Our loss is Heaven's gain

I'm still in shock after receiving the phone call this morning, informing me that Mrs. Dockery had passed away. She had been sick for several months, though most people probably would never know it. Her throat had been bothering her since sometime before Christmas last year. Every time I saw her, I would ask her how she was doing. She was always honest to tell me that she wasn't feeling well and she told me that she didn't ever think that her throat was going to be the same. She said she had been praying about it for a long time.

About 3-weeks ago, Mrs. Dockery said that she was feeling some better and her throat was finally getting back to almost normal. She seemed really happy about it and I could hear her sweet little soprano voice blending in with the choir. She always sat beside my wife in the choir loft. She would discuss the music with her and laugh about me changing the song selections at the last moment. I knew that I could always depend on her to be there whenever we had choir practice, as long as she wasn't too sick to attend. I know she came many times despite not feeling well.

Last week we got word that Mrs. Dockery, as well as a few other church members, had come down with the flu. This past Wednesday evening during worship service, I looked out across the congregation and noticed that she wasn't there. "Poor Mrs. Dockery," I thought to myself. "She must be pretty bad off to miss." Later on as I took prayer requests, I mentioned for people to remember her in prayer. I had no way of knowing that I would never see her alive again.

Mrs. Dockery was one of those sweet little ladies that loved everybody. She was like a grandmother to everyone that knew her. Always kind, caring, and spiritual. She had very strong convictions and was very well spoken when talking about things of the Lord. She was in charge of the church prayer chain and she agonized over it daily. She had such a desire to make it flow smoothly and just 3-weeks ago had taken it upon herself to re-vamp the prayer chain to try and overcome some snags that were in it. She stood before the church and talked about how important the prayer chain was and how she wanted it to benefit people's lives. She spoke with such compassion. I admired her immensely, but shamefully never told her.

Mrs. Margaret Dockery will be missed tremendously at our church. I know tomorrow I will look down at her empty choir seat with great sadness. But, I have comfort knowing that she has taken her rightful place in her brand new seat in Heaven's choir where she no longer has to worry about throat problems or sickness and pain. I don't know who Heaven's choir director is but whoever it is, they just gained treasure in Mrs. Dockery.

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Margaret Dockery
DOCKERY, MARGARET - age 83 of Knoxville died Saturday, March 14, 2009 at the family home. She was a member of Highland Baptist Church. Preceded in death by husband, Clyde Dockery and sister, Ada Long. Survivors: son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Janice Dockery; grandson, Paul Dockery and wife, Jennifer, all of Dunlap, TN; sister, Edna Watts; special friends, Joe and Charlotte McCollough, all of Knoxville; nieces and nephews. Funeral service 8 p.m. Monday at Stevens Chapel. Family and friends will meet at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday at Highland Memorial Park for a 10 a.m. committal service and entombment. Family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Monday at Stevens Mortuary, Oglewood Avenue at North Broadway. Mrs. Dockery's guest book is available at Legacy.com.