Grace Elizabeth Lee (Aunt Lib to the family) was my mother's middle sister. She passed away in 2006 and is buried at Good Hope Baptist Church in Youngsville, NC. I have many many fond memories of Aunt Lib and spent many holidays in her home. I wrote a tribute to her for the funeral. It goes like this:
Seventy-some years ago, Grace Elizabeth (Lib)
Lee entered this world as the beloved middle daughter of Atlas Allen and his
wife Ethel Davis Allen. Born in Granville
County , “Gracie” lived her
life in Granville and Wake
County , leaving only long
enough to pay her own tribute to her favorite country music stars. John Henry
Lee may have been her husband and the love of her life, but Elvis Presley and
Conway Twitty were her boyfriends!
Grace had two beautiful and bright
children: Donnie and Brenda. She had five adoring grandchildren, and eight
great grandchildren along with a host of other family and friends. She was an
excellent seamstress and an awesome cook. She made the best biscuits ever but
her fried chicken was surely the best in the world! Her home was her pride and her
family was her joy.
Gracie held a true beauty – both inside
and out. A dedicated public servant, Grace worked for the State of North Carolina for many
years. After she retired from the State, she used her gift of grace and
kindness in the family waiting area of Rex Hospital
comforting waiting families and dispensing information. You could always count
on her to visit when you were sick, cook for you when you were hungry, and
gallivant when the gallivanting was good.
So
today while we share our sorrow, let’s also celebrate a life well-lived, filled
with the joy of a loving family and with friends who held fast through the good
times and the bad. A life of courage, a life of grace, and a life devoted to
the happiness of others.
Gracie
was the woman all parents hope their daughters grow to be – kind, selfless,
giving. Her spirit has touched each one of us and encourages us to spend our
time and energies on that which is most important…family. One sure thing about
Gracie…she always knew what was important.
No comments:
Post a Comment