Daddy's Legacy

Daddy at his 80th birthday celebration.

Daddy was born on April 1, 1927.  He was a year old when his mother passed away, and wasn't even born when his daddy died.  The picture you see of his mother was made shortly before she died of cancer.  Daddy was raised by his dedicated brothers and sisters.  His oldest brother, Hollis, stood firm when relatives wanted to put the younger children in an orphanage.







From L-R: William "Billy" Smith, Zadie Smith Broome; Buford Smith; Fannie Smith Simmons; Gladys Smith McCoy; and Lucy Lena Ward Smith

Billy was my dad.






Uncle Hollis Smith was eighteen years old when he made a promise to a dying father to keep the family together.  He kept his promise and my dad and his siblings grew up knowing each other and continued to stay in contact with each other until they died.  A closer family would be difficult to find.  Uncle Clarence, Aunt Emma, and Aunt Zadie were also very instrumental in making sure the younger children would grow up to know their family ties.  Daddy was always grateful for the love of his siblings.

When their mother died, Daddy's brother, Uncle Clyde, was in the fourth grade.  He carried Daddy to school with him every day.  No disposable diapers, just the diaper Daddy wore that morning.  The teacher would cry because she was so touched by the devotion of these children to each other. She would share her lunch with them.

Daddy was given many opportunities by folks he met along the way.  He never forgot these important influences in his life.  At fourteen, Daddy was taught how to drive a truck and given a job by Broughten Arial, The Arials gave Daddy a home while he was working for them.  They opened their home and family to Daddy. That family meant a lot to Daddy and on his 80th birthday celebration their son came to help him celebrate.

Daddy taught the five of us children work ethics.  He always encouraged us to do our best work.  "You are being paid for your time and the quality of work you do.  Give your employer your best."  Daddy believed it, and he led by example.  When Daddy went home to be with the Lord on October 2, 2007, many of the men and women who had worked for Daddy at the local furniture factory told us he was one of the best bosses they had ever had because he was a fair. 

Before Daddy died he had a golf cart and would travel all over the community while we were at work.  We didn't know how much until he passed away.  Several neighbors told us that he would ride to their houses and take the children on rides around the yard.  They loved "Mr. Billy."

Daddy never called me "Sugar Bug" like he called my cousins.  Daddy did tell me I cooked salmon patties, gravy, and biscuits like my mama. 

He would call me at 6:00 every morning and tell me it was time to get up. Barry and I would get ready for work, and Daddy would "leave the light on" for us. We cooked breakfast for him every morning.  I loved that time with Daddy even though we were having to leave to go to work. 

There are so many good memories of Daddy.  My brother Eddie gave a eulogy for Daddy.  He captured the very essence of Daddy's life and personality.  Daddy didn't meet strangers and could talk to anyone who would listen.  In many ways, he left that part of himself with each one of us children.  One of the best memories of Daddy and me is that we were baptized on the same day together.  He led by example. 

There are so many things to share about both my mom and dad that it is impossible to write it all in one sitting.

It is me again, Lord, thanking you for a loving dad and for uncles and aunts who took care of him as a child. 

A little Georgia Wisdom:  God commanded us to love one another.

The Four Sack

Some of you are way too young to know about the FLOUR SACKS, but some of you will remember. I hope ALL of you will enjoy reading this very well-written article. (Thank you Cindy Savage Sapp)

Cindy posted this on our "MyFamily.com"  hope you all enjoy this poem.

THE FLOUR SACK



BY COLLEEN B. HUBERT

IN THAT LONG AGO TIME WHEN THINGS WERE SAVED,
WHEN ROADS WERE GRAVELED AND BARRELS WERE STAVED,
WHEN WORN-OUT CLOTHING WAS USED AS RAGS,
AND THERE WERE NO PLASTIC WRAP OR BAGS,
AND THE WELL AND THE PUMP WERE WAY OUT BACK,
A VERSATILE ITEM, WAS THE FLOUR SACK.

PILLSBURY'S BEST, MOTHER'S AND GOLD MEDAL, TOO
STAMPED THEIR NAMES PROUDLY IN PURPLE AND BLUE.

THE STRING SEWN ON TOP WAS PULLED AND KEPT;
THE FLOUR EMPTIED AND SPILLS WERE SWEPT.
THE BAG WAS FOLDED AND STORED IN A SACK
THAT DURABLE, PRACTICAL FLOUR SACK.

THE SACK COULD BE FILLED WITH FEATHERS AND DOWN,
FOR A PILLOW, OR T'WOULD MAKE A NICE SLEEPING GOWN.
IT COULD CARRY A BOOK AND BE A SCHOOL BAG,
OR BECOME A MAIL SACK SLUNG OVER A NAG.
IT MADE A VERY CONVENIENT PACK,
THAT ADAPTABLE, COTTON FLOUR SACK.

