When I was growing up
it seemed so clear to me that granddaddy was the heart of our family. I assumed
that he was the reason that we spent Sunday afternoons here on Hess drive. Then in 1999 he went to see Jesus, and I
watched as this family changed. Honestly
I was a little bit frightened as to what the future of the Slocum’s would look
like. But when the dust settled and the
grieving was over there sat one of the strongest, bravest most loving women I
have ever known, and she pulled us together and we moved forward.
I stand before you
today not only to remember Nana and to honor her, but to celebrate who she was
and what she meant to the people that she loved the most, her children, their
children and their children. Nana has 5
children, 4 daughter in laws, 1 son in law, 14 grandchildren and 19 great
grandchildren and we were, beyond a shadow of a doubt the most important people
in her life.
She was loyal and
loving to all of us. She laughed with
us, she cried with us, she was angry when we were angry and excited when we
were excited. She shared with us and
protected us, she lost with us and found with us and when our hearts or our
spirits were broken, she was there to buy a toy, feed us a meal, or to share a
cigarette which ever would mend that particular hurt. We all have our own memories, our own
relationship, our own version of her story.
Mine is the only one that I know well enough to share today, so I hope
that you enjoy it.
I have memories of Nana
from the time I was very small, sneaking candy to Stephanie and I when mom was
not watching, protecting us from a much needed spanking, trips to lionel play
world, naps on what we were certain was a real bear skin rug, meals at Sergeant
Singers, and then as we grew, spending the night on poker night and sleeping
upstairs in the blue room, or the pink room which ever Stephanie and I chose
that time. Little Debbie cakes, jars of
candy, a lit cigarette in every room of the house, watching her tend to RW’s
every wish and wondering why it was that she spoiled him rotten, only later to
realize that he expected to be spoiled, which is another story entirely. As a teenager she was at every event, every
dance recital, ball game, gym meet, graduation party. Always there in her event appropriate outfit
with her envelope full of money in hand and a sweet card to go with it. She was classy, polite but curt at times, she
expected good service and the treatment of a queen when she was out and all but
demanded it. She was beautiful, funny,
and only when I got older did I realize that she was paying much more attention
than anyone gave her credit for. She
knew everything that was going on in this family whether we thought she did or
not.
My favorite years with
her were in my twenties. I would come
over and sit with her on that back porch and we would both drink 7 diet cokes
and smoke a pack of cigarettes. She would tell me about granddaddy when they
were younger, how handsome he was, she would share with me, woman to woman and
not sugar coat it. Honestly I learned a
lot from her about marriage, about the commitment it takes to make one last and
how even when things don’t go as planned, you honor your vows and love each
other. To me, she was an amazingly
devoted to the man of her dreams, and I admired her for it.
The last 7 years with
her have been a blessing to Shawn the girls and I. She watched me as I married the man of my
dreams, she loved on my babies, she shared in my happiness and that was more
special than I could ever explain. She
was MY Nana, and one of my favorite people in the world. I am heartbroken that she will not watch the
girls grow up, she too was heartbroken that in her words she was “too old to
play with them like she played with us” that did not stop her mind you from
dancing with Kathryne or getting on the floor to play with Presley. When we visited, she was on, she was sharp
and she made sure to enjoy every moment with us and I love her even more for
that.
I will miss her more
than I can put into words. I will miss
her laugh, her stories, her love for music.
I will miss the way she squeezes your hand when you reach out for
hers. I will miss her big, tough, bossy,
personality that God put into that little tiny package of a woman, I will miss
hearing her voice and seeing her smile all the way from TN when she answered
the phone and realized it was me. I will
miss telling her I love her and hearing her say “Hey, I love you too
baby”.
It is sad for all of us
that Nana is gone, but there are a few things that bring me comfort in her
death. Today as we mourn her she is very
much alive. Walking hand in hand with
the love of her life, and she has wanted to be with him since the day he left
us. Together they can watch their great
grandbabies grow up and smile watching us struggle as parents, remembering
their struggles and how much they loved every minute of it.
In addition to RW she
has joined her parents, two sisters and a brother, many friends and two great
grandbabies in heaven. And as the mama
of one of those babies it eases my heart a little to know that Bennett’s Nana
is there now caring for him and spoiling him rotten until I get there.
And most importantly I
am certain she is with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ dancing and signing
with him telling him about all of her babies that she left behind and waiting
for the day that her whole family is together again. Revelation 21 Tells
us this about the future And I heard a loud voice from the throne
saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with
them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their
God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more,
neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former
things have passed away.” In Jesus
the grave has no victory. And therefore
our sweet Nana is very much alive watching over us, cheering us on, loving us
just as she always has. I pray that her presence will bring you peace on the
days that your heart misses her the most.
