On the 16th June, our church family farewelled a faithful member. Ernestine Yancey was one of those quiet, active Christians who sought no glory but bravely – and often silently – served and suffered.

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I will never forget the first time I met her 36 years ago. It was a cool winter morning. Ernestine’s daughter, Elonie, was to introduce me to her mother, father Jack and brother John at the Chermside family home in Brisbane. We all understood this could be the beginning of lifelong relationships, and we wanted things to go well – bravery was called for. Ernestine, compared to her husband Jack, was of slight, petite build, with a tender face of Cherokee heritage. Hearing her Southern accent, we spoke few words personally, but I was immediately touched by her kindness and gentleness. These same qualities would influence me in coming years, when she was widowed and living with the family in Melbourne.

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Ernestine Walker was born in Ellijay, North Georgia, in 1941, at the foot of the Appalachians, the youngest of 4 children. Growing up on the family farm amongst apples, animals and bluegrass, she played the banjo and guitar with twin cousins Hoss and Duck, her brother Roy on fiddle, and their father Ernest on spoons and harmonica.

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When Ernestine was 4, her mother Doris heard a gospel preacher on the radio and called in to invite him over to their house.  He shared the good news and baptised her parents, which marked the beginning of the Ellijay church of Christ (now over 300 in membership). Ernestine was baptised into Christ at the age of 13.

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After meeting and marrying Jack Yancey at Forest Park church of Christ, Atlanta in 1961, they had two children: John and Elonie. In 1971, Jack decided they would bravely leave their American family and cross the ocean, free from the political tensions of Atlanta. They placed membership at Holland Park church, where Randy Baker and Claude Guile preached. They learned that Northgate church was closer, then began a quarter-century involvement there with the Smith family, Glenda De Nooyer and her father Gordon Stevens, who baptised Elonie at 14.

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Ernestine loved God and people (Matthew 22:37–38). A worshipper with a deep, sincere belief that she belonged to God, she trusted he would always take care of her and her children.  In her last year, unable to attend Belmore Road, she would worship every Sunday online, right up until she died. Not able to listen to music, with a crackly voice, she still sang and would spend a lot of time praying – especially while she ate, which took much time. She loved God’s wisdom, shown by how often she would open her bible with us. A good steward, she loved God more than money, having learned this from a young age. She was content with little, sewing and mending clothes for John, Elonie and her dolls.

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I, as well as others at Belmore Road, Greater Dandenong and Southeast churches, remember her loving spirit and bear hugs. They were strong and open-armed. She exemplified ‘the unfading beauty of gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight’ (1 Peter 3:4).

 

She was ‘generous and willing to share’ (1 Timothy 6:18) as someone who gave generously to her four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren and donated to hospitals. She was a friend who cared about my mother Johanna and our neighbour George. She loved people and used things, not the other way around. Her legacy of faithfulness endures with her beautiful daughter, Elonie, and a God-loving son, Johnny.

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I count myself blessed to have known Ernestine, considering her much more than just a mother-in-law. She was an exceptional individual because of her relationship with Jesus. I remember well our conversations about John 21:18 and 2 Corinthians 5:1–10. God used her life to show us his love; that’s the life of a disciple of Jesus (1 John 3:16). Ernestine, purified over a lifetime of fiery trials, emanated a heart of gold – a reflection of her Lord.