Posted by E. Dwight Franklin on January 05, 2001 at 02:07:39:
Today I sit and I recall my friend recording the song I'm Not Here To Stay. I' ve heard her sing it over and over by recording here in the house and even in person but not wanting to get to this day when she would not be here. How blessed I was to be an intimate friend of such a unique and classy individual. Her joys were my joys, her pains were my pains and even though we didn't live in the same city or on the same coast nothing separated our love for each other. Today, as I begin to accept that she has gone to her reward for the good works she's done, nothing and no one will ever take her memory from me.
Father thank you for giving me Danniebelle, you knew we needed each. Thanks for the link of your love that connected us throughout the years. I'm grateful to you also for the humorous times, the musical times, the times of prayer, scripture sharing and fellowship. You did me a GREAT FAVOR by allowing me to be a personal friend who could communicate with her at anytime. Thank you for all the lives of persons who helped during her last years when she wasn't able to do concerts and travel as she did when she was in good health I pray you bless each of them as only you can.
I won't leave a message to Danniebelle now, for we talked when she was here, but I want those of you to know she lived and did just what she sang: WHEN I WOULD COMPLAIN ABOUT MY ACHES AND PAINS, THEN I THINK ABOUT THAT BUILDING NOT MADE BY HAND THAT NEVER WILL DISSOLVE. I'VE LEARNED TO BE CONTENT IN WHATEVER STATE I'M IN, FOR THESE
FIERY TRIALS THAT TEMPT ME CAN'T COMPARE WITH WHAT SHALL BE, I'M NOT HERE TO STAY. She also said; THIS OLD WORLD CAN'T GET ME DOWN, SOME DAY I'LL GET MY CROWN, I'M NOT HERE TO STAY.
My love and prayers are extended to the family and those of us who are now adjusting to this earthly void, but we must not allow her legacy to ever die. Her life's contributions were priceless.