He broke the mold when he made you, Mom.  Your strength was always misunderstood by those who were blind and misled, but cherished by those who truly knew your heart.   Your compassion was immeasurable and though you were not particularly vocal about your spirituality, you exemplified the compassion and spirit of Christ Our Lord! I am confident that God delivered you into heaven. Happy Birthday!  Rest in paradise, Old Lady!

I love you,

Jackie    

It's hard to believe it's been two years since I last had a two way conversation with you. I miss you so much. We had a lot of fun for so many years. I remember you every time I pass Inglewood going to and from Costco.You are a very special lady. Thanks for embracing me and allowing me to enter your inner circle and always making me  feel welcome.
The Robinsons miss you too. When ever we get together, they play DOWN HOME BLUES in memory and honor of you.  
 Gone but never forgotten. Always in my heart I love you my friend.                 

Thankful you allowed me to share in the remembrance of your precious Mother.Thank GOD you can recapture memories.

Bless you.

Pastor Verna Anderson

Mom,

I realize that death is inevitable,  but I honestly felt like you were invincible.  Which, is why your passing was such a shock for me.  There is not a second, minute, hour, or day that goes by that I don't think of you. Before I make an important decision, I wonder if you would agree with the choices I made.  I can assure you that I followed through with all of your wishes.  I hope you are proud of me and watch over me every step of the way

  Happy Birthday,  Mom! 

Mom,
 
I would love to think that you're in Atlanta with Jackie and kids having a good time for the holidays enjoy yourself and not gone to heaven.. I miss you so much.. I know you would love to have your chitterlings because you and both love them so much.. That's something  we both enjoyed  on New Year's.. Words can't express how much I miss you and love you so much..

Mom,


I said a prayer for strength as I embarked upon my journey to Costco to purchase the many supplies needed for our annual New Year's Day fest.  It was a somber moment for me, because we always made that trek together.  I know what you are going to ask, "Did you go to my favorite store".  No, ma'am!  That was your favorite store, not mine!   It is going to be difficult to plow through the next few days without you, because this was OUR thing.  "What are we serving, how many people are we having, is my boyfriend coming, is my favorite girl coming?"  There are a select few people that will miss your chitterlings and pig's feet.  I know.....shame on me, but I am not cooking any of that.  So, we will spend the next few days honoring you by doing what you loved to do....making others feel special and revered. 


You are missed dearly, Mom, and not just today, but every day.  I love you Mom.      

I will always miss our long conversations about home (Monroe and Bastrop). You could remember relatives that I had forgoten .The shopping we did together buying things we didn't need was always fun and the lunches we had together. I will really, really miss  you. It was wonderful to have a cousin like you. Rest In Peace.

Your cousin
Helen Reese and Family 

Years ago, I was pretty shy and quiet, going to college and living with my Aunt Lordyne in Oakland. Jay and Gloria, along with the kids, would come up to visit. I would enjoy their visits so much because the family was "so cute" and Jay and Gloria seemed to be the perfect couple. He was charming, easy going with a constant and dazzling smile. More like a big grin! She was bright, bubbly and so outgoing.

To me, Gloria was flamboyant...filled with laughter, had a lot of exciting hair, seemed to love wearing jewelry, wore red or hot pink lipstick (I think) and was the essence of a confident woman in my eyes. She was the talker ;-) Not shy or afraid to speak her mind. But most of all, I was so enamored with their connection.

To me it was so obvious that Gloria adored "Jay Baby"...at least that is what I think she called him. I never had a reason to then, or later, think of them as anything but "the perfect couple". In my world that's what they'll always be and I smile to think they are together again.

Just have to add that Gloria made the best peach cobbler I've ever had!!!! 

Auntie Gloria was loyal, giving, funny but what I appreciated about Auntie Gloria the most she never changed, she "kept it real"and told it "like it was." 

