.

While sick, blood donations and transfusions helped make Williams’s treatments easier. Therefore, we are hosting a Community Center Blood Drive in his memory on May 16 from 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. During this time his family will be present and will host refreshments in the Courtyard of Church at Charlotte. Please join us on May 16 as we remember and rejoice over William’s life and give the gift of life to others.

To reserve a time, click here.

By: Tamia Bock