Friends Are Friends Forever

Friends Are Friends Forever

A couple of weeks ago the world lost a really good friend, Josh Hayes. Josh's mom honored me by asking if I would write something to be read at his funeral. I wanted to share this with you. 

Do you have a friend who can make you laugh so hard you can’t speak or even catch a good breath?

Do you have a friend who seems to know everyone...literally everyone?

Do you have a friend who can seamlessly switch from hilariously razor sharp sarcasm to sincerely concerned kindness?

 If you are here today, I already know that you have this friend...Josh Hayes.

 Josh and I have known each other for, well, always. We started school together right here at the Walnut Street Church of Christ preschool and walked down the hill at Dickson County High School together 13 years later.

 Josh is truly one of the most diversely talented individuals I have ever known. Music, writing, academics, dramatics and friendship, it all just seemed to come easy for him.

 In high school, Josh and I had lunch together in the back cafeteria every day. We laughed and discussed all the things you talk about in high school. We talked about the antics of our teachers and especially Mrs. Cindy Freeman, the Choir Director. She kept us on our toes and laughing while we learned. Even then you could see how much they loved and enjoyed each other. I also distinctly remember teasing Josh because he had to wait so much longer than the rest of us to get his driver’s license because of his late birthday. He, in the way he did everything, took it all in stride, laughing and making us laugh right back.

 Talking with friends about Josh the last few days has had us laughing, crying and crying from laughing. Jenny Heath Martin texted me as she looked through some of her old pictures reliving some amazing memories. She told me that she decided that the pictures looked like a great sitcom that we all starred in. I think Josh would have LOVED that description.

 More recently I was blessed to work in the same school where Josh’s sweet niece, Madeline, attended. This gave me a great opportunity to hear from Abigail and Mrs. Hayes about Josh and everything wonderful going on in his life from his family.

 Reading all the tributes to Josh on social media, it is obvious that he has been the same person his whole life, no matter where he was living, working, or vacationing. I’m sure many of you have been reading all of these lovely posts, also. Phrases like “king of fun”, “connector”, “funny”, “generous” and “friend” seemed to be part of each one. One friend from college called him a “conduit to friendship” and I think we can all agree that he excelled at this.

 These social media posts came from friends from Dickson, Mizzou, St. Louis, New York and all points between. The similarity in the descriptions and memories of Josh are so telling of the person he was to all of us. He was the friend we all want to have, and because of his example, the friend we all want to be.

 “Friends are friends forever” was the name of the song Josh, Craig Lampley, Heather Buttrey and I sang together at the end of our high school graduation. It meant a lot then. It means even more now.

 May we all be more like Josh from this point forward: constant, supportive, the one that always obeys the generous impulse, and especially, the friend we wish to have...a friend like Josh.