Hundreds of mourners will attend the funeral of 15 year old Braxton Caner, fondly remembering the son of prominent Baptist college President Ergun Caner, who committed suicide yesterday.
Braxton Caner, the son of prominent Baptist minister Ergun Caner
According to a post on the Facebook page of the Aledo Class of 2017, the funeral service for Braxton will take place on Saturday, August 2 at 2 p.m. at the New River Fellowship Church in Hudson Oaks, Texas.
Ergun Cane, who is the president of Brewton-Parker Baptist College in Georgia, expressed devastation at his son's death.
"No words. No sermon. No funny quotes. No answers. No note. Nothing but excruciating pain & the assurance that I'll see him in glory," Caner tweeted on Wednesday.
Later, the pastor posted a Bible verses found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 which read:
"But I would not have you be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will bring God with him."
The official statement released by Brewton-Parker College revealing Braxton's death focused on the fact that he "came to faith in Christ at the tender age of 6 and was baptized by his dad at the Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia."
The next day, Caner tweeted a picture of himself baptizing a 6 year old Braxton with the caption, "Time doesn't matter. Moments do."
Kay Warren, wife of popular pastor and author Rick Warren, whose son Matthew committed suicide last year, extended deep sympathies to the Caner family.
"No words, only tears and prayers for the family of Braxton Caner," she tweeted.
On Wednesday, the Evangelical Christian community was left reeling after Braxton's death was confirmed via the Brewton-Parker College website:
"Our hearts are filled with great sorrow as the entire Brewton-Parker College family grieves with its beloved President, Dr. Ergun Caner, his wife Jill, and Drake, their youngest son over the tragic death of their oldest son and big brother, Braxton Paige Caner. Braxton was born March 8, 1999 in Denver, Colorado. He came to faith in Christ at the tender age of six and was baptized by his dad at the Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Braxton would later reaffirm his commitment to Christ at a youth camp under the preaching of evangelist Tony Nolan. Consequently, he began travelling with his dad and sharing his faith on mission trips, evangelistic meetings, Bible conferences, and youth camps in forty-one states as well as foreign countries including Kenya, Israel, Wales, and the Bahamas. He was a member of the Willow Park Baptist Church in Aledo, Texas.
Braxton Caner was energetic and outgoing. In football, he held a starting guard position for the Aledo High School Bearcats and was to enter his sophomore year next month."
All expressions of sympathy may be addressed to The Caner Family in care of Brewton-Parker College P.O. Box 197 Mount Vernon, GA 30445, or via email at TheCanerFamily@bpc.edu.
