Jewells of Thought

Dad scrolls through the area obituaries on a regular basis. If he didn’t do this as he does we would miss being with several friends when they go through bereavement periods. Today is no different while preparing for one viewing another had been scheduled for Friday night.

Grandma Rosemary and this lady, Joyce Lively hit off, honestly there’s no woman Grandma didn’t love being around especially at Church. George, her husband had been specifically listed by Grandpa Freddy for me to interview. He was a World War II Veteran and I believe the last one I interviewed.

When I asked him for a time to do so we arranged for a morning and Mom and Grandma came with me. They spoke with Joyce in the living room while I recorded the interview with George in their kitchen. My family came to Fellowship in 1998, they were among the founding members of the Church.

On that day of our interview I do remember a comment from both of them. They lived next door to a pizza place and they both mentioned smelling all those smells was frustrating all the time. They were extremely happy when Goosepond Pizza moved to its present day location.

Their house was one of the locations for the wonderful Women’s Ministries, the Ladies Meetings which were monthly. There would be food, Baptist Ladies can cook, a lesson or devotional and prayer requests time with prayer and always conversational time before and afterwards. It became easier to do these nights or afternoons at the Church once I became a fixture at these later on.

I remember being at their house for Thanksgiving night and it was beautiful. They had knick-knacks all over the place and it was a crowded night. Specifically I remember Carolyn Clark made homemade cheesecake, that was probably one of the last times she was able to make one of those meetings. I have so many memories of those founding era members of the Church and I don’t want to forget them. They were wonderful people and they worked with such might for the good of this Church Family.

Sometimes I wish I could have a history lesson for the brand new people of the Church. There was another generation that is dwindling from the World War II era that helped make this Church real. Their efforts are why we have Fellowship Baptist Church today. I get passionate about this and not wanting to forget people as awesome as these Church people were. I am fortunate to have met and known them.

Maybe I’m biased because I interviewed some of these men. Or maybe being an emotional, historian makes me this way. All I know is that Grandpa wanted me to get to know them.

Joyce was known for a certain dessert. She had a particularly exquisite dish that she filled all the way to the top. Vanilla Wafers were layered into the Banana pudding as well as bananas themselves. It was a show-stopper. This couple was vibrant in my memories. He was quiet, but had a smile that lit up his face and she could cook as I said and she had a lot of sisters and was always chattering. Just like my Grandma and most of the other Church ladies.