Over the summer our dear, sweet Mother passed away and I have been struggling to put into words exactly how I felt. David has written a beautiful tribute to our Mother that captures her very life that I would like to share.
Virginia Johnson
October 2, 1930
June 22, 2023
The day began at 3:30 AM in a dark south central Texas campground. We had prepared the van for departure the previous night after the call from Cynthia indicated that hospice had said the family should assemble as the end was nigh. Making only necessary stops we arrived at the house in the early afternoon. Bill, Cynthia and Rebecca gathered closely around Grandmama’s bedside holding her hands and talking softly to her. Rebecca called to me, “Honey, come over and hold her hand and tell her you are here.” Going around the bed taking her hand in mine leaning over towards her I said, “Hello Grandmama it’s David. I’ve brought Rebecca home to you. I love you.” Returning her hand to Rebecca I went back out to finish unloading the van. It was to be the last time I ever spoke to her or touched her. Moments later Rebecca came out the front door crying and said, “She’s gone.”
Among the many hard things one does in life the hardest is passing into eternity as the participant or as a loving observer. This was the third parent to pass away in the last three years for Rebecca and I.
As each one of us set out to prepare for the coming funeral the pictures for the slideshow tribute poured in from the children and grandchildren. There was something remarkable about them that we had hardly ever noticed; other than a few early school pictures there were very few pictures of just her alone. She was always closely surrounded by her family. Most of them were her and Granddaddy smiling. They were always sitting close, leaning towards one another and often holding hands. In many there is an impish grin and a twinkle in her eyes that was a hallmark of her playful personality that lay just under the surface of her quiet demeanor. In the early pictures, many of which most of us had never seen, there is a stunningly beautiful young woman. Also in the square black and white images from early years there again is the playful prankster smiling, bringing joy and happiness to the lives of others.
Grandmama always wanted to paint. A paint set and easel were given to her as a gift and now sits unused in a closet as a reminder of the urgency of living. But now, looking closely across the years of her life she did paint! There she is for all of us to see, painting a vivid masterpiece that was her life that we were so blessed to share. Watch as she dabs on her palette combining her three primary colors of kindness, gentleness and love to create a rainbow of beautiful colors.
Grandmama all her life painted this large mural of her life for all of us in vivid colors filled with images of love, kindness, and sweetness of disposition. We will always all be surrounded and bathed in the warmth of her loving gentle spirit. In those scenes she is always happy, always smiling, and always giving completely of herself. We love you Grandmama!
As David and I resume our lives after her passing we will do exactly what I feel my Mother would want me to do. We surround ourselves with family and we embrace life!
Losing both Mama and Daddy in the last year and a half was difficult but I feel their presence everyday of my life in so many little things and it brings comfort!
4 Responses
I don’t think a better tribute could be written. It brought the tears back once again. Thanks for writing this tribute. I think about them both every single day
An amazing job putting life’s beauty into words!!
Our love and hugs reaches out to you all.
Love JVTLK ❤️
That was a very beautiful tribute and accurate depiction of our beautiful loving mother. Thank you for writing and sharing it. Mama was always there for us and did so much for us through her entire life and I will always cherish so many wonderful memories I have of her and the example of love she lived for our family. She was the best mama I could ever have hoped for and I will always love her very much.
Early in our relationship, we were over at the house having Thanksgiving dinner. I was helping in the newly remodeled kitchen. Virginia asked me to make the gravy. I got it started and Aunt Bick asked me a question. I walked over to talk to her and just as I did, I saw the gravy reach the top of the pan. Before I could get back, the gravy boiled over on the brand-new cook top. I said a few bad words of which I had already been told were not to be used in front of momma. That evening everyone had gone to the living room, and I was still in the kitchen. Virginia came in the kitchen and put her arm around me and said, “I think you are very upset about the gravy burning on the stove but look I have this stuff that will take it right off let’s try it.” We both worked on the mess and it did look as good as new. That memory comes back to me many times. Now when the grands come over, I try very hard to hold my tongue and approach the situation the Virginia Johnson way.