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Opinion

Opinion

Don’t call the fire marshall

  • There is something about a small country church funeral.You know the kind, where everybody either knew each other or had heard stories about through the one being remembered. I had the pleasure of attending one of these last week. It was a hot Sunday afternoon. My dad was an honorary pall bearer. We walked in early. The sanctuary was cool. Someone had turned the air conditioning down long beforehand. I was questioning my choice of not wearing a coat as I was chilly to start with.I went up and saw Miles at the casket of his mother Margaret. She was like a mother during summer visits. She swung a switch like a mother too.I ate Miles’ house a lot. Or was it Uncle Brown and Aunt Ina Mae’s house? Or was it Margaret’s house?Margaret’s older sister Lemerle was there too. She called me by name. Even at 91 her memory is still sharp. But the connection goes back decades before Miles and I were born, much less friends.You see the Brown family in McKenzie might as well claim the Williams branch of my dad’s family.McKenzie found my grandfather as he was searching for his first job as an ag teacher. The small Butler County town also found my grandmother. She was a teacher too.They found each other the Brown home as it served as a boarding house for the community way back when.Soon my name sake grandfather and grandmother bought the house next door after they were married. My dad was born at home well before anyone had air conditioning. Lemerle soon shared the news of my dad’s birth as she heard the slap of my daddy’s bottom and dad’s subsequent cry. Margaret was born a few years later.Our families have been interconnected ever since. Dad and Margaret were like siblings.The funeral showed me how Margaret touched others as well.Even if you weren’t family, you were family the moment Margaret put her arms around you. Her family shared stories. Many of which I had heard. Some were new to me, but definitely fit Margaret.A former co-worker from headstart shared how friendly she was and how she went to battle for her students and co-workers. Much was said of her second career at the Andalusia Walmart. She may even be known in the Bentonville, Arkansas office of human resources for her stand on ADA compliance.There were stories of Margaret taking in Miles’ assistant coaches as he became head football coach at McKenzie. She didn’t know color. Margaret just knew she was taken in good people.Margaret would defend you just like a mother too.Margaret was larger than life in the small town. Everyone around knows her. It was evident by how the pews of her church were filled. Each might normally have two to three adults with a child or two.Margaret’s funeral, six, even seven adults squeezed in.Pallbearers, some of whom were coaches and might still could play offensive line wedged themselves into the front row. Some travelled from Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia and other parts unknown.When the pews filled, they stood along the walls, in the back. Anywhere there was a space.The only thing thicker than the gravy on the mashed taters afterwards was the crowd wedged into the sanctuary. I’m just thankful no one called the fire marshall. He surely would have messed up a funeral for one of the best people I have ever had in my life.
Opinion

Cooler heads need to prevail

  • TPI Staff

Debate can be good, especially in election season. We can quickly see where people stand and the thinking behind the issue.

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