Final Wishes and Texas Dirt

Judge Warner’s final wish was to be buried under a shade tree (because it gets hot up there) in Lewisburg, Tennessee. His burial was on July 24th and Judge Rodriguez (Linda), Rene and I were able to go and say a last goodbye.

All three of us wondered why it was he wanted to be laid to rest there, but once we saw his final resting place we had our questions answered. Tennessee is full of trees and “real” mountains and rolling hills, and everything was lush and green. His shade tree is a big magnolia and there are peony shrubs planted at each gravesite, which apparently bloom in the spring and create a beautiful sea of colors.

We decided he needed to be buried with a little bit of Texas dirt, so we brought some from his yard, some from the foot of a pecan tree that he could see out of his office window at the courthouse, and some from the new Dallas Cowboy football stadium. All of us there from Texas sprinkled it on his coffin as we said our goodbyes. When the service was over and we were visiting with those that had gathered, he thanked us for being there by showering us with raindrops, which helped wash away our tears.

His two eldest children live just down the road from the cemetery and I know they are at peace knowing he is nearby.

I am at peace knowing that he will no longer be suffering from the ravaging effects of the chemo and radiation. I am at peace because I was able to tell him how much he meant to me. I am at peace because I know that he will be waiting for me with open arms when we meet again.