The family of Charlie Daniels received a touching gift from fellow Grand Ole Opry member, Randy Travis. Randy and his wife, Mary, gave them three wooden crosses, decorated with flowers, which the family shared on social media.
“Three wooden crosses from Mary and Randy Travis,” the family said in a post on The Charlie Daniels Band Facebook page. “We really appreciate it.”
https://www.facebook.com/charliedanielsband/photos/a.10152031766648287/10158997742223287/?type=3&theater
Randy spoke out about the loss of Charlie, praising “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” singer for his enduring friendship over the years.
“Charlie Daniels was one of the finest gentlemen I have ever known,” Randy said, sharing a video of Charlie praying with Randy. “He, and Hazel, have been two of my and Mary’s dearest friends over the past years. We laughed, cried and prayed together. Not only was he a gift to us, but to the entire world. A few years ago, Charlie had a colt born on my birthday and named him after me.
“The memories go on and on, so I’ll leave it at this — Charlie, thank you for everything you’ve done for me, your endless support of us, your unconditional love, and the sweet memories,” he continued. “It is my greatest honor to be your Country Music Hall of Fame classmate–you will live on forever as my hero… my friend. I love you.”
https://www.facebook.com/randytravis/videos/1625846547603252/?__xts__[0]=68.ARB_h-pHzU5KFBJo2xzRMvGuX79kK1jBn0INJlXg51UBRIQFOtp1n00tqbfERv41wA54XwSANtEqyOz5fy6M3ehEL3yfns11Cy0MwNDDZUOa1MWfSU0honjOMebw2t-8gQFRpggsPXEix-vdOZ7amBS3D3tQT0dPLi4qHOX57WT-pGgBVqaAtcSwUOsGKNlSuQePphNboHRTf_qYr59F86Mbpjigy8aCsTi5T7_cSqaGUOGmi85ixI_moXS7lYYk0VJHAYyr8UnuVwEisG5A3i0wBJMPKWl7jOWaprO6dQo-KmTNATOlJFeGPWIU03rNiIRF25mmUiqGcWtu_AbPgSMgDBhDNg&__tn__=-R
Charlie was honored at his funeral on Friday, July 10, with performances by Vince Gill, Gretchen Wilson, Trace Adkins and Travis Tritt.
“I met Charlie 44 years ago,” Vince shared before singing “Go Rest High on That Mountain” and “America the Beautiful.” “I was a 19-year-old kid, just getting my feet wet, and I was in a band with Ricky Skaggs. We were living in Lexington, Kentucky, and Charlie and the boys … everybody came up to play in Lexington, and Ricky and I went. We were about halfway through the show, and sweet Ricky was a real honest bluegrasser, and he had never heard anything quite that loud before. It was a little rough on him, but I loved hearing Les Paul turned up to 14 myself. We met Charlie that night, and all the guys. It was a big deal.
“When you’re a kid and you’re just kind of getting your feet wet, and somebody’s kind to you, somebody reaches out to you, somebody’s friendly to you, you never, ever forget it, for the rest of your life, and that’s the case with me and Charlie,” he added.