In Memory of Granny

            Last Friday, my great-grandmother—Granny—passed onto Glory.  She was 96-years-old, and she had lived a long, beautiful life.  Her funeral was the following Monday, and I am grateful that we were able to move my flight to Peru so that I could be home for the funeral.  Over that weekend and during the funeral, I thought of the song we used to sing, “Where Joy and Sorrow Meet”.  We cried a lot, especially with Granddaddy, but we also laughed as wonderful family and friends surrounded us.   

            In memory of Granny, I want to post part of the eulogy Heather and I gave at the funeral.  Reflecting on our favorite memories of Granny helped both of us to grieve the loss of Granny in our lives, but even more so, to celebrate her life and the years we had with her.

Me: 

            Granny had a love and special gift for gardening.  Beautiful zinnias, roses, and daisies greeted all who entered their home.  I can still picture Granny hunched over in the hot sun watering her flowers and getting rid of the weeds.  She had such an appreciation for God’s marvelous creation.  Granny used to talk to the flowers in her garden too!  She’d say, “Now, you better get to blooming soon little flower, you hear?”  When she wasn’t able to get out there to garden anymore, she started in on some solar-powered flowers in the kitchen window.  If the sun was out, those flowers were flapping!  She would tell us, “Little blue was being so lazy this morning!  Ol’ Red was up and moving long before the other two.  Of the three, Granny would have been Ol’ Red, up and going as soon as the sun was up (or earlier!).  She was always so full of life, love, and spunk. 

            More than anything on this earth, Granny loved her family.  She placed such a high importance on helping, loving, and being with family.  She often told stories from her childhood with all of her brothers and sisters, along with her parents whom she admired greatly.  Granny loved her husband, my Grandaddy with all of her heart and for most of her life—77 years!  They stood together in times of plenty and in times of little, in sickness and in health.  Their marriage is an example to all of us.  When I asked Grandaddy if there was something he’d like for me to say about Granny at her funeral, he told me, “She was a good mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.”  I couldn’t agree more. 

Heather:

Sara, Will, and I are so fortunate to have enjoyed the presence of our great-grandparents for as long as we have.  Though 24 years does not feel like enough time to have known a woman like Janie Mae Wingard Garner, who we call Granny, I am thankful for them. We spent many weekends, every major holiday, and many summers with her, Grandaddy, Uncle Jimmy, and Grandmother and PaEd on their farm in Slapout. 

When I was in college, I called Granny every Sunday.  She was the subject of a story I wrote in college.  I want to read you one of those.

It was a Saturday morning of a weekend visit to Granny and Granddaddy’s.  “Good morning, Granny” I exclaimed.  I reached down and gave her a hug and then sat down at the breakfast table, eagerly expecting fried eggs over medium, buttered grits, and biscuits topped with pear preserves. 

“What do you want to drink baby?” 

“Coffee is fine.”

“How did you sleep?”

“I slept better than I have in a long time.”

I reached over to get the buttered half of a biscuit. 

“You can have a whole biscuit.  Will you eat a whole biscuit?”

“No, Granny.  I’m already eating a big breakfast.”

She sighs and gives up the battle of trying to get me to eat as much as possible, a battle she’s waged since I was born.  As a little girl, I remember Granny peering over my unfinished dinner plate as I squinted at the television down the hall, enthralled by the loud dialogue. 

“Heather, that poor little pig gave its life for you, better eat it up.”  I would look up into her eyes, checking if she was serious.  After hesitating for a bit, I would eat the rest of my ham, even if it was cold.  Grandmother made Granny stop doing that after the time I got sick from overeating.  I’ve always reasoned that since Granny didn’t have enough food in her early life, her biggest fear was to run out of it.  She has two freezers stocked with peas, applesauce, beans, and creamed corn from the garden.  She has to provide for all her blackbirds.

Basically, for me, these stories demonstrate some essential parts of Granny’s character.  First, Granny loved her family well.  She focused on providing whatever she could for us whether that was advice, food, or even pulling a retainer out of the trashcan.  When we were children, she did not mind getting on our level.  She saved even the smallest things we gave her like small wildflower bouquets and crayon drawings.  Second, Granny spoke well.  I will never forget her words.  Thankfully, I wrote many of them down like “That’s what family’s for, shugg.” and “Wash together, be friends forever.” and calling us her “blackbirds.”  When giving advice, Granny always began by “Well, the good book says…”  One of her biggest struggles as her health declined was the fact that she could not speak very clearly.  I know in Heaven, she is able to express all the thoughts in her head to her heavenly Father, face to face, and be perfectly understood by Him.