A dear friend from our days in Staunton passed away yesterday.  Ted Jordan was much too young and vibrant, but an accident claimed his life and devastated both family and friends. A scholar, gifted writer, carpenter and general contractor, Ted would do anything for anyone.  The 17 trips he took to Honduras to build schools and churches are but one example of the person he was. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Dana and his boys – Ben, Grayson, and Tim – and their families.

I was fortunate to see and talk with Ted for a good while when I was in the Shenandoah Valley last month for the Red Wing Roots Music Festival.  He was at the festival with his granddaughter, Violet and his son, Ben.  I told Candice that evening that it was such a treat to see how much joy Ted’s family brought him at this new stage in life.

There was a time where Ted and I played music together at least once a week for a decade or more.  One of our favorite tunes was the old Shaker hymn Simple Gifts, which we played as an instrumental.  I would finger-pick the melody and Ted flat-picked a lovely harmony line.  To this day, when I play that tune I hear Ted’s guitar doing its thing.

Another of our favorite tunes was Wondrous Love, where Ted played guitar along with my mandolin.  When we got to the final verse, we would sing it a capella.  Ted commented on more than one occasion that I would close my eyes for that verse and let the sound wash over me.  He was right.  There was something about singing on after being freed from death that spoke to both of us at a very deep level.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,

And through eternity, I’ll sing on.

Sing on dear friend.  Rest in peace.

More to come…

DJB