Greg was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor (medulloblastoma) when he was 12 years old.  He had brain surgery and was given 4 months to live.  Mom stayed strong through it all and did everything she could to take care of Greg.  Going to the beach was one of Mom's favorite things to do.  Here she is with Greg as he tries to recover after the surgery.

This picture is hard to see but worth the effort.  This is one of Grandmas' happiest moments...Little Lou holding Jenna.  The look on Mom's face says it all- having both grandbabies in her arms at once....

Not being able to finish school...having three babies at a really young age....working so hard in manual labor jobs, and working 7 days a week running their own buisness....not too often did we get a chance to see Mom and Dad have fun.   I love this picture of the too of them goofing off and having fun together.  As hard as it was...Papa and Grandma loved each other so much...had little time to have fun...but when they could they shared the idea of having fun, love and hugs with all of their kids and grandkids.  Thanks for such a fun gift and legacy.  xoxoxox

One of Mom's biggest secrets was to be an author...something she'd wanted to do since highschool but never having the time for when having three kids at a young age.  This is a pose I took of Mom when she was writing.  She penned a couple of novels that were off to a really good start.  I'm sorry she wasn't with us long enough to get a chance to finish them.   I enjoyed them!!

Here you see Mom, working on a jigsaw puzzle.  She got me hooked on them and when Jenna would come to NC to visit for Thanksgiving...well we couldn't leave the table until the puzzle was done.  HaHa.  What a tradition Grandma has left us with.  To this day jigsaws are one of the few things that can take me away where I can relax.  Thanks for this gift, Mom!!!  xoxoxo Pam

Dads cancer was progressing and his last Christmas with us Dad asked me to shop for Mom's present.  He wanted me to find her the best, warmest coat I could to keep her warm in the winter.  He was so worried about her.  In this picture, Mom is wearing that coat.

You will also see in Dad's hands, a jigsaw puzzle we got Mom and in the far right corner that puzzle already put together.  One of Mom's favorite activities was putting together a jigsaw.  Quite often we'd work long through the night not willing to quit until the puzzle was finished.

I really miss those times....I've tried a puzzle but not quite the same without having Mom there to share it with.  Miss you and love you Mom! 

Mom & Dad worked hard in the cleaners 7 days a week with only a week off once a year.  Favorite way to celebrate was a weekend in Tahoe or Reno playing the slots.  In this Picture Mom won big...a Big Panda bear that is.  At the very least the get away would take their minds off all of the hard work and responsibility.  I love remembering how much fun Mom had when we'd go.

I'd like to share some of Mom's poetry....hope this helps you get a little closer to Mom.  Enjoy!

I Could Not See

I think of years gone by
And wonder why
I could not see
The love you had for me
It has been awhile
Since I saw your smile
I hear your voice
I know I made a choice
I could not see
The love you had for me. 


This Great Land

Don't turn away from me
When I hold out my hand
The sadness in my eyes
You will see
For I am one of the forgotten
In our great land.
My family was just like you
When the economy brought us down
Our house and car are now gone
Alone we feel, it is true
The streets are cold at night
The shine in our eyes is gone
Our stomachs are filled with hunger pain
But we know help will come from you
So many things aren't important anymore
We shall begin again
We will no longer feel forlorn
For we are part of this great land.

 
Forlorned 

 Forlorned, the body turned away
saddened by the city workers
destroying his meager belongings.
His stomach rumbled
with hunger pains
hollow cheeks
below his sunken eyes
the body shivered
as the night winds blew
he shoved his hands into his pockets
heading in an unknown direction.
He walked for hours in the cold.
Suddently like an omen from heaven
he saw the church on the corner.
As he trodded up the steps
leading to its opened doors
his hopes surmounted
as his bare feet touched its wooden floors.
Times can only get better
he had been told, many times before. 

Look closely...you will see Mom is gritting her teeth...kind of like Billy Joe would do.  Many, many times I'd see Mom grit her teeth when she was with her grandbabies....she just loved them that much!!!!  xoxoxox 

Look as Mom smile as she celebrates her re-marriage to Dad. This time she was all decked out in pink and as beautiful as ever.  :)

In this photo is Mom (Elizabeth), John, Billy-Joe, Jo-Jo, Grandpa Hiram and Greg.  Mom took Greg and Joe to Ohio for a trip because Greg had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor/ cancer and Mom wanted Greg to visit Grandpa and family.  Mom smiles brightly in this picture, but I was old enough to know just how much she was suffereing.  As a mom now...I can only imagine just how tough things were for Mom.  I remember she stayed so strong, so calm.  Hard to image she was still so young (early 30's)  when she was dealing with this horrific life challenge.  The more I learn about Mom and the older I get...the more I realize what an incredible inspiration she was and still is to me and all the women in our family!  Miss you Mom.  xoxoxo

Christmas Day 1954.  Mom was 18, Dad 22.

Alzhiemer's plays a nasty trick on us...Here are Mom and Uncle John holding hands...but neither new who the other was.  After he retired, Uncle John called Mom almost every day until the Alzheimer's progressed in both of them to the point they could no longer hold a conversation.  They were so very close.  Uncle John never stopped taking care of Mom.

John kept asking when he could see his sister Norma so Doug and Aunt Barbara brought him up from Georgia for a visit with mom.

We told Norma and John several times who each other were.  We asked them to hold hands and talk to each other.  They looked at each other with a look of 'who the heck is this person?'....  We looked at family photos together and went out to a lovely lunch. 

