The Memorial

Finally I am posting some pictures from Mom's memorial held this past April 20, the day after what would have been her 77th birthday.  

First a picture of Greg and Lynn's house in East Dublin, GA, where we had the memorial. Even though it poured the whole previous day and night, we were lucky enough to have beautiful weather the day of the get-together.  Greg and Lynn had their yard looking SO gorgeous too!  It was a perfect setting.  I'm so glad we decided to have it here (at Blair's suggestion).  Thanks Greg and Lynn.

Below, two shots of Cousin Norman and Blair in Greg and Lynn's kitchen.  We were so glad that Norman came - he drove all the way from Birmingham, and drove back the same day!  Wish he could have stayed a day longer.



Valerie (in the blue/pink dress), Jen (Blair's wife, at left in the black sweater), and Rosemary (Valerie's childhood friend, who lives in Dublin) got the tables set up and decorated while the caterers unloaded.

The propane (and propane accessories) are for the oyster "roast" - actually it was more like a crab boil.  The oysters were dee-lish!  (Even though we had to show the caterer fellow the proper way to open and serve the oyster - ya gotta cut the big muscle!  Once I had knawed my way through a couple, I realized he had forgotten that part. 



Below - here we are waiting for the food!  From left to right:  Norman, Greg, Joyce talking to Andy, Lynn serving something to Aunt Mary, Uncle Charley talking to Brigham (Val's high school friend, who lives in Dublin).



Below - similar to previous pic; Lynn hostessing, plus Jen and Blair, and my friend Karen Davis' mom Louise Davis, sitting in the chair.

Below - Brigham and my Uncle Charley, who passed away on August 6 of this year. I'm SO glad I got to see him here!

Group shot - that's my mom's Aunt Mary, Mema's youngest sibling, in the center.

Mother of the Bride

Here is Mom at Valerie's wedding, with me.  I think this was 1993 or 4?  Valerie, let me know and I will put the correct date in. 

Girlie pix

Haha, not what you think.  Here's one of tiny Harriet with chicks (apropos on today, Easter Sunday!)  She has always looked a little apprehensive in this photo, to me...

And here is what looks like her junior high class picture.  Notice Mom is one of the few girls wearing pants - a trendsetter!  She also has a very enthusiastic pose (arms raised) unlike the others...what was that all about, I wonder??   --I love this picture!  Wonder if any of the Birmingham folks recognize the school.

 The memorial is coming up in just three weeks.  Looks like we will have about 30 people...can't wait to see everyone!

Mom in Virginia

In the 80s Mom took two trips to Virginia, where I lived for 20 years.  This was probably 1980, in the backyard of my house in Vienna, Virginia.   That's me, brother Blair, and Mom.

Here's one from the 2nd trip Mom took, I would say it's about 1986 or so, at Thanksgiving.  Taken at the C&O canal in Maryland, one of my favorite running spots.  Val, Mom and Randy, a friend of Val's from Dublin who was in Georgetown at dental school, are in this pic.

Here's a few great ones my cuz Nancy sent today.  First, one of my mom, her older sis Betty Jean (Nancy's mom) and brother Charley.  The dapper man is Robert, my mom's uncle, the younger brother of Anna Mae (Mema).  This was taken in front of Mema and Pop's house in Birmingham.  Look at the cool double-decker houses across the way - unusual for that neighborhood (Five Points in Birmingham).  Nancy agrees with me that Robert looks like Robert Duvall.  Handsome!

Here's one Mema, two ( maybe three) of her children, and her younger sister Mary, looking gorgeous.  We are not completely sure if the little girl Mema is holding is Harriet or not.  It probably is, though it doesn't look 100% like her!  Betty Jean peeping through at back and Charley in the middle  This was at Mema and Pop's house in Georgia, with that dirt road we all played in, in the background. Who doesn't remember those benches?  In fact Mom had one of them in her back yard until she died.  We think the child standing on the bench might be Nita Ann.

Here's a birthday party in Birmingham, with all three kids (Harriet Ann, Charley, and Betty Jean).  Nancy and I think we both look like our moms here.  Charley's got his favorite outfit on :-)

Last, a pic taken at the Birmingham house, Mema looking glamorous and her youngest child Harriet Ann
looking merry for a change!

Harriet and her kids

October, 1970.  This was taken in front of Mema and Pop's brick house near the old store.  Pear and peacan trees behind us, plus the goat/pony pen.  Check out the matching shirts on Greg and Blair!  I remember that shirt of mine, it said "Peace & Love.  What a concept. 

Mom's niece Judy writes...

My mother's niece, Judy, was her good friend.  They were pretty close in age (Judy is Mom's big sister Betty Jean's oldest child) and had in common being pretty Southern girls!  Here's a pic of my mom that reminds me of Judy a lot...in fact, someone tell me if it *is* Judy and I've made a mistake!  (Update:  Nancy confirms that it is my mom, standing in the front  yard of Mema & Pop's house in Birmingham.)

Judy wrote this recently about my mom (apologies, cuz, for taking so long to post this!)

My  Aunt Harriet Ann was a special person in my life.  I guess she was like a big sister to me. I spent many summers with her in Georgia when I was a kid & a teen.  We had so many good times together. She treated me like one of her kids, who I had fun with too. I couldn't begin to say how many games of Scrabble we played and card games, Crazy 8's and Spades.  She took us to movies and swimming. I remember the summer we took swimming lessons and I still can't swim.  Those memories of summers in the country are a big part of my life. After I grew up & she lived in Dublin my husband Paul & I would go visit for a few days and she would always welcome us with open arms, we would have so much fun together and stay up all night laughing and talking about the days of old.

I remember when we both got computers and we would e mail daily, that was a big part of my day to hear from her.

I was so sad when she got sick and we would just talk on the phone sometimes when she felt good.  Which was not often.

I was even sadder the day she passed away. It took a part of my life too.  I Loved her so much and I will miss her always.

Thank you so much, Judy.  My mom loved you very much and mentioned you frequently when I visited this last year.  I wanted to find a picture of the two of you.  (If anyone finds one, send it!)  In the meantime here is one I like of you.  Goodness, we all had such beautiful skin!  You were a cute little dickens.