Romans 12:5-6: so we, who are many are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith.

Elmer Reed is and will always be a member of the Pro Duffers Golf Club. We are more fraternal than a social organization. We are a club where the member= s love and play the game of golf. The goal of our foundation is to build a nine-hole golf and training center. Our wish is to introduce kids who would otherwise not have the opportunity to learn and play this game. Some folks don't understand the affinity and the admiration we have for this game and people who play it. To live and breath this game of golf is an understatement and a lack of a better way to explain our infatuation. Elmer was bitten by the golf bug. A club member since 1996, Elmer was the Committee Chairman for the 1999 Spring Fling Golf Tournament and Meeting held in Birmingham, Alabama. Chapter members from all over the country would converge on this northern Alabama town. Elmer did not hesitate to accept the appointment when asked. He immersed himself in all the planning. Negotiating prices with the hotel and the golf courses, set up the meals and meeting agenda= s and all the other activities. It was a big job with endless responsibility. Everything was going as planned, then on the second day of the outing, after golf, everyone was to meet back at the hotel for meetings and a meal. As I walked through the hotel lobby, Elmer came running toward me, I could tell something was wrong by the way he was acting and the tremble in his voice. He said, Tom...tom.. the caterers are not here and we have 200 hungry golfers in there with nothing to eat. He was wringing his hands and moving from side to side like a man who was suppose to be somewhere but didn= t know where. To tell you the truth, It made me nervous as well, I looked at Elmer and he looked at me, I finally said, Elmer, do you know any jokes. I can= t tell you what he said in this setting or the names he called me. But the caterers walked in the door just minutes later and we both took a big sigh of relief. In our surprise and elation we just hugged each other jumping up and down. After a second or two, realizing we were in the lobby of a busy hotel with people standing around watching us, we jumped back, dusted ourselves off and tried to be cool. As we walked looking at one another. I couldn't tell whose grin was the biggest as we followed the caterers through the door. Elmer did a great job on the Spring Fling. In fact, if you wanted to know how well he did all you had to do was ask him he would tell you about it. If you talk with other members, you'll hear similar stories regarding their interaction with Elmer. He was a weekend regular whom I'm proud to have known. He was a Son, husband, father, grandfather, golfer and friend. He will always be in our hearts. Now he has joined a very special group of Pro Duffers who play a continuous round of golf in heaven. Dr. William Conrad.. 1986, Mr. Dave Snipes.. 1991, Mr. Bill Gaines.. 1999, Mr. John Freeman..2000, Dr. Foster Kidd 2001 and Atty. W.E. Walton 2001. Mr. Elmer Reed among friends. Let me leave you with this.

God called Elmer home. God looked down the fairway and he found an empty place. He then looked down upon the earth and saw Elmer's tired face. He put his arms around Elmer and lifted him to rest. Gods' golf course must be beautiful, because he always takes the best. He knew Elmer was suffering. He knew he was in pain. He knew that Elmer would never get well on Earth again. He saw the road was getting rough and the hills were hard to climb, so. He closed Elmer's weary eyelids and whispered - A peace be thine. It breaks our hearts to lose him, but he didn't go alone- for part of us went with him. The day God called Elmer home.

Thank you in Jesus name

Read November 21, 2001

New Mount Zion Baptist Church

Thomas H. Sweeney Jr

President, Southwest Chapter