ONE SHEET
TITLE
HALLELUJAH CHRISTMAS
SUMMARY
Christmas is a glorious time of celebration for family members, young and old. So many memories forged into the lives of each and every one, never forgotten. This is a story of a little girl, Kelly, who grew up as an only child, with a mother (Martha) who wanted every Christmas season to be a grand celebration with her family, and each especially memorable for her baby girl. She also was the kind of woman that wanted everyone to know the reason for the season...the birth of baby Jesus. The two of them would shop together, cook together, plan family parties together, pray together, go to church services together, and even watch Christmas movie classics together as a family every year.
As the years progressed, the memories grew deeper and the relationship sweeter. Every year was another family Christmas celebration, but each with a distinct box of memories. Towards the end of Martha's life, she had to go into the hospital for two months in the Fall of 2022. A couple weeks after being there, she began to see visions and have visitations from family members who had already passed away. She would see these people as if she was seeing through a very "thin veil" into eternity. The last visitation Kelly's mother had was from her very own mother, Elise. She came to tell Martha what a glorious holiday season she was about to experience for the very first time. It was going to be a grand celebration around the great throne of God in heaven. Martha was able to tell her daughter Kelly about the visitations shortly before her death. Kelly said that her mother had told her that indeed...it was going to be a "Hallelujah Christmas."
Kelly wrote this song about two weeks after her momma, Martha, passed away.
HALLELUJAH CHRISTMAS
Written by: Kelly Garner
VERSE 1
I stood there by her bedside, tears streaming down my face
I wondered if the holidays would ever be the same
She looked at me and mumbled, I said “Mother what did you say?”
She said “My momma came to see me just last night, like she did the other day.”
CHORUS
It’s gonna be a Hallelujah Christmas all around the Father’s throne
As we gather round the Christmas tree when we finally get home
We’ll be there with friends and loved ones. We’ll sing a glorious song.
And, have a Hallelujah Christmas, a Christmas I have never known.
VERSE 2
Her family came to see her, to take her by the hand
They waited there beyond the veil to say, “Welcome to the Promised Land!”
My Christmas wouldn’t be the same as it had ever been before
But I can take joy in knowing that now she’s with the Lord
CHORUS
It’s gonna be a Hallelujah Christmas all around the Father’s throne
As we gather round the Christmas tree when we finally get home
We’ll be there with friends and loved ones. We’ll sing a glorious song.
And, have a Hallelujah Christmas, a Christmas I have never known.
BRIDGE
Gloria, Gloria
Gloria, In excelsis deo
CHORUS
It’s gonna be a Hallelujah Christmas all around the Father’s throne
As we gather round the Christmas tree when we finally get home
We’ll be there with friends and loved ones. We’ll sing a glorious song.
And, have a Hallelujah Christmas, a Christmas I have never known.
TAG
Gloria, In excelsis deo
©2023 Garner House Music/BMI (admin. Andie.Rankins@pmgsonymusic.com).
STORYBOARD/PHOTO GALLERY
Martha, 5 years old, with brothers, Cecil Jr. and Charles
Martha's brother, Cecil Jr., with toys on Christmas morning
Martha (center) with family on Christmas morning, late 1940's
Kelly with baby dolls all set up for tea on Christmas morning
Martha with brothers, Charles and Cecil playing with they new Christmas puppy
Martha with brothers on Christmas morning opening gifts
Charles looking over his new tricycle on Christmas morning
Family gathering on Christmas morning
Martha with brothers and cousin on Christmas morning
Cousin Jerry and brother Charles with Papa Yancey on Christmas Day
Family gathered around the table for Christmas lunch at Martha's parents. (Elise center with Kelly by her side)
Kelly with cousin and Papa Yancey for Christmas lunch
Kelly with cousins on Christmas morning
Martha and Kelly at Granny and Papa's house on Christmas
Family picture on Christmas Eve
Kelly with family on Christmas Day
Family all around the table for Christmas lunch
Martha with her momma, Elise, on Christmas Eve
Cousin Camp with Panda gift for Christmas
A table full of food and fun conversation on Christmas morning.
