In April of 1968 God brought a very special person into my life in the person of Becky Graham. I immediately had a kindred spirit! I was 12 years old and Becky was 14. We grew up together in a small town.  Becky's dad was my pastor so a great deal of our time was spent in activities with our youth group. There was youth rallies, camp, and Christmas plays to name just a few. In our teen years Becky and I, along with Joanna Lesley and my sisters began singing together. What a wonderful time we had. There were a lot of sleep overs and everything that went with them. We would laugh till we cried and then turn around and cry till we laughed.......we were teenage girls. I had not seen Becky since the death of her father but we had been able to catch up and be a part of each other's lives via Facebook. Although my sweet friend has left this earth she will forever live on in the memories that I hold close to my heart and one day we will have the privilege of singing together again around the throne of our wonderful Lord and Saviour.

At this difficult time I pray that God will grant you the peace that you need.
Becky will never truly leave, for she is still alive in your heart.  And, one day we will be together with our loved ones in heaven. May the love and mercy of our Lord be bestowed upon you and the entire family.  My sincere condolences.

I did not know Rebecca Gotaas as well as I knew Becky Graham. We grew up together at our church-Tabernacle Baptist Church, in Salisbury, NC. Becky's dad, Gene Graham, was our pastor. He called our church "The Church with a Heart for Souls". He had a real burden for the lost. Becky was the fun-loving, energetic and talented preacher's daughter. She loved the Lord, played the piano, and sang with us in trios at youth rallies and camps. She attended East Rowan High School and went to football games and chemistry class--she was happy--happy all the time--no matter where she was. Becky was a wonderful Christian girlfriend. She loved her family--Sammy (who she constantly teased), Amy (who she doted on), and her Mom very much, but more importantly, she loved the Lord Jesus. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that she is in heaven with the Lord--and with her Mom and Dad. She wrote about how much she missed her parents. I saw photos of her with her children and her grandchildren and I know that she loved them, and I know that they are experiencing heartache. We don't understand why God takes someone like Becky. 1 Corinthians 13:12-13 reads, "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." I know that when I see Becky in heaven, I will know her--she will be just like I remember---smiling, laughing, loving--happy. Goodbye, dear one.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18  “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.  According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore encourage one another with these words.”