- Titles Last Will and Testament (Proper)
- Artist Reverend Benjamin Franklin Perkins, American, born Vernon, Alabama 1904 - died 1993, Bankston, Alabama
- Medium acrylic on canvas
- Dimensions 28 1/8 x 24 x 1 3/4 in. (71.4 x 61 x 4.4 cm)
- Credit Line Gift of Dr. Wade Hall, Union Springs, Alabama, 2001.203
- Work Type painting
- Classification Paintings
- Signature Recto, lower right, in red paint: B.F.P.
- Inscription Verso, upper right corner, in graphite: 2001.203 Text in image, in red, blue and white paint: I ARIVED ON THE EARTH PLANNET Feb. 6TH 1904 5.15 / A.M. I HAVE ENJOYED 86 YEARS ON THIS PLANNET EARTH / I HAVE MORE THAN 1/2 CENTURY-PREACHING THE GOSPELL TO / PEOPLE IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD ® TELLING PEOPLE THAT / THE BEST LIFE IS THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN SERVING THE LORD MOST / HIGH SO WE CAN BE READY TO LIVE OR DIE ® FOR THE LAST 23 YEARS / I HAVE TRIED TO ORGANIZE A CHURCH IN FAYETTE COUNTY ALA- / BAMA WHERE PEOPLE WOULD LOVE ONE ANOTHER AND LOVE AND / WORSHIP GOD ® BUT SO FAR I HAVE FAILED BUT I WILL CONTINUE / TO TRY UNTILL GOD SAYS IT IS ENOUGH COME ON HOME TO / HEAVEN ® THEN IT IS MY WISH THAT NORWOOD CHAPPEL HAVE / MY FUNERAL MY. NIECES TO SING MY NEPHEWS TO BEE PALL / BEARERS TO CARRY MY BODY GENTLY TO MY BEDGRAVE ® AND / REV - V.T. BURROUGHS TO BE THE MINISTER PLEASE HAVE ® / COMITTAL SERVICES TO COMMIT MY TIRED BODY TO. REST. SLEEP / ® I WILL BE WITH JESUS IN THE HEAVEN ® EVERY BODY TRY / TO COMFORT MY CHILDREN ® BE KIND TO MY WIFE I LOVE / HER ® I HAVE COVETED NO MANS WIFE MONEY OR ANY / THING ELSE THAT IS NOT MINE ® IT IS WISH THAT / ALL OF MY FRIENDS PROSPER IN THIS LIFE AND / ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOUR AND / LIVE FOR GOD DOWN HERE AND MEET ME IN HEAVEN / ® I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST ANY BODY ® AND I LOVE / EVERY BODY THAT I HAVE MET WHILE ON THE / EARTH PLANNET ® I KNOW ACCORDING TO NATURE AT 86 YEARS. THAT I MUST SOON LEAVE THE PRESENT / WALKS OF LIFE I HAVE TRIED TO HELP EVERY BODY ® / SO WHEN DEATH / COMES TO ME / I WILL BE ABLE / TO SAY FARE / YOU WELL ® / MY HEART IS / CLEAN AND / RIGHT WITH / GOD / UNTILL WE / MEET AGAIN IT / GOOD NIGHT / SWEET DREAMS / 3-17-90 - B.F.P.
- Provenance Collection of Wade Hall, Louisville, KY; Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, AL, 2001