Night Songs: Life in the Midst of Death

(Paperback)

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"NIGHT SONGS: Life in the Midst of Death" is a compelling reflection of life, death, and spirituality. Throughout her book, author Phyllis Mayo tells the death stories of 38 people. Each is unique and shares an up-lifting thought, "even in the midst of death." The stories begin with the death of the author's friend before they started first grade. The stories continue up until the month before the author's retirement. Some stories are profoundly sad, while others are humorous. Music lyrics are incorporated, describing the challenges, joys, and celebrations of life on earth and life eternal.

The reflections in this book came as stories or "songs in the night" to Mayo. As she became familiar with The Book of Common Prayer, she was always struck by the words, "In life we are in the midst of death." Those words, while true, seemed not to tell the whole story. She believes they should be amended to include, "yet in death we are in the midst of life." This belief is born out in the stories, or "songs," she tells here. As she has witnessed hundreds of deaths, there seem always to be indicators that life is still real, even for those who have died. Even though there is no proof of this, the author's experiences of witnessing dying, and death have brought her to believe, together with some Scriptural indications, that life continues in a way we cannot yet know. Thus, her "night songs" are really the story of "life in the midst of death."

Author Bio

Phyllis L. Mayo retired in 2019 after thirty-five years of employment at Springmoor Retirement Community in Raleigh, North Carolina. She first served as social worker for seven years, and then served as chaplain for twenty-eight years. In 1975, Phyllis graduated from Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College) in Wilson, NC, majoring in music. Following graduation, she studied voice for one year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She then attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, graduating in 1979 with a master of divinity with church music degree. She also earned a master of social work degree at UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating in 1990. Phyllis was ordained in the Baptist church in 1993. She has never married but finds joy in family and friends. As a current resident of Springmoor, she now resides among those she served.