In Memory Of 08/04/2011
 
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God saw she was getting tired
And a cure was not to be
So He put His arms around her
And whispered, “Come with Me.”

With tearful eyes we watched her suffer
And saw her fade away.
Although we loved her dearly,
We could not make her stay.

A golden heart stopped beating
Hard working hands to rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best.

-Author Unknown

It seems appropriate now that I write about the woman I knew as granny, and many others in the entire community where I was raised knew her as “Granny Boyd” whether or not she was kin.

Who was “Granny Boyd”?  Well, we was everyone’s granny who always had a home cooked meal either cooked or being cooked.  When anyone entered her house, they were immediately greeted with “Are you hungry? Can I get you something to eat?”  Her homemade biscuits were the best ever and everyone knew it.  I recall hearing stories of her nieces, nephews, and others talking about making trips to her house when they were young just to eat one of granny’s biscuits.  They put butter and maple syrup over them, and as we grandchildren were born, we too, always loved her biscuits.  She was a great cook and southern cookin’ was a specialty in her home.  You see, her mom died when granny was very young, maybe 3 years old. She had one brother and her dad worked. Granny was cooking and keeping house from the time she was old enough to cook.

She was a tough woman with the strength of a bear and a heart of gold who willingly and happily gave of what she had which was not much at all.  I even remember when a bathroom was added to her house. She worked in the kitchen of Druid City Hospital until she retired, and that was basically the income she and my grandpa had.  There was not much money to be had for the family.  Granny and grandpa had 5 children who were raised in a two bedroom house with a living room and kitchen.

As a teenager I remember going over every Saturday morning to have breakfast consisting of eggs, biscuits, bacon and grits!!  What a treat.  One of my fondest memories was watching the Lawrence Welk show with her.

While she lived a rather poor life with respect to material possessions, she led a very rich life in her walk with God.  Every Saturday morning, she would listen to tapes of a church sermon which was mailed to her weekly.  That was her time of worship and study.  She always prayed prior to each meal and throughout the day and lived a life that showed her Christian ways.  Granny loved God and knew she had secured her place in heaven.  I recall going with her to summer tent revivals when I was young.  I think I loved my granny as much as she loved the Lord.

That is why, I know without a doubt, that she is with her Lord in Heaven who prepared a place for her, and she has a crown of beauty.  In her later years after having suffered a few strokes, she lived in a nursing home where mom and my uncle visited every day.  Granny knew I think, who people were right up to the end of her life.  I last saw her in May of 2010 when I was home for my nephew’s high school graduation.  It was a happy time because even then she had a twinkle in her eye.  I am fortunate to have had my granny for 50 years!

On April 21, 2011 when she was placed in her grave at the Boyd Cemetery in Peterson, Alabama I was compelled to share a few words.  I am not a public speaker.  Actually I am not much of a talker at all.  But I wanted those who were there to think of this:  We lost granny on April 21st, but she opened her eyes to the Gates of Heaven.  Can you even imagine what she was experiencing?  I asked everyone to just stop and reflect upon that because that was what gave me strength to rejoice in her passing.  Yes, I loved and deeply miss her, but she is now at home.

Julia Elizabeth Kline Boyd

October 16, 1918 – April 21, 2011
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