A faithful member of Christ The King Baptist Church, CTK, former Riverside High School graduate, a student at Milwaukee Area Technical College, and a diligent and punctual worker at Kings Academy School-Samaritan Project, Ms. Azeeza Ahki, the beloved daughter of Beverly Benson-Kern, went from labor to rest on Tuesday, May 30. Her funeral services were held on Silent Saturday, June 10, 2023, at CTK.

During the ceremony, no seat was left open, from the pulpit to the pews and in the waiting area in the corridor where some mourners sat and recalled Ahki’s 36th-year-old life, love, and legacy of her two children.

“Please come to the repast (ribs, fried chicken, baked chicken, mac and cheese, cake, punch, and more.) We want to hear from you. You have a loving family from here in Chicago. It takes a village to raise a child. Times will get hard, niece and nephew. I will be here for you.”

Auntie Jamila Benson

At the ceremony, Rev. Judy Amos was the Officiant, Pastor Marlon Rock gave remarks, and Member Niko Owens read the Proclamations citing two scriptures for the bereaved.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. The Free Bible translates the passage as: Blessed are those who grieve, for they shall be consoled.”

Matthew 5:4

25 “Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,

26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

John 11:25

Before Pastor John Wesley McVicker gave the Eulogy, he added,

“She’s unique. Her name is a Pal·in·drome-A word, phrase, or sequence that reads the same backward as forward.” 

Pastor John Wesley McVicker, Sr.

I never saw that energy. Azeeza always had a hat covering; you had to look up to see her. She was a joy to know. We’re better because of her.

Pastor McVicker

She had plans to make it to Culinary School. She lived her funeral. She lived her Eulogy.”

Pastor McVicker

Pastor McVicker’s sermon was entitled, “Why? from Luke 13: 1-9.

Luke 13

New International Version

Repent or Perish

13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

McVicker continues, “Couldn’t understand why the innocent die so young. They wanted an answer. Did they ask Jesus Why? What happened? We seek answers. Why?

the·od·i·cy

noun

• the vindication of divine goodness and providence in view of the existence of evil.
• “The question of theodicy”

A theodicy defense is a good and powerful God in the present world with evil and suffering.

Job, a man, describes Job as a perfect man- Upright. He lost his children, health, a true devotion to his God. Theodicy contradicted his life and faith in Jesus. Jesus did not respond to why the good suffer and die while the wicked escape misfortune. We live in an imperfect world. In our world, there are tragedies. The wicked prosper. The good suffer. Dark clouds are on the, and the sun shines on the wicked.

Society is sinful. The innocent are victims of misfortune—expenses of unfair situations. Bring pain and problems to Jesus.

We who are living do not be concerned with the circumstances of those who died. It’s not why did Azeeza die. The question to ask is, Why am I still living? Not to blame God or ourselves with the word- if. Is there any good reason God should permit me to live? No one can change the past. We can make better use of the present. Look introspectively.

Pastor McVicker

6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 

Verse 6

Every life has a purpose. The trees’ goal is to provide fruit. The fruit was not for the trees to enjoy. The tree/purpose senses that we need to bear fruit in life. Life is not measured by how much you own. Life is fulfilling your purpose. 

8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.

Verse 8

Leave it alone. It is yet to be developed. The potential was present. It could bear fruit. The tree was made to bear fruit. It was created to bear fruit. The fig tree never bears any pears.

Some of us take longer to blossom. The tree has purpose, potential, and 

9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

Verse 9

Because of its potential, the owner agreed to prolong the tree’s life. We’re still here with hopes and purpose. Found and polluted is unfulfilled. We’re left in the world because the potential was there. Why am I still here? One day the day is coming when that happens. None of us know. Our best days can be our last days. You can say, “Tomorrow, I will kick the habit.” Come back to church. The only time you have is now.

36-year-old, Azeeza’s quality was not measured by thickness but based on what’s on the page—Azeeza’s fruit-her children. Testify as the examples benefit fruit of life. It’s not about death but about life. Discover your purpose, and maximize your potential. All we have is now. Tomorrow might be too late.

The massive yet sorrowful crowd awaited and joined the equine with carriage for the dearly departed Azeeza to her final resting place.