This is how one of our conversations went:

Auntie Gloria: " I like your hair" 

Me: "Thank you Auntie"

Auntie Gloria: " I did not like that curly stuff you had last time"

Me: " I know you didn't"

Auntie Gloria: "but it wasn't for me to like"

Me: "I know you didn't like it cuz I know you"

Us: "lol"

I will miss her

Aunite Gloria was always ready to go somewhere. When I was younger I could always remember her and Uncle Jay driving up to Oakland for something. The picture posted with this story, is especially special to me because Auntie Gloria & Uncle Jay came to stay in my first home I purchased. We had a long talk the night before she left. Auntie told me she was proud of me and to continue acheving everything I wanted to do. She  said don't worry about what people are going to say about you ,just do you. Auntie always had words of wisdom, regardless if hurt, she told it like it was. When I found these pictures, I thought one represents her bags were packed and she was ready to go. The other picture represents she's happy now,  because she's with her the love of her life now. So long Auntie until we meet again. 

FYI: 2nd picture uploaded seperate

Love Forever & Always

Janice Taylor-Nash     

When I was about 12 or 13 years old, I went to spend the summer with Auntie Gloria.  While I was there, Auntie Gloria asked me what I wanted before I went back home.  I told her a Liz Claiborne purse (I did not think she was going to buy it).  But  as I was getting ready to go to the airport to head back home;  my Auntie Gloria came out with a taupe, kinda round Liz Claiborne purse, perfect in size.  Thank you Auntie :-)

I am going to miss this lady.  It is unbelievable that I will never see her physically or hear her high-pitched voice again calling me daughter-in-law.  (Her son Jason and I are great friends and NO we never dated.  We were just raised together from the crib...) She was in attendance at every important event in my life.  Every one of them - the baby shower when my mom was pregnant with me (and she was pregnant with Jason), my christening, baptism, birthday parties,  graduatio...ns, prom party, funerals when my family members died, cooked repast food when my dad died...I could go on and on and on some more.  She called my house weekly to talk to my mom all of my life.  She never came to your house without some homemade goodness.  She always had a cake, dressin, meat, something in her trunk and if you went to her house, you never left hungry or sad....you would laugh all the way home.  She would hand you a pan of food out of her car and say, "This ain't nothin'.  I just made this for you all..." and it is a huge peach cobbler, a coconut cake or a whole meal to last for days.  I love you "mother-in-law" and will feel your absence for longer than I care to think about!!  I just thought of another memory....who but you Mrs. Hay would bring their own food on a cruise!  I can still hear you saying, "I brought my own turkey!!"

Auntie I can think back when i was young and you maid things so easy for my mother to deal with being thier for her to talk to about the dumb thngs that I done as a teenager and helped her to undertand them and wen God took her home you   where thier for my dad mking sure he was okay that meant the world to me.

Gloria,

You know that if you were talking to me on the phone right now, I would be fussing at you, because you read those doggone romance novels faster than I could get them. Then you would turn around and call me back talking about how "bad" the books were with all of the sex in them. Hahahaha! Plus, you spoiled my grandson with your turkey dressing, every single holiday. I'm glad that I had some left from Christmas to freeze. I will truly miss your wonderful sense of humor my friend. I will continue to check on Ada and try to make her come by from time to time, because you would drive her crazy sending her over here every week to pick up the books.
I tuly valued your friendship. Omari, Dana and I will miss your laugh. 

Mrs. Hay,
When I think back on all of the many years that I spent in your home just hanging out with you and the family it brings a big smile to my face.   As a little girl I would look forward to going to your house because I always felt like I was part of the family.  As the years went by and I became an adult there was no doubt in my mind that I was a part of your family.  The many hours of talking to you in your kitchen or den were life lessons for me. You imparted so much wisdom to me from an early age, and much of it I did not fully understand until I was an adult.  

There were occassions when I was a young adult that I would stop by the house to visit Jackie and no one would be home but you and we would just sit for hours and talk.  The hours seemed to go by so fast because you would always have something interesting to discuss or some wise advice to impart on me without me knowing that I needed to hear it.  We talked about life, relationships, family, and so many other things.   You always made me feel loved.   

My one regret is that I let the past few years go by without keeping in touch with you the way I should have.  I am glad to hear that you were adored and pampered during your last days.  You of all people deserved to be treated like a Queen, because you were truly a Queen.  

Rest in peace Mrs. Hay and know that "Your Way Was The Best Way".  I would not have wanted you any other way.  I was blessed to have had you and Mr. Hay in my life.  

Blessings to the Hay family.
Monique Dudley Bryant 

I'll miss your sense of humor, Mrs. Hay.  They say your children are a reflection of you.  Thanks for being you.  I'll see you tomorrow...Love, Lisa