Christine
Mammy West named her Christine back in 1917.
Many happy days Christine has seen.
Many more names she has received.
Each name is very special I do believe.
Her husband called her Christamaline when he kissed her on the cheek.
Her firstborn called Tisteen when he first began to speak.
Later he called her mother, as did his sisters too.
But she was sometimes “Momma” if Debbie felt a little blue.
Her first granddaughter came along in 1968.
Christine then became a Grandma who was really great.
Melanie followed Angie and chose Grandma for the name,
To call the lady who loved her always just the same.
In 78 Christopher was the first grandson she saw.
The name he chose for her was simply Mamaw.
Twelve years later came Matthew to put on a show.
Where he got the name Mammy we didn’t really know.
Now that is four children, four grandchildren for a total of eight.
But four more I want to mention before it’s too late.
Tricia, Rhonda, Anthony, and Tasha were added to the mix.
Christine became their grandma too back in 1976.
Also, seven great-grandchildren came to be.
Mammy and/or Grandma, they loved to go see.
Lisa Anne, Danielle, Liam, Clay, Hunter, Cayden, and Jon,
Thought all the cats at her house were really fun.
And in the year of 2007, a great great joined the family tree.
What Trinity calls Christine will be up to you and me.
We can tell her of a lady who carried a lot of names.
We can tell her stories of a lady who loved us each the same.
Of all the names there is one I didn’t mention that I love best,
Because she was called this name, she can now be at rest.
You see God renamed Christine and called her His own child.
He’s been up in Heaven calling and waiting on her for quite a while.
Whatever name you called her will always be special to you.
But there is one thing I am sure she would want each of us to do.
Make sure we are renamed by our Father in Heaven above.
So we may rejoin her one day in an eternal circle of love.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes Virginia
There are two who did about everything together some recall.
They raised eight children and kept on loving each other through it all.
He called her Red, she called him Hal and they loved each other with their life.
Yes, Virginia was a loving wife.
Six sons, two daughters, with a set of twins in the mix of her children eight.
Friends and neighborhood children joined her children in calling their momma, momma too. She was truly great.
If Virginia could be remembered for only one thing is this present world,
Yes, Virginia was a mother, a mother above mothers, a rare gem, a fine pearl.
Among her children what values did she instill?
Be tough but respectful as you show others what you feel
Be each others buddy, be each other friend, just be there for each other
Yes, Virginia was a mother.
Children grow and marry and leave home along the way
They acquire spouses who acquire inlaws what do they have to say?
With my mother in law I hit the jackpot!” one daughter in law proclaimed
Yes, Virginia was a mother in law, who shared her love unashamed.
Fourteen grandchildren too many to count or love you might say
But love abounded and there was a little spoiling added along the way.
Did grandchildren get in trouble with Grandma Virginia around?
Nope, moms and dads usually heard this kind of a sound It wasn’t like that now, they really didn’t mean to
Yes, Virginia was a grandmother.
A grandmother who took grandmothering up another level or two
Her grandchildren have happy memories of days of work and play
They remember dolphins carried to Grandma from vacation days
They remember her favorite color of purple and foods prepared when they came to call
But most of all they remember Grandma being happy as she thanked God for them all.
Yes, Virginia was a grandma.
Virginia loved working at the school with the kids year after year
She sang in the church choir and brought much cheer
In these words, a little of who Virginia was has been shared
Yes, Virginia loved. Yes, Virginia cared
Yes, Virginia was many things to many people and will be missed by them all.
But there are these and so many more cherished memories of Virginia to hold on to recall.
____________________________________________
Khloe Isabella Tucker
On a cool day in February not so long ago,
Khloe Isabella Tucker we first came to know.
Amy went to the doctors on that faithful day.
The doctor said,” To the hospital- there’s no time to play!”
Five pounds nine ounces of perfect joy soon came to be.
Relatives and friends came from miles and miles
To see the tiny girl who came to brighten lives.
With eyes of blue, hair of brown, and such a sweet smile.
Dad John said, “Hey I think she looks just like me.”
Mom Amy said, “I don’t know, we will have to wait and see.”
Little sister Shelby was waiting for Khloe to come home and play.
She believed Mom found a little baby doll while she was away.
Khloe laughed and cooed and seldom shed any tears.
Shleby lay on her tummy patting away any fears.
