Dear Sammie,

From the time I can remember until your mother, Paralee, could not drive any more, we looked forward to the spring visit of the Cox family. Since I can remember, Uncle Charlie was already deeply stricken by rheumatoid arthritis and had to use double crutches to walk, so Aunt Paralee had learned to drive–years before it was common for women to drive a car.

Funny how we remember small things like–the grass in our yard was so green with very few weeds. It was a farm with many family members to mow, albeit with an old fashioned mower with about an 18-inch cut. Lots of family members pulled weeds. I think weed control in the yard was “women's” work. I still love pulling weeds. It is so easy to see one’s success.

Aunt Paralee would pull up into the yard with their shiny black, four-door car, which had doors opening from front to back instead of back to front as they open now-days. Uncle Charlie, Aunt Paralee, Thelma and Sammie would file out of the car dressed in their Sunday best. In particular, Aunt Paralee’s rouge, lipstick and white hair are memorable. She must have had black hair as a young woman, but it was so white by the time of my childhood.. I don’t remember Vera, India and Reva coming at the same time; although, much to our pleasure, they also visited often. They had married by then, and already India was suffering with rheumatoid arthritis, but was still able to teach school at Halls Elementary School until after I had finished high school. When she became bed ridden with this debilitating disease her husband, Curtis Cardwell, would bring a dresser or cabinet drawer to her bed and she would straighten its contents.

When family came, it was expected that they would have dinner (noon meal) with us. If my mother and dad did not know of the visit, she would really get busy to cook a really good meal. The main course was usually fried chicken or country ham.

At every meal there were potatoes and pinto beans. Vegetables were plentiful year around either fresh or canned–green beans, corn, cabbage, squash, pepper, radishes and sweet potatoes. As much fruit as was available was preserved–apples, peaches, pears, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, dewberries–even Paw Paws in season. There was always lots of fish, quail and wild meat, but those were not considered “company” food..

Later in the summer, either Roscoe or J. P. would drive us to the Cox house at Powell Station. One of those big meals was repeated. Aunt Paralee was so proud of the new Baptistry at Sharon Baptist Church and that Sammie played piano at Sharon for many years she took us to see the new church. Sammie had an amazing repertoire memorized and could play for hours without a sheet of music. Her recitals at family Heiskell Reunions were a treat.

I fondly recall being invited to Sammie and Gleason Williams’ home to celebrate Aunt Joanna LeBow’s 80th birthday. It was so nice and Sammie was always so gracious. She was a heavenly hostess here on earth and now may have been assigned hostess in heaven. Whatever her lot in life, Sammie accepted with grace and spiritual strength. She would have been a fitting hostess at the Heiskell Mile Square Plantation on Bull Run Creek at Heiskell.

I visited her at St. Mary’s Hospital when she fell and broke her back. She was obviously suffering but hopeful she could walk again and stated that if confinement to a bed was “the lot the Lord had for me” she would accept it without complaint.

After she married Gerald Gleason Williams and moved to Fountain City, Tennessee, she was a faithful and loved member of Central Baptist Church of Fountain City. In her last years she was not able to attend, but was remembered and checked on my her Sunday School Class members. Her first cousin, Marian Caldwell Newman–Aunt Mossie’s daughter, kept in touch as long as she was able. Then Marian’s husband, Ed Newman, kept in touch with Sammie. Marian is still living , though she suffered a stroke about five years ago that left her unable to communicate or walk–one of four first cousins left on the Heiskell side–Marian Newman, Robert Heiskell, Betty Heiskell Keefe, and me. Editor's note: Sadly, Marian has since died.

Sammie’s light still shines in many previous memories of good times together. Her grace will always be sufficient!
As seen in Shopper News 2011.