On the way home...Uncle John asked Doug..."Are we going to get to see Norma?".

Neither knew who the other was...but both were pleasant and went along with our requests to visit each other - because they are both such sweet people. 

(That's Aunt Barbara standing next to Uncle John) 

You see Mom in the mirror helping me to get ready  for my wedding... but look closely at the picture on my dresser...it's Mom at around the same age as I was on my wedding day.  xoxoxoxo 

Yes, Mom's #1 favorite charity was giving a new baby doll to a little girl each Christmas. Mom would say "It just isn't Christmas until a little girl gets a baby doll".  Mom in your honor...well...we got quite a few baby dolls this year for the little ones.  I think we did you proud!

Mom either gave to Toys for Tots or grab some names off an Angel Tree.  My favorite year was when mom decided to "go older" and got a CD player for a teen.  Mom was so proud of herself that she also chose a couple new CD's for said teen.  Mom chose classical music CD's.  Not that that is bad...but I can only imagine the teens face when she opened those CDs.  hahaha

One year Mom, Greg and I served the back end of the Toys for Tots charity by helping to sort and stage gifts so parents could "shop" for their littles one and personally select the gifts Santa would bring.  I really enjoyed being on that side of the process.  The funny story here is we were using Greg's Garmin and got lost 3 times on the way and finally had to ask for help!!  

Another of Mom's favorite charities was serving the poor by helping out at the Salvation Army during the holidays.  She and Greg would take laundry baskets full of Debbie's cakes, cupcakes, zingers...peanut butter crisps...all sorts of individually wrapped  goodies and pass them out and chat with the folks standing in the long lines for food.  Put a smile on their faces as they waited for their meals.  

At Christmas Mom would fill stockings with donations from family, with candy, toys and a little money for the kids at the Salvation Army.  

Lastly, Every year Mom made a donation to the St Judes Children hospital in TN.  I think that stems mostly from Greg having his brain cancer...but even if it was only $5, Mom donated every year.

In memory of Mom giving whatever she could afford or skill she could provide - we will endeavor to carry on Mom's traditiions of helping the needy.

 

Greg, Taylor and I attended a small service December 9th, 2014, called the Lights of Rememberance.  The ceremony was held at the Duke Hospice Unicorn Bereavement Center and Gardens located at a historic farmhouse on 11 acres in Hillsborough, NC.

The farmhouse setting seemed so perfect for Mom, it was such a beautiful place.  Unfortunately it rained that evening but the ceremony went ahead.  We lit a candle for Mom (Norma) and one for Dad (Papa Ralph), as well.  All of the candles were placed along the farm house's wrap-around porch where we gathered for remembering and the reading of the names.  (See Video "FH" and "MomsCandle" to see the candles.  Listen to Video "Names" ...at around the 2:00 minute mark you will hear Norma and Ralph's names read).

Mom remains with us in North Carolina for now, a beautiful urn depicting an angel...which is how we think of Mom-an angel who watches over us everyday.
 

Mom was pretty far progressed in her alzheimers when we got Maggie, a chocolate lab puppy.  Maggie had no social skills and wasn't potty trained so we were waiting before bringing her to the nursing home to meet mom.

When I asked Mom if she wanted to meet Maggie her response was "Oh boy, oh boy"  Mom loved dogs and I wish the timing would have allowed her to get to pet Maggie at least once.  But Maggie was there with us at the balloon release to bark her hello's to mom.... 

This gentleman with my Mom is actually her brother-in-law Bill Baldwin.
Bill was married to her older sister Georgie.

He was very sweet to my Mom - She cared for him deeply.
He was "Rotten", she would say :)

 

I always looked up to my grandma. I still do. She is an inspiration of what a strong, loving, hardworking, optimistic, cheerful, confident woman should be like. You have taught me so much and how to look at the world in such an amazing way. You worked so hard all your life and as hard as you had it at times you didn’t let it stop you. I never heard you complain; you would do the opposite and talk about all that was good and what you were grateful for. You were always smiling and we were always laughing. We would laugh so hard that we couldn’t breathe. You loved all us grandkids so much and believed in us in whatever we wanted to do. You never judged anyone! You looked at everyone as if they were all the same. Everyone always gravitated to you and your spirit. You have touched so many people. It’s hard not having you physically here, but you will always be a part of me every day. I will always be a dreamer and go for what I want just like you. Thank you for being my grandma. Love does not even come close to describing the feelings I have for you.

Mom's dear friend Connie Chapman (Aunt Connie to us) came out for Mine and Vic's wedding.  

Mom was an amazing seamstress and I always had the coolest one of a kind dresses.  She made this one for my High School graduation.  The best part is mom was cool with dresses being fashionably short.

As told to Pam by Taylor,

Grandma was making Jenna and me pancakes.  Jenna told Grandma that she makes the Best pancakes in the world.  I had to stand up for my Mom and said that my Mom made the best pancakes in the world.

Grandma being the good sport she is, asked nicely..."how does your mom make them?"

I said "My Mom makes them in the microwave!"

Now I do believe that Grandma makes the best hotta cakes in the world and I have taught some of my friends and their families how to make them Grandma's way too.
 
Love, Taylor

 

When Jenna and Taylor were very young.  They "did" mom's makeup - kinda wild, crazy and bold makeup...hee.hee.  The girls were so proud of their work.  Mom took the girls shopping and to lunch wearing that makeup!  She didn't care about the stares or what people thought... They had a great day!!