Homegoing Celebration Mass for Rebecca Bonita Sims-Gude, April 22, 1943 - February 12, 2015, Friday, February 20, 2015, 2:00 PM, Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 2560 Tilson Road, Decatur, Georgia 30032, Officiating Father Bryan Small

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015 2:00 PM
SAINTs ETER & PAUL CATHOLic CHURCH
2560 TILSON RoAD DECATUR, GEORGIA 30032

Life's journey
There is a time for everything and a seasonfor every activity under the heavens:
~ Time to be 'Born...
Rebecca Bonita Sims Gude was born to Hazel Robertson and Robert Sims on April 22, 1943, in Monroe, Georgia. "Bo," as she was affectionately called by family and close friends, was a fun-loving, energetic and caring person with a dynamic personality that attracted many friends.
Jl. Time to 'Bui{c{ ..
Bonita received her early education in the Walton County School System. She continued to be a life long learner, earning a B.S. from Fort Valley State University, a Master's from Atlanta University, and both Specialist and Doctorate degrees in Education from the University of Tennessee. In 1994, Bonita was inducted into Phi Delta Kappa, a professional fraternity in education.
During her career, Bonita was a social worker, school psychometrist and also served as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Tennessee and an Adjunct Professor at the University ofMontevallo in Montevallo, Alabama. Most recently, she was a School Psychologistfor the Henry County School System where she also mentored others in the department.
Jl. Time to Love...
Bonita was united in Holy Matrimony on May 28, 1964, to Willie Marshall Gude. To that blessed union, three children were born: Natasha Faye, Nkenge Maia, and Nneka Wylaun. Bonita was a devoted wife, loving mother and doting aunt which was demonstrated by caring for her nephews and niece after the passing ofher sister.

.Jt Time to (jatfier Stones...
Bonita was an active participant within the Catholic Church. She served as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at her Parish. She was a member of the Equestrian Order ofthe Holy Sepulchre ofJerusalem and the Ladies Auxiliary ofthe Knights ofPeter Claver Court #313. Bonita was always willing to serve others as evidenced by her dedication to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. for over so years.
.Jt Time to Laugfi anda Time to 1Jance...
Competitive by nature, Bonita adored her sports: Duke Basketball, Tennessee Football, and the Atlanta Falcons. Being very social, she never met a stranger. Bonita loved to talk, laugh and entertain; however, she never hesitated to call a "spade a spade." Her most memorable soiree was in August 2014 when Bonita and Willie commemorated their soth wedding anniversary by renewing their vows in front offamily and friends .
.Jt Time to 'Embrace ...
Bonita was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Pirkle and Hazel Robertson Sims; and sister Joyce Sims Johnson. Bonita's special memories will be cherished by her devoted husband, Willie Marshall Gude; daughters, Natasha Gude-Moore (Patrick), Nkenge Gude-Sapp (Dexter), and Nneka Gude-LeGrand (Anthoney); nephews, Collier Johnson (Kimberley), and Ferrun Johnson (Lorilei); niece, Joycelyn Cromartie (Michael); grandchildren: Courtney Shelf(Justin), Christopher Johnson, Collier Johnson II, Loren Johnson, Brandon LeGrand, Sydni Edwards, Nicholas Sapp, Jade Moore, Jasmine Johnson, Nigel Sapp, Karrington Gude-LeGrand, Patrick Moore, Joyce Johnson, Peyton LeGrand, Joi Moore, Madison Cromartie, and a host ofother relatives andfriends.

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INTRODUCTORY Rrrns

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GREETING AND SPRINKLING OF BODY

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PlACING OF THE PALL

PROCESSIONAL..."How ExcELLENT" OPENING PRAYER
LITURGY oF THE WoRD
FIRST READING. REv. AMY GuDEWISDOM 3:1-9 REsPONSORIAL PsALM . PsALMs 23
SECOND REA.DING REv. FERRUN JoHNSON. REVEIATIONS 21:2 GosPEL........MATT 5:1-12

HOMILY PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

LITURGY OF THE EucHARisT

PRESENTATION oF GIFTS..JADE MooRE, PATRICK M MooRE, Jm MooRE
0FFERATORY SoNG...."I SURRENDER ALL"

LoRD's PRAYER COMMUNION HYMN "WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN"
TRIBUTES DR. PAUL McKENDRICK FAMILY MRS. MARGIE HOLMES FRIEND MRS. JUANITA BARANCO FRIEND MRS. PHILOMENA HATCHER. FRIEND
REv. EDWARD ELLIS III............................................. FAMILY
MEDITATION HYMN..."GREAT Is THY FAITHFULNEss" ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

