September 12th is kind of an eventful day in our family. Three special things happened on that day. I guess I'll have to write three separate posts to cover it all. I'll start with the first event that occurred.
September 12th was my Mamaw Webster's birthday. Zettia Molly Edwards was born in 1913. She would have been 96 today. She married Walter Edwin Webster and they had 11 children. Helen, Faye, Sue, Pat, Edna, Alvin, Earl, Donnie, Diane, Darrell and Jan. They lived at DeArmand's Crossing in Harriman.
The picture below is of Mamaw holding Cotton (Alvin), Edna, Pat (mom), Sue, Faye and Helen holding Earl.
I'm not sure when this picture was made of Mamaw, but probably some time in the 70's. It was made in front of the cornfield that was planted beside their house.
Mamaw did not have an easy life. She raised 11 kids in a tiny house. They had well water and they did not have indoor plumbing until I was a teenager. (I remember making many trips to the little buidling up the hill.) Mamaw suffered from poor circulation and had a condition that caused ulcers on her legs that would not heal. She had to have repeated skin grafts. She suffered with it for as long as I can remember. I do not remember a time when she did not have "Ace" bandages around her legs. I don't remember alot of the details about the skin grafts, but I gained a greater appreciation of all she went through when Debbie had to have her skin graft. Procedures and things are so much better now than they were then. I can only imagine what it was like for her. Her daughter, Sue, drowned when she was 16. Her youngest daughter, Jan, was what they used to call a "change of life" baby and was born mentally handicapped. But you know, I never heard Mamaw complain. She may have, but I never remember hearing her utter one word of complaint about the way things were.
Mamaw always had biscuits made. And as soon as we would come through the door, she would tell us to come get one. When I was younger, there used to be an old upright piano in the living room. I don't remember what she played, but I remember her standing at the piano playing a tune. And "Chopsticks". She taught us to play "Chopsticks". I also remember her dancing the Charleston for us. There always seemed to be music at Mamaw's, since some of the boys played the guitar.
Debbie and I were the "older" cousins. Doug and Donna and Sharon were older than we were, but they lived away and didn't get to come home much. We used to come home to Tennesse every other summer and spent time at Mamaw's with all the little cousins. One of our favorite things was to take them for walks up the road, and when the snow cone truck would come by.
After we moved back to Tennessee, our cousins, Mike, Scott and Greg would come in from Georgia. One winter, it came a great big snow storm. We all walked from our house in the snow, to Mamaw's and Papaw's. All the aunts and uncles came and we made a huge snowman in the front yard. Someone from the newspaper came by and made our picture with the snowman.
We were able to give Mamaw and Papaw a 50th Wedding Anniversary Party at our house. The picture below is of Papaw and Mamaw with their anniversary cake.
My kids didn't get to know Mamaw. Aaron was 4 and Rachel nearly 2 when she passed away. I never pass by DeArmand's Crossing (which I have to do any time I go from Wartburg to Harriman) without thinking about Mamaw and Papaw. I love her and miss her too!
Debbie and I were the "older" cousins. Doug and Donna and Sharon were older than we were, but they lived away and didn't get to come home much. We used to come home to Tennesse every other summer and spent time at Mamaw's with all the little cousins. One of our favorite things was to take them for walks up the road, and when the snow cone truck would come by.
After we moved back to Tennessee, our cousins, Mike, Scott and Greg would come in from Georgia. One winter, it came a great big snow storm. We all walked from our house in the snow, to Mamaw's and Papaw's. All the aunts and uncles came and we made a huge snowman in the front yard. Someone from the newspaper came by and made our picture with the snowman.
We were able to give Mamaw and Papaw a 50th Wedding Anniversary Party at our house. The picture below is of Papaw and Mamaw with their anniversary cake.
This picture was made at their party too. That's Darrell, Helen, Donnie, Papaw, Earl, Mamaw, Cotton, Edna & Pat (mom). Diane, Faye and Jan are not in the picture.
Mamaw passed away a little while later. She had a stroke. I remember going to the hospital, and being there when she left this world. She never regained consciousness after the stroke. The doctor's said her heart was just wore out. I don't ever remember Mamaw going to church. She hardly ever left the house. I think it may have had to do with the condition of her legs. But I remember her talking about when she used to walk to Mount Calvary to church, which was just across the hill from her house. She said that she had been saved. I'm looking forward to that reunion in Heaven.
~
~
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAMAW!
No comments:
Post a Comment