[vypusknye]

To make a long story short, I attended a Baptist funeral in Hunting Park today. For a funeral service, it was as cool as an experience you can have, but I do have a question. There were nurses there, but they were older and wearing old school nurse uniforms, and all 3 of them sat in the front row, directly in front of the casket. They were not family, so what's the deal? Is this customary at a Baptist funeral service?

[SnareeWer]

Although courtesy would be to have those closest to the deceased sitting in the front, I don't think there are any particular rules governing the seating. They like to have the school nurses there to make sure the deceased isn't just faking it.

[TamreuddyRada]

If the service was orchestrated by a pastor and/or a funeral director, and given the uniform clothing, I hypothesis that they were very important to the deceased, and displaying a special, last respect; and seated properly. i.e. the last four members of a WWII or pre-wag graduating class, from the smaller nursing schools once part of St. Mary (Kensington) or St. Josephs (Francisville), or maybe a Korean MASH unit.

If they were the last to leave the ceremony, they were essentially as close as family.

[unfolaReemoma]

I caught up with a family member of the deceased this morning and asked him about the nurses, and he said they were there in case there were any "throwers". "Throwers" are folks that are overcome with emotion and throw themselves either on the ground or on the casket. He went on to explain that "it's a black thing". He is black and the deceased was black. At first, I thought he was pulling my leg, but then I found this.

BAPTIST meaningful tributes

Many African American traditions are incorporated into African American Baptist funeral ceremonies:

A large, elaborate ceremony with friends and family from all over the country.
"Flower Girls", the female counterparts of pallbearers, will give special attention to the closest family members.
"Nurses" in white dresses will care for those who may be overcome by emotion Solos, choir renditions, or other musical offerings will be sung.
A reception line of mourners at the funeral service.
A large reception following the burial with friends and relatives.

[Andrius]

I caught up with a family member of the deceased this morning and asked him about the nurses, and he said they were there in case there were any "throwers". "Throwers" are folks that are overcome with emotion and throw themselves either on the ground or on the casket. He went on to explain that "it's a black thing". He is black and the deceased was black. At first, I thought he was pulling my leg, but then I found this.

BAPTIST meaningful tributes

Wow, this falls under the learning something new everyday category, thanks for sharing this.

[crestosssa]

When you said they had nurse uniforms on, I knew that they were ushers. Usually during regular service, these people control who gets in and they walk you to your seat and if someone catches the holy spirit, they're usually at the persons side, making sure that they don't do anything to hurt themselves. You'd probably be surprised how many people fall out at these funerals. It's usually much different from a Catholic funeral, where people seem to keep their emotions in check and the most you might see is someone brushing a tear from their eye.

One movie that catched what I'm talking about is Ray. There's a scene where the mother of Ray Charles, starts shaking when she walks toward the casket of her dead son she pretty much falls on the casket.