We've heard it said that the true measure of a life isn't the dates on a tombstone but the dash in between them. Measured that way, few centenarians will leave behind a legacy as deep and profoundly positive as our sweet Lukas Duwayne Williamson has in just four all-too-short years. Truth be told, we all sensed that there was something a little different about Luke from the very beginning. He was patient and giving and remarkably gentle for such a little fellow. But there was always a certain wisdom about Luke that belied his age. For Luke, a day spent outside was a day well spent. And surely no child has ever loved the beach like he did. With a baseball cap and sunglasses, he'd play in the sand until the last of the light faded away. Fittingly, Luke loved superheroes, especially Spider-man. He had Spider-man t-shirts, sweatshirts, pajamas, and socks. We're not sure he ever ventured into public without some Spiderman accessory. When it came time for Luke to summon his own superhuman strength to fight childhood cancer, he was well equipped to do battle. And that brings us to trains. Luke was obsessed with trains. Thomas, Connor, and Caitlyn were his favorites, but if it had a whistle and ran on tracks, Luke was enamored by it. Luke was a family man through and through, and home was his happy place. Our boy had a family entourage almost everywhere he went – aunts who knew exactly the right "big prizes" to bring when they came to visit, uncles he affectionately called "cheese balls," an Opa who taught him to love Angry Birds, and a GiGi who shared Luke's love for horses. Though separated by thousands of miles, Luke's smile always got brighter when Papo came to visit and searched for hidden treasures with him, and Granma always made sure his trains had fresh batteries. And an outdoor adventure was always sure to be had when Papaw came to town. But, it wouldn't take you long to figure out that his kind little heart really beat for his Mama, his Dado, and his little brother Jake. The bond between these two little boys was boundless. Not once did Luke accept a sticker, a toy, or a stuffed animal without first asking for one for his little brother. Brothers. Best friends. Partners in crime. Thank goodness families are forever. In July 2014, Luke was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. In a matter of just a few hours, Luke's life as he knew it was turned upside down. He faced surgeries and chemotherapy and an endless battery of tests with unabated bravery and a special kind of grace that can only be defined as celestial. Even on his darkest days, even when his legs failed him, even when his voice was taken from him, even when the pain seemed too much for one so small to be able to bear, a thumbs-up and a cheesy better-days-are-coming grin were always at the ready. Such heroism, valor, and unapologetic optimism inspired us all. In Luke's final months, his Mama and Dado never left his side. And that's not hyperbole. There was never a moment, not a split-second, when at least one of his parents weren't at his side. They were his cheerleaders, his advocates, his comfort, and, ultimately, his caregivers. They earned the respect and admiration of doctors, nurses, social workers, and all who witnessed the highest and best use of parental love in action. But it's not really such a stretch to think that a superhero's parents might have a little superhuman strength of their own, is it? Some have innocently suggested that Luke lost his battle with cancer. Together, we proclaim that Luke has "fought the good fight, finished [his] course, and kept the faith." The grave has no victory and the pain of this earth has no more claim upon his body. He came. He loved. He laughed. (A lot.) He cared. He taught. He prayed. He fought. And he won the prize of exaltation and eternal life. His Heavenly Father loved him first, his Savior Jesus Christ loved Him in the Garden and on the cross, and with them, we'll all love Luke forever. Lukas's memory will live on in the hearts of his parents, Joshua and Shannon Williamson, of Crumpler; a brother, Jakob Williamson, of Crumpler; his maternal grandparents, Donald and Bridget Winn, of Grassy Creek; his paternal grandfather, Gerald Jud Williamson, of Indiana; his paternal grandparents, Cheryl and Les Jakofsky, of California; his maternal great-grandmother Annie Laura Graham of South Carolina; his maternal great-grandfather Gene Winn of Georgia; his paternal great-grandfather Real "Pepere" Roy; his uncles, Joseph Winn and Jonathan Winn, both of Grassy Creek; his aunts, Kristen Maready and husband, Marc, of Winston-Salem, Kimberly Winn, of Snow Camp, Katherine Winn, of Grassy Creek, Kiri Williamson, of Indiana, Glitter Williamson, of Indiana, Courtney Jakofsky, of California, and Jayme Williamson, of Indiana. Several cousins, great aunts, and great uncles also love Lukas. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 pm on Friday, February 26, 2016 at Boone Family Funeral Home.