BLEACHED AND SEWN, IT WAS DUTIFULLY WORN
AS BIBS, DIAPERS, OR KERCHIEF ADORNED.
IT WAS MADE INTO SKIRTS, BLOUSES AND SLIPS.
AND MOM BRAIDED RUGS FROM ONE HUNDRED STRIPS
SHE MADE RUFFLED CURTAINS FOR THE HOUSE OR SHACK,
FROM THAT HUMBLE BUT TREASURED FLOUR SACK!

AS A STRAINER FOR MILK OR APPLE JUICE,
TO WAVE MEN IN, IT WAS A VERY GOOD USE,
AS A SLING FOR A SPRAINED WRIST OR A BREAK,
TO HELP MOTHER ROLL UP A JELLY CAKE,
AS A WINDOW SHADE OR TO STUFF A CRACK,
WE USED A STURDY, COMMON FLOUR SACK!

AS DISH TOWELS, EMBROIDERED OR NOT,
THEY COVERED UP DOUGH, HELPED PASS PANS SO HOT,
TIED UP DISHES FOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED,
AND FOR MEN OUT IN THE FIELD TO SEED.
THEY DRIED DISHES FROM PAN, NOT RACK
THAT ABSORBENT, HANDY FLOUR SACK!

WE POLISHED AND CLEANED STOVE AND TABLE,
SCOURED AND SCRUBBED FROM CELLAR TO GABLE,
WE DUSTED THE BUREAU AND OAK BED POST,
MADE COSTUMES FOR OCTOBER (A SCARY GHOST)
AND A PARACHUTE FOR A CAT NAMED JACK.
FROM THAT LOWLY, USEFUL OLD FLOUR SACK!

SO NOW MY FRIENDS, WHEN THEY ASK YOU
AS CURIOUS YOUNGSTERS OFTEN DO,
'BEFORE PLASTIC WRAP, ELMER'S GLUE
AND PAPER TOWELS, WHAT DID YOU DO?'
TELL THEM LOUDLY AND WITH PRIDE DON'T LACK,
'GRANDMOTHER HAD THAT WONDERFUL FLOUR SACK!'

(Feed sacks too!! Remember???)

Spring

Our dogwood trees are starting to bloom and so are the apple trees in our front yard.  Spring is a kind soul who slips in between cold days until it eventually takes over.  We don't know how to dress for spring because it is oozing in making us wish for shorts and t-shirts, but in reality the next day may be cold and rainy.  Yes, even in the south, we don't know when to pack our winter clothes completely away and bring out summer ones.  Yet, Spring brings with it a renewed earth with its green grasses and beautiful blossoms which gives us hope of a new tomorrow.

Spring showers cause the sleeping flowers to stretch and yawn and break through the Earth's soil.  God has provided us the seasons as a reminder that He is the one who created the beauty we enjoy.  We get so busy in our daily chores that we forget, or fail to remember, the One who breathed the life into every living plant, tree, flower, or soil.  I think of soil as a living thing.  It takes the combination of soil, water, and sun to wake up the hibernating plants and trees.  Can one not look at the beauty and not believe in God? 

In the yard where the dogwoods bloom,
In the field the flowers grow,
It is these things we surely know,
that God is with us.

In the yard where the dogwoods bloom,
In the fields the garden grows,
It is these things we surely know,
that God is with us.

In the fence the cows do low,
In the sun the flowers grow,
It is in these things we surely know,
that our God is with us.

It is me again, Lord, thanking you for the wonders of your creation and Spring.
A little Georgia Wisdom, when in doubt of an awesome God, take a closer look at Spring.

Mama

I have been working on a story about my mama.  Strange thing to write about someone so close is that it is the most difficult piece to write.  Mama taught me many things to include the love of reading.  She read to me so much when I was a little girl that I memorized one of the books. 

Mama would read while she churned to make butter and buttermilk.  Churning is a boring job with its up and down repetitions of the churn stick in the large churn.  The butter would eventually rise to the top to be scooped up and molded into round chunks of butter.  The milk left after the butter was separated was the buttermilk.  This took awhile and to entertain herself, Mama would read.

Mama's love for reading lead her to writing.  She was a member of the Georgia Romance Writers and attended many of their conferences in Atlanta.  She would share parts of her manuscripts at the conferences, and actually wrote four complete books; however,  because she was a perfectionist, she would not send them to the publishers.  Harlequin requested one of her books, and an editor from another company wanted to read her work. Mama wanted it to be letter perfect before she would let go of her hard work.

Reading and writing were just two of her many hobbies.  Mama was a visionary.  She loved to work with her hands and this included refinishing or making furniture.  She and Granny would build furniture.  They once cut a long sofa into two separate pieces to make a love seat and chair.  They built bookshelves and small shelves to hold knick knacks.  They were a creative duo.

Mama also loved to sew.  She made all of our clothes when we were growing up.  Years ago when I was little the dresses were made from flour sacks. At that time one could buy flour in cloth sacks.  These sacks were brightly colored and the material was just right for making little girl's dresses.  My cousins, Bernice and Barbara, have fond memories and more vivid memories of the flour sack dresses than I have.  I wish I could remember the prints and colors of those flour sacks.

