Willie Ealy Collier
(1904 – 1990)
Youngest daughter of Paul Ealy & Adeline Kennedy Ealy
Over
two decades ago, God called you into His kingdom. I was devastated because I
was losing the best grandmother a boy could have ever wished for. But after the
river of tears, I realized that I wasn't losing you at all. You are always with
me. How do I know? Because you are often in my dreams, and every time I wake up
after seeing you in my dream, the day is already starting off great.
It
brings me so much joy to remember....
...when
you, me, and Granddaddy would go fishing on Mr. Swayze's pond in Yazoo County.
That would be the only time when I couldn't wait to wake up at 5 AM in the
morning. How I loved our fishing trips!
...the
many talks you shared with me about your family and its history. I credit my
love for genealogy to your stories about your parents and grandparents. And I
still remember how you said that you being the youngest child of your parents'
nine children, you were a spoiled brat.
...when
we would go to Carthage, and as we were walking around the town's square, one
of your former students would come up to you and greet you. You'd laugh and
talk with them as if you were truly glad to see them after all of those years. Then, once they walk away, you'd look at me and say, "Baby, I don't
remember her/him to save my life!" I am laughing now just remembering how
you'd say it.
...when
I was 12 years old and had just learned how to drive, you let me drive you and Granddaddy to the Ealy Family Reunion picnic 50 miles away in Scott
County. No learner's permit, no driver's
license, nothing but Faith. You had me
to sit on a pillow so I would be high enough in front of the steering wheel,
and you placed your life and your new Chevrolet Impala in my hands. I don't know if you ever realized how grown I
felt that day!
...your
elegant strut as you walked in church because you knew you were sharp. And you
were!
...when
I was 13 and getting off the Amtrak train from spending two weeks in Chicago,
you were right there at the station to make sure that I arrived back home
safely. The train stopped but started to move again to a better spot so people
could get off safely, and you thought the train was leaving. I heard your voice
from inside the train, "Stop that train!! My grandbaby is on there!!"
Oh yes, I remember how happy I was to hear your voice!
...how
you'd buy me whatever I wanted. You made a 15-year-old teenager so happy when,
without hesitation, you agreed to buy me that red Honda Elite motor scooter I
desperately wanted. My friends teased me that you were the one who spoiled me.
I guess they were right.
...how
you and Granddaddy would encourage me, give me guidance, and always would let
me know when I was doing wrong.
...how
when Mom or Dad would cook something I didn't like, I'd jump on my bike or
scooter, head to your house, and begged you to buy me a Big Mac from
McDonald's. Every time I eat a Big Mac now, I remember those times.
...how
much you loved and respected my Mom, your daughter-in-law; you'd think that she
was your child rather than Dad.
...the
many times when I went with you to your hometown church in Lena, Mississippi. On one of those times, after church, while everyone was gathering
outside, you saw this young girl and tried to hook me up with her. Then minutes later, you learned that she was
your first cousin's granddaughter! LOL
...how
you loved Tube Rose snuff, and I am still laughing about how you'd say that
you'd die if I didn't run to the store to get you some snuff.
...how
you showered us with so much love. So much so, that twenty-two years later, it
seems that you haven't been gone from this earthly setting for over two
decades.
When
I need an uplift, all I need to do is sit back and remember the best
grandmother in the world! I thank God for the memories.
I
love you, Grandma. Somehow, I know you're reading this.
Your
"Buster" (and you were the only person who could call me that without
me getting mad. LOL)