FINAL CoMMENDATIONS (FATHER BRYAN SMALL)

SONG OF FAREWELL REcESSIONAL.... "My TRIBUTE" (ANDRAE CRoucH)

REPAST GYMNASIUM SAINTS PETER AND PAUL CATHOUC SCHOOL
,,

If 'Tomorrow Starts Without Me

IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME, AND I'M NOT THERE TO SEE, IF THE SUN SHOULD RISE AND FIND YOUR EYES ALL FILLED WITH TEARS FOR ME;
I WISH SO MUCH YOU WOULDN1T CRY THE WAY YOU DID TODAY, WHILE THINKING OF THE MANY THINGS WE DIDN1T GET TO SAY. I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE FOR ME, AND HOW MUCH I CARE FOR YOU, AND EACH TIME THAT YOU THINK OF ME I KNOW YOU'LL MISS ME TOO;

BUT WHEN TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME, PLEASE TRY TO UNDERSTAND, THAT AN ANGEL CAME AND CALLED MY NAME AND TOOK ME BY THE HAND,
AND SAID MY PLACE WAS READY IN HEAVEN FAR ABOVE, AND THAT I'D HAVE TO LEAVE BEHIND ALL THOSE I DEARLY LOVE.

BUT AS l TURNED TO WALK AWAY, A TEAR FELL FROM MY EYE,

FOR ALL UFE, I'D ALWAYS THOUGHT I DIDN'T WANT TO DIE.

I HAD SO MUCH TO LIVE FOR AND SO MUCH YET TO DO.

IT SEEMED ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE THAT I WAS LEAVING YOU.

I THOUGHT OF ALL THE LOVE WE SHARED AND ALL THE FUN WE HAD.

IF I COULD REUVE YESTERDAY, I THOUGHT, JUST FOR A WHILE,

I'D SAY GOODBYE AND HUG YOU AND MAYBE SEE YOU SMILE.

BUT THEN I FULLY REALIZED THAT THIS COULD NEVER BE,

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FOR EMPTINESS AND MEMORIES WOULD TAKE THE PLACE OF ME.

AND WHEN I THOUGHT OF WORLDLY THINGS THAT I'D MISS COME TOMORROW.

I THOUGHT OF YOU, AND WHEN I DID, MY HEART WAS FILLED WITH SORROW.

BUT WHEN I WALKED THROUGH HEAVEN'S GATES, I FELT SO MUCH AT HOME. WHEN GoD LOOKED DOWN AND SMILED AT ME, FROM HIS GREAT GOLDEN THRONE,
HE SAID, "THIS IS ETERNTIY AND ALL I'VE PROMISED YOU, TODAY YOUR UFE ON EARTH IS PAST BUT HERE IT STARTS ANEW.
I PROMISE NO TOMORROW, BUT TODAY WILL ALWAYS LAST. AND SINCE EACH DAY1S THE SAME, THERE'S NO LONGING FOR THE PAST.

BUT YOU HAVE BEEN SO FAITHFUL, SO TRUSTING, SO TRUE. THOUGH THERE WERE TIMES YOU DID SOME THINGS YOU KNEW YOU SHOULDN'T DO.
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AND YOU HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN AND NOW AT LAST YOU'RE FREE. So WON'T YOU COME AND TAKE MY HAND AND SHARE MY UFE WITH ME?"
So IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME, DON'T THINK WE1RE FAR APART,
FOR EVERY TIME YOU THINK OF ME, PLEASE KNOW I'M IN YOUR HEART.
DAVID RoMANo

ALLBEARE S

COLLIER JOHNSON FERRUN JoHNSON
DEXTER SAPP

PATRICK T. MooRE
CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON
CoLLIER JoHNSON II

ONORARY pA LBEARERS

NICHOLAS SAPP NIGEL SAPP

PATRICK M MooRE BRANDON LEGRAND

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Through your many tangible and intangible expressions of love that you have given to our family during the life of our beloved wife, mother, aunt and grandmother, you have portrayed a true friendship to our family which we will cherish always. Indeed we appreciate your prayers, telephone calls, cards, flowers, meals and every act of kindness that you have shared with us.
As we express our gratitude to God Almighty for the many rich blessings which He has bestowed upon us, we give thanks to family and friends like you. May God keep us all in His care forever.
We express our special thanks to Father Bryan Small and the Saints of Peter and Paul Catholic Church family , the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, the Knights and Ladies of StPeter Claver and the Ladies ofthe Chi Tau Omega Chapter ofAlpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11