Friday - 10/18
ST. LUKE’S
A large crowd had gathered the next day for John’s funeral. His family and friends were all taking their seats. All of the Bradys, Hortons, Johnsons, Deverauxs, Kiriakises, Carvers, as well as Tony and Anna and Chad and Abby had shown up. Among the many people who had come were various ISA agents, both past and present. Belle stood by Marlena’s side, their arms around each other. Father James walked over to them. Marlena sighed.
MARLENA: Well…I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for this, but I suppose it’s time.
Father James nodded. As everyone else took their seats, Brady walked over to Belle and Marlena, and stood on Marlena’s other side. Together, the three of them walked down the aisle and sat in the front pew. Father James walked up to the pulpit.
JAMES: Good morning. We are gathered today to say farewell to our brother in Christ, John Black, husband of Marlena Evans-Black, son of Timothy Robicheaux, father of Brady Black, Greta von Amberg and Isabella Brady. He has joined his mother, Maude, and his son Michael, as well as the rest of his family in the eternal afterlife. Please rise for a hymn.
The congregation rose and sang a hymn, “
On Eagle’s Wings”, then they sat down. Eric walked up to the pulpit.
ERIC: A reading from the Book of Job, Chapter 19, beginning with the 23rd verse. “Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book! That they were engraved on a rock with an iron pen and lead, forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”. Word of God, word of life.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
Eric returned to his seat. Father James returned to the pulpit.
JAMES: I admittedly did not know John as well as I should like to. However, just from looking out at the crowd gathered here today, I can see just how well loved he was. At this time, I wish to invite those who knew and loved John to share some words, should they wish to.
Father James returned to his seat. One by one, people came up to speak about John. There were so many people that we would be here for hours if we heard everything that was said, so here are a few snippets of what some people said about John.
BO: John was…he was like a brother to me. Heck, for a time, he was my brother. And what a brother he was. Truth is, he never stopped being one. I’ll always think of him as that, another brother.
ERIC: For the first several years of my life, John was my father. And even after my real father came back, he was still a father figure. I feel very blessed to have been raised by two wonderful men.
STEVE: He was my partner, my best friend. The things we went through together…I couldn’t’ve wished for a better guy to go through them with. We had this relationship where we barely had to say a word, just a simple glance, and I could guess what he was thinkin’, and vice versa
Steve turned to the coffin.
STEVE: Rest easy, partner. We’re gonna miss ya, down here.
CARRIE: Whatever happened, I knew that he would always be there. He was one of the best men I’ve ever known.
Samantha pushed an old man in a wheelchair up to the altar. This is John’s father, Timothy. He got out of the wheelchair and, using a cane, walked up to the pulpit.
TIMOTHY: John and I…we only got to know each other for the last year or so. I spent most of my life trying to find my son. And from the sound of it, he spent most of his life trying to find me. I wish we had had more time to get to know each other, but I treasure the moments we have had together this last year. Even knowing him for such a comparatively short amount of time…I’m so proud to say that John Black is my son.
ROMAN: I think out of all the people here, John and I had the most unique relationship. I’ll admit, at first I was resentful of him. But, as time went on and I got to know him, we became friends. If anyone had to be me when I wasn’t able to be there, I’m glad it was him.
SHANE: He was one of my best agents, and one of the best men I’ve ever had the pleasure to know.
SAMI: To say that John and I had a rocky relationship would probably be an understatement. I certainly didn’t make things easy for him at times. But no matter what I did, no matter how much crap I gave him and my Mom…John never gave up on me. Even at my worst, he kept trying…trying to show me that he knew that I was more than all of the stupid mistakes I made. (voice breaking) And I loved him. I just wish…I wish I’d been able to tell him. I hope he knew.
VIVIAN: I knew John from a young age. He was adopted by my late brother, Leopold, so I got to watch him grow up. And then I got to meet him again as a man. Oftentimes, we had opposing views, but I have always held a soft spot in my heart for my dear nephew. And now, he has joined Leopold and my darling Lawrence.
GRETA: I didn’t meet John until I was in my late teens. Even then, I didn’t know for certain that he was my father for another two decades. I had always hoped that he was. But even before I found out, Dad was the most loving man I had ever known, and I shall miss him terribly.
BRADY: I wasn’t always the easiest kid to deal with, especially in my late teens. But, even though I didn’t always want to see it, Dad was always there for me. Always. And as I entered my 20s, I began to see that, and we became the best of friends. And then, I ended up having to unexpectedly go away for a long while. And when I came back, Dad was the first one to welcome me with open arms. It was as if no time had passed, we had gone right back to how things had always been between us.
BELLE: When I was a little girl, I thought my Dad was a superhero. And as I grew up and learned what his job was, I realized that he kind of was. He was always my hero. Always there for me, whenever I needed him. He was the best father in the world.
Marlena took a deep breath and gripped the pulpit.
MARLENA: Well, as you’ve heard from everyone who’s spoken today, John had many roles. He had many lives, many names. John Robicheaux, Forrest Alamain, the Pawn, Roman Brady, John Stevens, Father John, Ryan Brady. But to me, he was always John Black. He was my soulmate. From the moment I saw him, I was in love. John and I, we had so many years together, so many adventures. Perhaps this is greedy of me, but I wish we had had even longer. I don’t believe there are words to express how much I miss him. It’s as if a part of me is gone with him. The one thing I hold onto is that at the end, John knew how loved he was, and his family knew how much he loved them.
After everyone had finished speaking, Father James stood again.
JAMES: Let us pray. Heavenly Father, into Your hands, we commend our brother, John Black. Watch over his family, comfort them in this time of grief. Though we here on earth are deeply saddened by his passing, we know that he has found everlasting peace in Your loving embrace. Bless us and keep us, reminding us and giving us comfort in the fact that we will see him again when we, too, join You in our heavenly home. In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
After this, he led them in the Lord’s Prayer. After the prayer, Claire stood up. She had spoken earlier during the service, but now she stood in place. She looked up at the large portrait of John at the front, and then around the room. Softly, she began to sing “Amazing Grace”. Several people picked up the tune, and by the time she got to the final verse, everyone was singing along with her. They watched as the casket was removed from the church, and everyone got up and followed it to the cemetery. Marlena, all three of John’s children, and all four of his grandchildren were given a flower. Two ISA agents took the flag that draped the casket, folded it, and gave it to Marlena.
SHANE: John Black served the International Security Alliance for many years, and was one of its best agents. As Director of the ISA, it is my duty and honour to award him with the highest honour possible for a special agent.
Assistant Director von Dyne handed a plaque to Marlena. This was followed by a gun salute. After this, Claire, Tate, Katalin, Emmaline, Belle, Greta, Brady and Marlena placed their flowers on the casket.
MARLENA (quietly): Goodbye, my love.
In Loving Memory ofDrake HogestynSeptember 29, 1953 - September 28, 2024