Food for Elise's community Christmas party
Granny and Papa's Christmas tree (Mrs. Maddox in the background)
Mother-daughter bond begins
Early years in the Garner family, Kelly in elementary school
Family portrait in the early years, Kelly in middle school
Family portrait (1984) Kelly as a teenager
Christmas cakes made by Martha and Elise
The bed held all the Christmas wrapping secrets
Opening Christmas presents at Granny and Papa's house
Kelly's grandmothers visit while Cecil carries out his packages
Training the early, Camp playing the organ while everyone else eats supper at Christmas
Mrs. Maddox and Elise, best friends, discussing all their hard work for Christmas
Uncle Jim and baby Camp opening presents
Papa Yancey in his favorite chair beside the Christmas tree
Kelly standing just behind Granny and Pap's Christmas tree on Christmas Day
Martha and Kelly, buddies, enjoying Christmas Day
Christmas Eve wrappings. Kelly wrapping gifts, while Elise attaches gift tags to her latest oil paintings, a yearly tradition
Grandma Yancey with the recipe stand about to try a new Christmas goodie
Kelly taking a break from wrapping on Christmas Eve with her Granny, Elise
Martha trimming the tree for her momma and daddy
Martha, Cecil Jr, Mrs Maddox and Elise at Martha's before a meal
Martha with her Daddy, Cecil Yancey Sr.
Elise, Family friend, Ali and Daddy Jim about to fill their plates
Martha sits on the organ bench to open this open this gift
"My oh My" at the presents around that tree
Jim and Martha after exchanging gifts
Family portrait with Clarence the Big Dog at Kelly's house in Franklin, TN
Martha in her apron, straight from the kitchen to trimming the tree
Martha's Sunday School class party. Fun times!
Martha taking a break from cooking Christmas cookies with a few Fritos!
One of Martha's favorite delicacies, Olive Surprises
Martha's class party photo, Santa is Jim
Class Christmas party group photo
Martha is proud of her tree decorations in the pool table room
Another Sunday School Class Party with Santa at the end of the table
Martha and Kelly at Martha's brother Cecil, Jr.s house on Christmas
Martha enjoying making a new recipe for Christmas in her kitchen.
Martha with some sillyness in the middle of making a new recipe
Martha sitting in her living room
Martha and Kelly laughing hysterically about something, common for them
Martha sitting in her favorite chair after a day of cooking for Christmas
Martha with her decorations in the back room of her home
Martha having just completed cooking 8 Howard Johnson cakes in one day
Martha and Kelly making dressing for Christmas Day
Martha loved singing in the church choir cantata
Family photo in front of the Christmas tree, except we can't see the tree!
Martha with her brother Cecil, Jr.
Martha and baby Clarence at Kelly's house
Martha just finishing up on over 100 teacakes for Christmas
Martha with her brother Cecil, Jr.
Martha's dessert table
Martha's party tier, full of candies for Christmas
The Yancey family at Christmas
Martha going home for Christmas after a hospital stay in 2021
Martha doing something she enjoyed doing her whole life, spending time reading the word of God
Martha teaching one of the women's conferences that she did frequently
Martha making one of her offices visits to a kidney doctor in a Birmingham hospital
Martha had to go into the hospital to remove some fluid in 2022. She and Kelly said "Uh Oh"
Martha's friend Faye made her day by coming to see her in the hospital
Martha was feeling pretty good, but still trying to get the fluid off
Martha in the rehab facility able to sit in a recliner
Martha doing what she loved most in the rehab facility, study her bible
Martha still writing in the margins in her bible
Martha sitting on her bed, but loved to read her bible all day.
Martha had lost some weight and still wasn't feeling good, but was trying to think positive and trust the Lord
Martha in rehab trying to feel better, giving us a thumbs up
Martha trying to get on her feet again rehab, getting a little help using her walker
Martha had to go back to the hospital after taking a turn for the worse, getting septic.
Martha still reading her bible sick as she was. She had already had a vision overnight and was about to have 2 more, the last from her mother...
Martha was beginning to get weak and just wanted Kelly to hold her up.
This was the last time Martha was at Kelly's house. Kelly was unusually emotional, as if it might be the last time...
Martha loved the beach during her life. She would look at the horizon many times, as if into eternity...
Martha was ready to go. Sad to leave her family, but ready to see Jesus.
She waited at the gate...ready to cross over beyond the veil and finally get to lay down her burdens and trails...
She stepped through that "veil" on October 28, 2022...
On the other side of the "veil," she emerged as this woman, this body, in her prime, ready to hear her Savior say, "Well done" and take on a robe and crown...in eternity. No more suffering...no more trials... Truly it was a "Hallelujah Christmas!"
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Kelly Garner
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Kelly Garner
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Franklin, TN 37068-0905
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