Grandma,

From the time I was born you helped love and care for me. Some of my most unforgettable memories are when I would come home from school and explained to you and grandpa that I could not eat my sandwiches if the crust was not cut off and it had to be cut into triangles or squares. Or when I stayed the night, for breakfast I had to have blueberry waffles while I watched “CampCucamonga”. Then as I got older I returned the favor by helping you get around wherever you needed. I remember one time we went to the Sam’s inLaurel, I was hustling groceries trying to figure out where everything was going to fit and you told me, “You got it girl, you’re young”. I will forever hold these memories close to my heart, for they are a part of what I have left to remember you. Grandma, I love you and miss you and may your soul forever rest in paradise.

 Love,

 Shante’

She loved cooking & baking, I would go over the house and it would always be something on the stove or in the oven. I would say “what is that” cause it would always be something new, her response…”ahhh just a lil something I threw together, I don’t know how it tastes tho” Yeah well it always tasted good that I had to have the recipe, & she would hand write any recipe I wanted and leave them on the table for me to get. Once she found out I could “sorta kinda” match her cooking I became the Thanksgiving cook while she only had to bring about 4 dishes. Last Thanksgiving she was in the hospital, well I had to take on those 4 dishes, even though she was fighting to get her platelets up she would talk me through how to make the string beans, well they did not come out good & the homemade gravy ended up being from the jar, & the wild rice didn’t get cooked (LOL), & my ham glaze was horrible! Then Christmas came, once again she was back in the hospital for low platelets and the traditional Christmas breakfast was just okay. The fried potatoes didn’t come out like hers, and the homemade pancakes ended up being Aunt Jemima frozen waffles. After all that eleven of us gathered and headed over to the hospital, with our santa hats, gifts, & holiday music playing as we walked down the hospital halls, this also was the first time she got to see her great-grandchild.   A video of our morning cooking chaos was a good laugh for her.

When she first began chemo, for 4 months I would go over in the morning to give her shots and on those hot mornings a good cup of cinnamon ice tea would be my morning treat, it also was something she made sure she had in the fridge for her son-n-law as he cut the grass and to top it off from time to time she would make him some fried chicken. I have not mastered the potato salad, so this summer we only had pasta salad! 

Her cooking will be missed! I ended up getting all her recipes, hopefully I will have all this mastered soon to carry on her cooking legacy.

I think of you everyday and I still miss you

Cathy  

February 8, 2012 was a day that we lost a very great, kind, sweet, dedicated, hard working woman.  Glo was the type of person who would be kind to you no matter what.  She rarely complained and did everything with a smile, whether she was unhappy, upset, sad, hurting, you would never know unless you drilled her with many questions to find out how she was really feeling.  I would ask her if she was aright, and her response would be, 'I'm fine.'  After her diagnosis of cancer, I would continue to ask her that and her response was still, 'I'm fine,' and I knew she wasn't fine.  I could see the pain and fear in her as the cancer began to attack her body.  She still smiled but her glow was starting to fade as she began to lose weight and become frail and weak. 

I was very fortunate and grateful that she was able to spend a lot of time with her newly born grand-daughter Aniyah.  Despite her pain and weakness, she was there for me from the beginning helping me out by watching Aniyah for me as I was able to get some sleep during the day.  Aniyah and I spent 95% of the time with Glo.  We spent the night several times a week.  Glo bonded with her, talked to her all the time, got her to start clapping her hands. "If You're Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands" was her and Aniyah's theme song.  Aniyah would only clap for Gma when she sang that song to her.  "If You're Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands" were the last few words Aniyah got to hear before Glo went to the hospital.

Meals will never be the same, because it will lack her touch.  Going to the house will never be the same because it will lack her warmth.  Holidays will never be the same because it will lack her smile.  Family and Friends cookout will never be the same because it will lack her presence. Graduations will never be the same because it will lack her joy.  The things that will remain the same is Glo's Legacy, Glo's traditions and the many wonderful, funny memories we have.

Missing you always and forever Lady In Red.

~Cindy~ 

It was with great sadness that on February 8, 2012, Gloria passed away at the age of 69. On this day, we all lost a beautiful woman who impacted each of us in her own special way. Her death has left us all filled with emptiness and pain. We would have wished for one last moment with Gloria....an opportunity to hug her, remind her how much we loved her so dearly. During this time, let us all reflect on what drew us so near to Gloria as she had many extraordinary attributes.

We will miss her cooking, the wonderful meals prepared with her own special touch that was finger licking good. Ahhh, those were the days a big hearty breakfast that left you full for days. Her memory will live on, with every story that is told. But most of all remember her smiling as she video taped our family gatherings. She will be greatly missed and never forgotten.


- Chrissy