with Patsy Nobles Jones
“When someone you love says goodbye – you can stare long and hard at the door they closed – and forget to see all the doors God has opened in front of you.” – Shannon Alder
Our community expresses sympathy to the families of Eva Louise Massey Pierce (8-1-42 to 2-7-21), wife of Jim Pierce of Georgetown near Cleveland. Brenda (Donnie) Hannah was her niece, and Charles (Ruby) Malone was her brother-in-law – Companion Funeral Home in charge – Henderson City; David Randle Butler (2-26-39 to 2-22-21), the first of five siblings (Patricia Pasqual, Joan Conner, Sylvia Pruitt and his late brother Jerry Lynn) by Claude and Laverne Randolph Butler. Older Jacks Creek residents will remember Laverne cooking at Jacks Creek School. David was the nephew of Claude and Maggie Scott Randolph. He was a Chester County High School Class of 1957 graduate, moved to Southhaven, Miss., and married Rannie Mauney McGee Butler – Chapman Cemetery; Aves George Clayton (12-23-46 to 2-28-21), Chester County Deputy Sheriff for eight years – New Hope; Jewell Dean Hutcherson (5-25-34 to 2-28-21) – Woodlawn; James Strickland Hanson (10-3-46 to 2-25-21), an impressive military man for the U.S. Army – Sanford Rogers Cemetery; Janice Kay Morgan Acred (11-19-49 to 2-24-21) – New Friendship.
Zelma Josephine Jacobs Hinson (1-29-32 to 2-27-21) wife of the late Guy Hinson and daughter of William (1-4-1909/1-16-2009) and Zelma Counts Jacobs (2-12-1910/9-5-93). I taught two of her granddaughters, Carrie Reeves and Angela Hinson at Chester County Junior High School. Josephine was supportive and attended parent-teacher conferences.
Josephine had a goal – she planned the wanted 100th birthday party for her daddy, William Jacobs. He went to the hospital twice and feared it was the end, but he spoke softly with faith, “I want an 100th birthday party.” He did it! A 100th birthday party was held at the healthcare. He died 12 days later, but before he died, he told me he would remember three memories – (1) a pencil rubbing from the Vietnam Wall of son, Dannie Jacobs (1946 to 1967) that Don and I carried to them; (2) going to Florida, sitting on the beach and feeling the ocean breeze on his cheeks. He touched his cheeks and went into a stare. After the moment passed he said he could still smell the ocean, too. He said no one could ever take that away from him, and he would carry it to his grave; and (3) his 100th birthday party and friends and family coming. I believe with all my heart that helped Josephine deal with his death easier. She had seen to her daddy’s wish. Josephine was a great daughter and a wonderful person and friend of Regina Brooks. She so graciously stayed humble through her trials and tribulations until age 89.
Prayers for Janis McCall and Mrs. Joe Richard Wadley and continue prayers for Wade and Lance (Ann) Bailey; Andy (Doris) Maness; Cheryl Ruddy; and Tommy (Janice) Patterson. Hugs to Louise Smith, Sue Wright, Rebecca Vineyard and daughters of Louise Clenney.
The Mississippi River is rising, and so is Geralene Thompson’s age. The ole gal turned a proud 92 on March 8. She was happy she shared Fentress Casey’s birthday (3-8-26/3-21-14). We miss Mr. Fentress at funerals and birthday parties, don’t we? Ann Bailey, Neva Harvey and Geralene celebrated birthdays on March 6, 7 and 8 as “The Crisco Kids.”
Three pet losses – Harold James lost his furry friend, Tooter, last month at age 17. Harold and Tooter made memories. Tooter’s empty chair still holds memories. Harold, I am sorry for your loss you held so dear. You were so kind to remember Dusty in our conversations.
Sharon Boothe was sad when her last dog died two weeks ago.
Do you remember me adopting a daughter from Tennessee elephant sanctuary? Her name was Shirley; she loved bananas and jellybeans. I am sad, but she is making local, world and U.S.A. attention. Calls keep coming in to express sympathy. I have ordered a t-shirt and note cards of Shirley.
SOMEONE CARES: Shirley (1948/2-22-21) was a circus elephant for 25 years until attacked by another elephant breaking her right hind leg, which was never set correctly. She limped and dragged the shorter leg behind her. Useless to the circus so to the zoo for a lonely 22 years. Remember how emotional and social elephants are? She was sad, but good news! She was carried to Tennessee elephant sanctuary in 1999. There she ran into Jenny (1972/10-17-2006) whom she had known briefly 23 years before in 1973. A documentary The Urban Elephant was shown on television and YouTube. From their first reunion moment, they have been inseparable. Steel bars were being bent, gate was opened and pals joined trunks and gently touched each other. Side by side, swaying and raising trunks together, they trumpeted roars of joy. The now happier elephants never parted. At night, Shirley stands over Jenny while she sleeps. They eat every meal and share their food. If Jenny naps in the sunshine, Shirley stands over her to made a shade. Shirley was never a pusher, so all elephants respected and considered her the matriarch after Barbara died. She welcomed arriving elephants to their better forever home.
Other five pals were Tarra (1974) and Tarra’s dog pal, Bella for eight years; Sissy (1968); Winkie (1966/5-11-2017); Barbara (1966/5-18-2001) and Misty (1964/4-13-2016). When Bella the dog died in 2011,Tarra mourned alone at the his grave. The team believe Tarra carried his body to the barn after Bella was attacked by coyotes. Shirley and others would offer Tarra some of their food. When Misty died, Tarra and Shirley came to say good-bye. Shirley took much time to gently touch Misty with her trunk. When Jenny died, Shirley came to say goodbye and for over 10 years Shirley would march into the woods to mourn beside Jenny’s grave alone. When the second oldest elephant in North America died, Sissy and Tarra came to say goodbye. Shirley came into the barn at 10 p.m. and never got back up to join the herd. Tarra lay beside Shirley for four hours. The motherly one of 22 years was gone. Shirley was buried beside her beloved Jenny. All elephants get a monument. Perhaps during storms you will hear their mighty roars – they are together again and forever. Did you noticed how someone cared?
Count them. Pass it on….