Khloe was a little gift sent to each of us from above.
Yes, God gave each of us Khloe to get to know and love.
Every moment was precious that we held this child.
Memories of those moments we must now hold for awhile.
For our lives now seem empty and we will never be the same.
For on a warm day in May Khloe went back from whence she came.
Our little princess is now being held by the King who will forever reign.
Yes Khloe is in Heaven where she will never know any want or pain
One day we will be able to join Khloe Isabella Tucker there.
One day if our hearts we give to Jesus Christ to share.
____________________________________________
Message from Heaven
Oh, how bittersweet death can be.
As humans, we are sometimes too selfish to see.
We have our friends and family for only a short period of time.
We wake one day and realize, between living and dying is a very fine line.
Today I’m sure Ms. Ruth is in Heaven looking down at us all.
But I wonder what she would say if she were to call.
Would she tell us Heaven was all she expected and more?
Would she tell us Jesus is constantly knocking upon our door?
I think she would tell us how amazing God’s love really is;
For all He really wants is for all of us to be His.
By Matthew Parker
In loving memory of my friend, Ms. Ruth Jolliffe
_________________________________________
B’s Keeper
Beverly called BJ for short, and ‘B’ by those who loved her most,
Had so many blessings in her life of which she could boast.
Decatur Alabama the city where she presided,
Has lost a light whose shining never subsided.
MS attempted to stop her when she was only twenty-five,
But “B’ forged on and kept her bubbly spirit very much alive.
Daughter Carmen and son in law Greg gave her grandsons two.
Andy and Geoff lifted her spirits if she should ever feel blue.
Four sisters and a mom who loved her more than life
Stood beside her through times of joy and times of strife
Even the past few years at Roselawn under constant care BJ‘s kind loving spirit continued to fare Crackers tucked away under her wheelchair
Saved for birds outside every time she found her way there.
They fluttered about anticipating this special time to share
With a lady of rare beauty, who lived her life with grace and flare.
B even held a special place in the hearts of buzzing bees
On B’s memorial flowers they landed honoring a life of which they were pleased.
Yes, the little birds fluttered and flew about around Roselawn that day
They knew their special friend and feeder had gone away
But you know I think the bees and birds understand perhaps better than we
That B has gone on to a beautiful Heavenly garden that you and I can’t see
I know this is very true
For I know the one that BJ knew
She knew our Lord, our Master, our Savior, the keeper of us all
B is with her Keeper who kept her through every trial and every fall
BJ will think of you every time we see a bird flutter or a bee fly
We know we will be with you and our Keeper by and by.
___________________________________________________________
Seasons
As gentle fall breezes stir high up in the pines,
And an autumn sunset allows its' final rays to shine
- I will remember.
As I trample through golden leaves beneath my feet,
And cold raindrops turn to icy sleet
- I will remember.
As cold December winds through treetops whistle,
And snow and ice cover every pine cone and thistle
- I will remember.
As tiny green blades of grass cover every hillside,
As spring flowers bloom and robins glide
- I will remember.
As the summer sun beats down hot against my brow,
As creatures storing food for winter are scurrying about
- I will remember.
As things in nature die only to once again give rebirth,
Every season every day that I am on God's changing earth
- I will remember. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A Three-Fold Cord
Here is the story of one, two, then three Krosp kids who grew up in East Tupelo town. A story of highs and lows, ups and downs. A threefold cord cannot be easily broken I've heard. But Monday evening the truth of this became blurred. Yes, early Tuesday morning this trio changed to a duet. But together these three made memories that two who remain will never forget. Sissy, Boog, and Kayla fussed a little but loved a lot. Boog was one who believed we should live life with everything we've got. He had a way of making you laugh right our loud till tears rolled down your face. He had a way of riding a four-wheeler with guts and grace. With his uncles, he endlessly hunted rabbits, doves, and deer. With his cousins, he was like a big brother who calmed their fears. Looking back now everyone wishes just a few more minutes together they had spent. Sissy and Kayla wish just a little more love they had sent. But days chasing horses, riding bikes, and jumping off hay bales are stuck in their mind. Memories of a brother who will ever be remembered as energetic, aggravating, yet loving and kind. Boog, we know you are resting easy in Heaven today. We know one day we three will be together again to endlessly run and play.