Eulogy is derived from the Greek eu and logos, meaning “good word.” A eulogy is a good word about a person who has died, usually spoken during a funeral or memorial service, or sometimes at a graveside committal service. During my 33 years as pastor of Village Baptist Church in Bowie, Maryland, I delivered many eulogies for church members, former church members, family of church members, and other persons in the community. Over the years I also have given eulogies for my own family members: my grandmother, my sister-in-law, my father, my sister, and my brother-in-law.… Serving as a eulogist is one of my most important and meaningful ministries.

The purpose of this book is to provide examples of eulogies I have given, in the hope that these examples might help other eulogists in the art and craft of writing tributes to those who have died, provide consolation for those who are grieving, and lift up the Christian promise of eternal life. At the conclusion of each chapter, I offer some reflections on the eulogy given, as a way of prompting the reader to reflect on how it was crafted and how the basic principles of writing a eulogy can be adapted to each particular circumstance.