Gleaning Facebook: A Tough Week

Headed off to the fourth funeral I've attended in a week.  

Last Wednesday my first cousin Benny Loyd's service, then theater/Democratic friend Mary Doster's on Saturday -- I wrote about these two folks previously.

The funeral for our church friend Lana Poss' was this morning, and this afternoon, the service for my neighbor of 26 years, Katherine Gordon, who was also the mother of Justin, a student in my very first class at McHenry in 1971.

I have never regretted attending a wake, a visitation, or a funeral. There have been several times I regretted NOT attending. Twice I had to miss funerals, of folks very important to me, because I had major roles in shows that could not have gone on without me. But I still feel lousy for missing them. 

Each of these four occasions this week were sad, yes, but each also enriched my life. My advice to anyone who will listen to this 67-year-old coot: Go to funerals. Just be there. You won't regret it. You will learn. You will grow. You will be enriched. 

And children should attend funerals. It is one of the ways we pass on to our kids the things that really matter. It's a time when folks get real, and we hear from the hearts of our friends and family the things we should, but don't say day to day.

In all four of these occasions I learned things I hadn't known about folks whom I already admired. I learned something about what was important to each of them, and also something about the values of those they left behind, and I feel closer to them for it.

Comments:

Howard Smith
Seems to me like being acquainted with you has a downside....which, causes me some personal concern.

Ricky Conaway
Terrell where did you live at I lived close to the Gordons also on Cedar Ave. right across the street from Mr. Lindsey and beside Bill Cox

Joan Shaw Turrentine
That makes for a very hard week.

Bob Doster
We're very sorry about this situation. BUT you are a great comfort to the people involved.

Wendy Ramsey
So sorry for such a sad week!

John Countryman
When it rains it pours. Comforting thoughts!

Mary Nisbet Asbury
dang!

Neal Brackett
Good Grief Terrell. you haven't been hanging out with Angela Lansbury have you?

Madelyn Collette
Good of you to show your care or these families.

Terrell Shaw
Ricky we lived at 608 directly across the street from the Coxes. The Gordons' backyard bordered ours.

Terrell Shaw
Wendy, you are the one with the rough week. I was so sorry hear of your loss. But I'm glad that y'all were able to be with your mom at the end.

Madelyn Collette
I was sick with gallstones and could not attend the funeral of one of my dearest friends Linda Stone. We did have a candle burning in her memory at our Circle of which she was a DEVOTED MEMBER. It hurts so bad when you can't attend services for those you love.

Deborah Lake Dawson
Sorry for your losses, so many at once.

Ruth Pinson
What a week! I'm so sorry.

George Barton
I don't know why, I thought of Hugh Grant and "Four Weddings and a Funeral".

Bitsy Burton
Hugs, Terrell!

Barbara J. Gale
You sang beautifully at Lana's service. Thank you.

Gleaning Facebook: RIP Mary Doster

Comments

Buzz Wachsteter
Mary has made her final curtain call on the stage of the Desoto, and has taken her place on the front row of the balcony. God bless a truly unique and loving person. Enjoy catching up with Cathy and Josh, Forrest, Hyman and Lilly, L.T., Dan and Edna, Gordon Elliott, and so many more. You will always be in our hearts and memories.

Laura L Adams
Just tagged the marquis photo for the Drumbeat...

Bob Doster
Thanks.

Julia Hilburn Dent
Terrell, please friend Mike Tolbert or tag him with this photo!! He is her nephew & came from N.C. to the service & all!!!

Mike Tolbert
Thanks so much. She was a dear aunt

Barbara J. Gale
Mary was one of my first friends in Rome...I will miss her.

Deb Joyner Dennemann
Terrell, dear one, tell us about her memorial service. I was so sorry to not be able to be there.......

Terrell Shaw
It was great to meet your parents, Deb.
It was a very nice service, with a reception/meal afterwards. I told a few Mary stories at the reception and several other chimed in as well. I think Mary would have approved.
I plan to put the memories folks sent me into a file to share with Bob & Bill and others soon. I have two more funerals to attend (and I'll sing at one of those) this week. It seems they come in bunches. Entirely too common these days.

Deb Joyner Dennemann
It's such a small church.. hope it was packed.. would have been much more so if folks like me could have been there. What a lovely thing to do for Bill and Bob. Sorry to hear of the other funerals you have to attend but I agree entirely too many these days.

Terrell Shaw
Had to bring in benches and chairs… it was packed.

Deb Joyner Dennemann
OH I'm so happy to hear it was such a good turnout!

 

Gleaning Facebook: On Mary Doster's Service

Harriet Kiser
Mary's service today was a very beautiful celebration of her life.  Terrell Shaw shared some hilarious memories of Mary along with several folks who had worked with her over the years in Rome LittleTheatre.  I could picture Mary and Nancy sitting there together in "their" pew.  Give Nancy my love.

Regina Reynolds Yarbrough
Thank you Harriet!! If we can ever get moved I could attend these things - so many great memories of my mom and the Marys!

Nancy Parker Self

We went to Mary's service. It was very lovely and touching . So glad she was apart of our lives.

Michell Evans

Today we at Trinity said goodbye and celebrated the life of Mitchell Evans who has been a quiet but very active leader in our church for many years. I was privileged to be a part of the memorial service for this good man.