The Story of Mom
I want to Thank the Ringgold Church for hosting the service. We thought the Tryon Church would not have enough seats and we knew Mom would want a Church Funeral. Many thanks to Pastor Jon Parsons. There used to be a school right across the street and Mom taught a lot of years there, so Ringgold is a part of who Mom was. I also want to thank Mike Montgomery with Adams & Swanson. Mike was a familiar face to us because Mom played for so many funerals in the Sandhills. Mike and Mom knew each other well. Mike has handled all the affairs with Mom and it really has put our hearts at ease.
Many of you may know that my Brothers and myself were “late bloomers”. Mom was so afraid she wasn’t going to get grandchildren. I think there were several other women in Mom’s circle of friends whose grandchildren had already had children before my brothers and I beared any fruit for Mom. Addison was the first. Liz wasn’t sure if Mom really liked her or just liked her because she seemed to be fertile and could bear grandchildren. It was a joke between Liz and I that there was a chance that Mom would push the doctor out of the way and catch Addison herself! When Mom acquired grandchildren she acquired them all at once. And she loved them all…. Alani remembers making endless microwave cakes where a recipe was never used. Mom rarely used a recipe for much. It was all dump, pour and taste. Once it met the taste test approval, it was served. The girls have tried to replicate Mom’s dinner rolls multiple times, but for some reason the written recipe is not what they end up with at home. Grandma’s dinner rolls were best.
Where do you begin? I think that is the question we all ask when we are trying to put together the perfect words to describe a life. Mom was involved in so many lives that I think 12 different people could be standing here and give 12 different eulogies but at the end, they would all end the same.. How much she meant to them and how she shaped the trajectory of their life. Without a doubt, I could stand here and tell you funny, heart-warming stories of Mom. I am sure we all have a memory that we shared with Mom that could bring a smile to our face, a chuckle and joy to our heart. Without a doubt, we should celebrate those memories. But now, as we are saying goodbye, I think we should take this time and reflect on who Mom was.
Galatians 5:13-14 says:
You, my brothers and sisters were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
You call me Teacher and Lord and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should wash one another’s feet.
I think we can all agree, it was work for Jesus to wash the feet of his disciples. It was inconvenient and may have been uncomfortable. I am not sure.. But Jesus was setting a precedent. No matter how big or small the task may be, we must get over our humility and serve one another.
Mom endlessly served. Serving was what brought purpose and meaning to her life. Mom served others through the chalkboard in a one room school, sharing a piano bench with an aspiring musician and playing the organ or piano for the Church and Congregation she loved. I don’t believe there was a wedding or funeral in the Tryon Community Church that Mom didn’t play for. Mom’s door was never closed. If you were to stop by and visit, you were greeted with a smile. She would start the oven and bake cookies to serve you a warm treat with ice cream or homemade canned peaches on the side. If the visit carried over to dinner time, it just became an expectation to stay for dinner. Mom would reassure that it was not an inconvenience as she prepared a meal for more.
Mom served her family. I can personally attest to all the meals she made, the tears she patted dry, the clothes mended and the unconditional love that she gave. She served us breakfasts and dinners; Homemade donuts and birthday cakes. She made us blankets and afghans. She found a way to warm us when we were cold, fill our stomach when we were hungry and lend us a hand when we needed help. Mom and Dad’s love for my Brothers and I never ended. Her serving us as our Mother continued even as her health deteriorated. During her worst of times, she found a way to personally make a Christmas present for each family, each daughter in law, grandchild along with friends and family. A present not rich in value, but made and engrained with love.
Mom served her Dad and Siblings. After their Wife and Mother passed away Elnora stepped in to be a part time Mom to her younger siblings Leora and Errol who were still at home. Her Dad, Lee, had a permanent seat at the Sunday dinner table. Mom knew when Grandpa was sick that tapioca pudding was always the cure. She kept a close eye on her brother Wayne and was there for him when he needed her most. She milked the cow for Vernon when he took the kids on vacation and always made sure Errol was at home when he flew back for Christmas.
Mom found purpose in the simple things in life. She could find value in things that most people would discard. On her Christmas tree there would be all of these raggedy ornaments. Time had taken its toll and many probably should have been tossed out years ago. She could tell you the story behind each one. Craig and Trevor made these in 5th grade. Gina made this one while at the Ringgold School. “She has so much artistic talent.” she would say. We made these in 1994 and the kids had so much fun. Each ornament had a story and each story had meaning to Mom. Mom had a different relationship with the kids at the Ringgold School. Most were not only her students but also her nieces and nephews. It was school but it was also family.
If you were to see Mom’s study Bible it was one she found at an auction. Dad said there was a box of books that no one was bidding on and in that box was a Bible. Mom knew that Bible would be thrown away if she didn’t bid on it. A dollar later Mom took this rickety old family Bible home and it became the one she wrote in, stuffed full of notes and memories. If you flip through this Bible there isn’t a page that doesn’t have Mom’s handwriting on it. A Bible with no value and no meaning was put on the auction block. Over the years, Mom packed this Bible full of meaning and memories. She poured her heart into it and now it has indescribable value. Mom also found a way to do this with the people in her life.
At the end of life I think we call have questions about what our legacy is?? As I look out into this Church, I see Mom’s Family and Friends. Her husband of 60 years; her sons that she loved and never stopped caring for. I see daughter in laws whom she adopted as her own and grandkids that she wished and longed for. I see brothers and sisters that never left her side and a Church congregation that she dedicated her life to. I see students she studied relentlessly for and a community she had passion for… I see a group of people she loved unconditionally. My Mom’s legacy will not be a large ranch, stacks of cash or a pile of gold. Mom’s legacy is all of you. At the end of this road, Mom gave each of you her most valued treasures. Her heart was her diamonds…Her wisdom her pearls. Her song was her jewels and her time was her gold. For 80 years it was all of you who gave purpose and meaning to Mom’s life…
I have asked that the doors of the Church to be cracked open. Everyone, please grab a hymn and turn to page 85 and let’s sing Amazing Grace as a church congregation and a family. I don’t think anything would make Mom happier than to know that a favorite old Hymn was sung at her funeral. Please sing loud, with joy and sing with your heart. Let’s let this song carry into the streets and ring through the Sandhills. Let’s give Mom one last song….