On Friday 6 November, around 250 folk gathered at Central Offices, Dewsbury, for the funeral of Susan Heaps.
Sue was the dearly loved wife of Graham Heaps, pastor at Dewsbury Evangelical Church from 1973 until last November, when Sue was first diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Mick Lockwood spoke at the graveside, Daniel Grimwade took the main service from John 11 and Graham himself drew attention to Acts 7.55 (the glorious reality awaiting believers), but also Acts 8.2 (the reality of great grief at their departure). This balance of both hope and outrage in the face of death was also prominent in Daniel’s address.
Inner radiance
Among the tributes to Sue from her many friends were these words written to Graham: ‘Sue had such an attractive personality: genuinely interested in other people, down to earth and yet with an inner radiance which drew others to her. The way in which she faced her illness and all the losses and heartaches of this past year is a wonderful testimony to the grace of God in her life. She was a beautiful person inside and out – but you were also a team and it would be difficult to imagine your life without her, were it not for the sure comforts of the One who has promised never to leave nor forsake you.’
Warm hearted and wise
Several folk spoke of her ready laugh – surely indispensable for a minister’s wife – evident even as her condition deteriorated. Graham’s first pastor and long-time friend, Geoff Thomas, wrote of her as ‘a busy, contented wife, always there for you, affectionate and warm hearted, intelligent and wise – the all-round wife of a preacher.’
