Dearest Isabella, Part 2

Hays Williams: One of my Mother’s (Your great-grandmother, known to our family as “Grandma Beryldine”) co-workers at the church. Hays and Mother were such good friends. She always acted happy to see me when I would run in and out of the church office. Even later in her life when she would write Mother, she called her “Dear Friend” and longed to see her. She passed away a year or so ago and I can’t bear to tell Grandma Beryldine that she is gone. I value their example of lifelong friendship.

Bessie Hart: Another one of Mother’s good friends and co-workers at the church. She always made me lots of custom designed doll clothes. I remember my mother taking time to go visit her, even when she moved to the Juliette Fowler Home in Dallas. I am beginning to see a pattern of very giving people.

Rella Nugent: One of my Sunday School teachers. She was so sweet and I think my love of scripture and felt boards for storytelling came from her. She was another one that made me feel loved every time I saw her. I am beginning to figure out that they loved my mom and therefore they loved me. She became blind or almost blind at some point but I don’t ever remember hearing her complain whenever I saw her.

Iris Prescott: My babysitter when my Grandmother wasn’t keeping me, which was rare. She had a hair coming out of her chin that always seemed to be there. But out of her mouth came wonderful Bible stories any time I was with her. I can remember sitting on the floor listening to them any time I was with her. We also found empty locust shells and made locust parades. I have not thought of this until your Uncle Curt told me about Jack and Sarah finding locust shells the other night. The best memories pop up out of nowhere.

Brickey Bearden: She was a fiery red head with a great laugh. She was another of my Sunday School teachers and she always scared me just a little. She was earthy and bold and there was something that I liked about her. She was always at church helping someone. She even adopted two young Vietnamese children at a time when adopting children of a different nationality was rare.



TO BE CONTINUED