Farewell to Anne Moody: Eulogy by the Rev. Eva Brown

By Roscoe Barnes III

Chairman, Anne Moody History Project
Copyright (c) 2017

#AnneMoody

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Rev. Eva Brown speaking at memorial service for 
Anne Moody in February 2015.

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As a child growing up, the Rev. Eva Brown had heard about the courageous exploits of Anne Moody in her fight for freedom and justice in the civil rights movement. She had heard about Moody’s book, Coming of Age in Mississippi, and about her traveling the world and appearing on national TV shows as a famous author.

So when the Moody family asked her to give the eulogy at Anne Moody’s memorial service in 2015, Brown was both surprised and honored. She reflected on the experience in a recent interview.

“Of all the people in the world, God saw fit for me to do this,” she said. “I don’t take it lightly. He could have chosen anybody else to do it, but he chose me. My main motto is: ‘Lord, you can use anything. Use me. Take my hand.’”

Moody died on February 5, 2015, at the age of 74, in Gloster, Miss. A memorial service was held for her on February 14, 2015, at the Homochitto Association Development Center in Gloster.

Moody grew up Centreville, Miss., a small rural town in Wilkinson County in southwest Mississippi. She and her son, Sasha Straus, were living in Gloster at the time of her death. Moody left her hometown at the age of 17 and moved to Woodville, Miss., where she attended Johnson High School. From there she went to college in Natchez. She later became a student at Tougaloo College where she began working as a civil rights activist in the early 1960s. Her book was published in 1968.

“I grew up hearing how she wrote the book and got in trouble for trying to do right,” Brown said. “I didn’t know her personally, but I knew her family.”

Brown lives in Woodville. She is the youth minister at Bleak House Baptist Church in Woodville. She said Moody used to rent from her late aunt Hattie Jones on Bay Ridge Road in Woodville.

Brown said that Moody’s sister, Adline Moody of Gloster, asked her to do the eulogy. “I was honored to have this opportunity,” Brown said.

When asked about sharing her message from the memorial service, Brown agreed to share an excerpt, which is about half of her presentation. It is featured below.

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A Look at Some of the Words Given at 

the Funeral of Sis. Anne Moody

By Rev. Eva Brown

Youth Minister, Bleak House Baptist Church

Woodville, Mississippi

Copyright (c) 2015

For today’s message, the Spirit of God led me to Isaiah Chapter 6 and verse 8:

“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I send me.”

May the Lord add a blessing to the readers, hearers and doers of his holy word.

My subject is, “It’s a Blessing to Be a Soldier in the Army of the Lord.”

I prayed to the Lord and I said, “Lord, what should I tell your people?”

And I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Eva, let the work I’ve done speak for me. When I was resting in my grave, there was nothing that could be said. The work I had done spoke for me.”

Jesus said, “Eva, this servant now cannot speak for herself. But her record is on high. Trust me, Eva. Every child of God’s got a record on high.”

Jesus said, “Let it be known, Eva, she deserves everything that has been done this day to honor the life she has lived on that side.

“Eva, some call her a warrior for civil rights, but I call her servant, because she was one of my soldiers. Yes, she was a soldier in the army of the Lord! Oh Eva, it’s a blessing to be a soldier in the army of the Lord! Eva, she was called for active duty!”

Jesus said, “Eva, in order to be in my army, you must be willing to put your life on the line. She did this many times as a soldier. Trust me, Eva, you must speak when others are afraid. She not only spoke with the mouth, but she wrote with the pen.”

Jesus said, “Eva, tell my children these are not your words, but the words of the Lord.”

Jesus said, “Eva, she had so much to say, she had to write it down. Eva, there are many ways to fight in an army and it’s not always with bullets and guns.”

Jesus said, “Let it be known she fought faithfully until the end.”

Jesus said, “Eva, tell my children these are not your words. They are mine.

Jesus said, “Eva, I compare this soldier to Isaiah: They both used their mouths for their weapons. They both served me during a time when many didn’t want to listen to what they had to say. But they just couldn’t hold their peace. Like Isaiah, she was hated by many, but she was under my protection. I kept her safe until the day I called her home. Trust me, Eva. Like her, Isaiah wrote a book. Isaiah was one of the major prophets.”

Jesus said, “Eva, like any child of God, Isaiah had some good days and some bad days. Eva, the one you call Anne Moody, had some good days and some bad days, but she kept on fighting.”

Jesus said, “Eva, tell my children these are not your words, but the words of the Lord. Children of God, these are not my words, but the words of the Lord.

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Would you like to know more about Anne Moody?

Visit the Anne Moody page here!

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For more information: 

See the Anne Moody page here.

Questions about the Anne Moody History Project may be directed to Roscoe Barnes III via email at doctorbarnes3@gmail.com or roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com For updates on Anne Moody history and the on-going work of this community service project, simply follow this blog or follow AMHP on Twitter (@AnneMoodyHP). #ComingOfAgeinMississippi