Mama was an early advocate of recycling.  She used the brown paper bags from the grocery store in the kitchen.  These bags were used to drain foods such as the wonderful donuts she would fry.  One of my favorite memories was getting off the school bus and smelling the evidence of the donuts or cake she was making for our afternoon snack.  Just thinking about it makes me long for the delicious bites of her chocolate cake. (Mama was often teased that her stove couldn't bake anything but chocolate cakes.)
It took her several years to actually start using paper towels.  She used cloth towels in the kitchen that could be washed over and over again.




Linda, Dwayne, Eddie, Sherry, and Terry
(I'm sure Mama made the dresses Sherry and I have on to include the blouse under my jumper.)


(Mama also made the pink suit she is wearing in the first picture.)





Mama loved music and could yodel (my brothers and sister don't know this titbit of information) and took areobics classes.  She was a modern woman.  Her eye for fashion was evident in her well matched outfits. Many years after she stopped sewing, she could walk into a store, pull several items down from the rack and the results would be a lovely suit that would be one of a kind.  She knew how to combine items together to get the look she wanted.  She should have gone into fashion design because she sure had an eye for it.  How I wish I had inherited that trait from her!

My mama went home to be with the Lord on April 19, 2006.  She had been very ill for a long time.  Sometimes I get so angry at her for an early death.  I wanted her to be like she was when I was a child--healthy and creative.  To see someone you love sucumb to illness is hard to watch.  The mama I want to remember is the one listening to the radio, sewing cute dresses, and planning a trip to the beach.  She would put on her bikini and get her tan in the backyard then talk my daddy into going.  Daddy didn't like the beach, but he seem to enjoy it once he was there.

I look forward to talking to Mama again.  She taught us about God and the importance of being saved by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal savior and asking forgiveness of our sins.   She reminded us to read our Bibles and to pray.  Every night as each one of us crawled into bed, she would call to us a reminder saying, "don't forget to say your prayers."  Every night when I go to bed, I say my prayers.  Mama taught us well.

It is me again, Lord, thanking you for the love of a mama who taught us to love You and the importance of talking to You.

A little Georgia Wisdom:  Enjoy the time with your mother, read your Bible everyday and whatever you do, don't forget to say your prayers.

Vacation Bible School and Grape Kool Aid

Vacation Bible School at Camp Creek Baptist Church was a highpoint of summer.  For one week, we would learn Bible verses; hear Bible stories; sing songs; pledged the American Flag, Christian Flag, and the Bible; and made crafts to take home as a remembrance of our week.    On Friday of Vacation Bible School, each group participated in an end of school program.  We would sing the songs we had learned, quote our scriptures, and recapped what we had done all week.  Our parents then went to our school rooms and viewed our crafts and any work pages we might have.  It was a grand week.  Souls were saved and friendships were made.

One of the best memories of VBS was making of new friends.  Many children from other churches came to attend VBS at Camp Creek.  It was always fun to gather for homemade cookies and grape Kool aid.  Frankly, grape was not my favorite.  I liked the cherry better, but for some unknown reason, mothers would send grape flavored Kool Aid.  We would eat our cookies, drink the grape Kool Aid, and form lasting friendships. 

Camp Creek Baptist Church circa 1950's

All week we read about, sung about, and learned about a loving God who gave His only son to die for our sins.  When I first started to Bible School, I wasn't sure what sin was.  One thing I knew for sure was that it was bad and I had it.  We all did!  I wanted to see what a sin looked like, but I took the word of our teachers that it was there since I couldn't see the sin in me or the others.  We prayed that God would forgive us of that sin and that it would go away. I knew that Jesus died on the cross to save me from the sin.  That was amazing!  He loved me so much, He died for me.  WOW!  He knew the children of Camp Creek Baptist Church and died for our sins long before we were even born.

Children are so open to the word of God.  Their innocent views allow them to be accepting of the love of God.  They want to hear about Adam and Eve, the flood and Noah, and the love of God.  Children want to know more about the baby in a manager and love to sing songs about our Lord.

When I think of Jesus dying on the cross and the suffering He endured, it is heartbreaking.  Even today as an adult, I can not watch a movie that portrays the Crucifixion.  The Easter sermons are the most difficult for me to sit through.  I know it is real.  I know He suffered so much on that cross for my sins and for your sins--for all our sins.

Those days of VBS linger with me today as I smell homemade cookies or grape Kool Aid.  Wonderful memories fill my mind.  When I hear the songs we sung so many years ago, I revert back to the little girl who wanted to see a sin so I would know what it looked liked.  John 3:16 is still my favorite Bible verse.

I now know what sin is and I sure have had my share of sin in my life--much more than I want to admit. Because of the love of God, I am assured of eternal life through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

It is me again, Lord, thanking you for Vacation Bible School with its homemade cookies and grape Kool Aid and for the teachers who taught us about Salvation.

A little Georgia Wisdom:  Recognize the sin in your life and don't face eternity without accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior so those sins can be washed away.