Voice of the People - January 31, 2009
New appreciation for long obituaries
I've always questioned the lengthy, life storytelling obituaries. Having recently lost my dad and speaking at his funeral, there was so much more I wanted to say. Like the time he shot the snake in my yard 15 times just to make sure he was dead; how he would give the meter man a cold drink in the summer; how he made sure our cars were always working properly before they pulled out of his driveway, and how proud he was of his grandchildren. Now, when I read those lengthy, life storytelling obituaries, instead of thinking "good grief," I'll be thinking, "They must have loved him very, very, much."
Cindy N. Guyton
Rock Hill
Thanks for support at benefit cookout
To all our beloved friends, we would like to take this opportunity to give our thanks and appreciation to all who came out to the benefit cookout on Jan.24. We would like to especially give our thanks to all the guys from Bowater Power Plant Maintenance who did the cooking and the two bluegrass groups that provided the fine music for our guests.
Thank you all very much, and may God bless each and every one of you.
Mickey Mangrum and family
Chester
People's kindness touched her heart
In the mid 1990s my mother was in the very beginning Of this disease from hell, Alzheimer's. We had noticed a thing or two that weren't normal for her but hoped it was due to her age. After being in my home several days, thinking she would be OK for a night, we let her stay at her home. In the middle of the night, she left the house with no coat, no shoes and only a thin gown. This was in November.
She lived across the street from Confederate Park. A lady and her mom were delivering The Herald on Liberty Street and saw her. Not knowing who she was, they went to a house in the neighborhood and called the police. The officer who came was so kind to her. He put her in the front seat with the heater on high to warm her. He found my brother first as he was walking out to go to work. Of course, she never had another day or night alone again.
Several years ago, I was at a funeral at the cemetery on Cherry Road. Not realizing my blood-sugar had dropped so low, I felt like I would freeze. A police officer there put his coat over my shoulders. For this kindness and help each one of these people has shown, I thank them. My prayer is that God will bless them.
I would also like to thank Hobby Lobby for the full-page picture that was placed in The Herald on Christmas Day. I have never had a picture to affect me like this one did. The picture was of Joseph at work in his carpenter's shop and Jesus, maybe 2 years old, was playing, with the light from the window casting a shadow forming a cross behind him. The picture and wording were the best preaching I had heard all year. Not being a person to cry, I would sob when I look at it and read the caption: "Most of us spend our lives seeking our destiny. One man created his own. It began in a manger and led to a cross, and it included you. You, too, have a destiny and someday soon your destiny will cross with his."
Edna M. Robinson
Rock Hill
This story was originally published January 31, 2009 at 12:49 AM with the headline "Voice of the People - January 31, 2009."