[Written by Shawndee Lovoy]
I have been so blessed to have my two grandmothers into my adult life. Both of my grandmothers met and had a sweet relationship with my husband Jason, and our 4 children, Isaac, Juliette, James and Mary Rose. My Grammy (left of me in red) was a precious woman who was married to my Papaw over 65 years, raised 7 children- 5 of which are still living, and taught school most of her life. She went to be with Jesus about 3 years ago. My Mamaw (right of me in blue) just went to live with Jesus at the end of December. She was married to my Papaw over 60 years, raised 4 children, and taught school most of her life also. We had just spent an amazing week together at my parents house in Nashville, where we shared Christmas morning, games, meals, stories, and lots of love. Christmas was always our holiday with Mamaw and I thank Jesus that He gave us the honor of spending Mamaw’s last Christmas on earth with her. It was a hard loss, very sudden, us having had lunch with her just a few hours before. It was my children’s first real experience with loss of someone they truly knew and loved. I am only 1 of 10 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren that my Mamaw had. I decided I would regret it forever if I didn’t speak at her funeral. I was very scared and didn’t want to cry but I wanted to honor Mamaw in that way and let everyone know what she meant to me. So, I wrote it all down, got up and read it. I choked up a few times but I made it through. I want to share with you about my Mamaw. Even these few words don’t give this precious woman justice but it’s enough to give you an idea. Meet Mamaw.
My Mamaw-
When I think of Mamaw I think…
1) sourdough bread- she would let me dig out the entire middle if I wanted too
2) biscuits and gravy- which I loved until I watched her make it once, then I could never eat it again!
3) cows and lightening bugs
4) sleepovers in the living room with all my cousins
5) playing in the basement and the hot tub
6) parafin wax
7) Christmas
8) shopping
9) letters
I think I wrote every paper in school about who I admired most on Mamaw. The amazing thing about Mamaw is that I think all of her 10 grandchildren each thinks they were her favorite in some way or another. That’s what her love did. It made me feel SPECIAL, WANTED, AND IMPORTANT.
Even though I never lived even in the same state as Mamaw I could always feel her love all those miles away. It was bigger and longer than all the miles between us.
I’m forever grateful that Mamaw was there for the birth of all 4 of my children. She came to Birmingham after each of their births, stayed with us about a week, and did what Mamaw does…she rocked, she sang, she read, she played, she cooked, she loved. She too made each of my 4 children, just a few of her 21 great- grandchildren feel SPECIAL, WANTED, AND IMPORTANT.
Mamaw loved us all so well. She has taught me so much about how I want to love. We were so blessed to have her in our lives for so long. She is and will always be greatly missed.
Now I have new thoughts to think of when I think of Mamaw. “Absent in the body, present with the Lord.” Mamaw is HOME. She has had her glorious reunion with Papaw and all her loved ones gone before her. She’s with JESUS. I imagine she and Jesus are becoming best friends as we speak. I’ve been singing this old hymn since Mamaw went to heaven. “When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be. When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory.”
Love,
Shawndee Lovoy
