Family Preserves...A Legacy

Three months ago today, on April 27, 2012, my grandmother Audrey Potter Lewis left her earthly home.  It was sudden and yet, it was a peaceful exit.  In lieu of my weekly, Islander of the Week, I share with you the remarks that I made at her graveside service in Lowland on April 30, 2012.  

Audrey Potter Lewis, July 20, 1933 - April 27, 2012

You know Aunt Alberta asked me yesterday was I gonna say something today.  I told her I didn't think I could, but during my drive back to Harkers Island last night I got to thinking.  You see Granny was a preserver and we are like jars of preserves that she carefully put together.  She has influenced all of us here.  She has served as a nurturing mentor in our lives.  She served not only as a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, or sister, she was also farmer, fisherman, cook, seamstress and ......a preserver.

I have always embraced and readily absorbed all the stories and traditions that she has told.  I've always wanted to know who we are and who we came from.  She shared her stories and her directives.  See, she was leading us by her example and I will explain. 

She told me about the time Aunt Glendine called...she needed her and Granddaddy right away in Norfolk.  Granddaddy secured the boat, a couple of phone calls were made, and off to Norfolk they went.  

Hubert called when Aunt Joy Mae had her life-altering event.  He needed her to come to Florida. The bags were packed and off to Florida they went.  You see, she didn't ask “why”or "for how long"....it didn't matter…nothing became more important at that moment but the needs of her family.  When she told me these stories, what she was doing was instilling in me by example that nothing is more important than taking care of your family.

It was this nurturing nature she had that has shown how we are supposed to treat family.  I have never witnessed a closeness like her, Hubert, Joyce, Muff and Judy.  Even the cousins are close as well.  This crowd is one close bunch of family!  And there is nothing that each of them wouldn't do for each other.  And she lead by this example, and I will tell you...if Granny didn't like what was going on or she disagreed with you, she'd tell you.  You might not want to hear it, but one thing was for certain it was the truth....we experienced a taste of that last night didn't we Bill?

So with that said, Alison said last night that we've all got some jobs to do now.  Some body is gonna have to cook the collards when we all get together again. Somebody is gonna have to learn to cook her rutabagas and coconut cake.  Somebody is gonna have to pick up ALL of the pecans this fall and open them...boy those pecans were good Christmas presents weren't they? 

All of us are gonna have to take care of our family by her example.  Granny, Granddaddy, and Hubert would want it this way,  You see, our family has been seasoned with salt….we are a product of her teachings and we need to preserve those traditions of "who we are".  Lets recognize what is important in our family and continue to preserve those humble roots from which we came.  And lets value the willingness to share and care for one another as Granny did all of us.