Barbara Jean Bell was 82 years old. She leaves this world behind to her children and their spouses, Rhonda & Doug Harmueller, Stephen Bell, Terry & Jessie Bell, Shirley & Steve Taylor, Jackie Jafarabadi, and to her 2 brothers and their wives, Richard & Dana Mills and Reed & Beverly Mills Jr.
…and her numerous nieces and nephews...and 24 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren.
This is her legacy. We are her legacy.
I am honored today to share with you in my grandmother's memory.
I was the first, her first grandchild that is. 41 years ago she become Mamaw. She was the same age then, as I am standing here today, 41.
Though her time here on Earth is finished, she remains alive. Her Spirit is watching over each and every one of us, looking over the banister of heaven, praying, leading, sending Angels to direct our very steps. Now she is as one of them.
She is a strong and beautiful woman...my earliest memories of her are ever so vivid. Her long silver hair flowing down past her back, her perfect skin, and strong features; characteristic of her Native American heritage.
She has a beautiful voice...she would sing praises and hymns throughout the day, every day when I was young, along with her favorite Elvis songs. She could even yodel… you can't appreciate in the era of rock, pop stars and rap music how beautiful this was, unless you heard her doing it for yourself.
She is amazing.
She is funny.
She is kind.
She is smart.
She is wise.
She is talented.
She is strong.
She is generous.
She is courageous.
She is faithful.
She is indestructible.
The Bible describes her in great detail in Proverbs 31:10-31 and I challenge you to go and read about her for yourself.
I have prepared a version of my own paraphrasing that I would like to read for you now.
A good woman is hard to find, (much less a wonderful Mamaw) she is worth far more than the sum of her gifts, usually cash (she never missed a birthday or holiday sharing even the little cash she had to give).
Her grandchildren love her without reservation, and never regret every moment spent with her. Most of the time they fought to stay with her, rather than going home, sometimes to the extreme of kicking, screaming and pulling their own mothers hair, clean out of her head.
Mamaw is never cheap or stingy, but she spends her money wisely. She shops around for the best deals, using her thousands of coupons every where she goes. She even makes my Papaw travel to various grocery stores, never settling for a price she could get cheaper at another store no matter how long it may take, how much gas might be spent or how far away it may be.
She is up before dawn, usually preparing biscuits and gravy, eggs, fried potatoes, cream style corn, bacon or ham for her family. She fixes Papaw's lunch and prepares for her own work day with "her" kids she cared for diligently, many not even her own.
She watches over her bills and makes do with what little she has. With the money she puts aside, she and Papaw plant a garden. When harvest comes she cans her own vegetables, saving them for a rainy day. She makes her children and grandchildren work in the garden, teaching them about the rules of seed, time and harvest and taking pride in the value of a hard day's work.
First thing in the morning, she gets her children dressed and ready for school and her husband's uniforms ready for work. She rolls up her own sleeves, puts on her apron, gets on a pot of coffee and is eager to start the day.
She knows the value of her work; raising amazing kids.
She is in no hurry to call it quits for the day, usually working late into the night; cleaning, cooking and making her house open to anyone who wanted to sit at her kitchen table. She's was highly skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, and extraordinarily diligent in her homemaking; you could eat off her floors.
She's is always quick to help anyone in need, especially family, but also a neighbor. Should would even help animals in her neighborhood; dogs, cats, birds, raccoons, squirrels. She always reaches out to help the poor, hurting and less fortunate than herself.
She doesn't worry about her family when it snows, her freezer is always full of food and her garage is always lined with the food she canned herself from her own garden.
Her kid's clothes are always clean, mended and ready to wear. She insists that they look presentable and she herself never went outside the house without looking fine. She always had her "lips" on.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household and sometimes even her neighbors, making sure to keep them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her, and they LOVE her immeasurably.
So does her husband, and now they are together again, and he knows just how good he's got it.
"Many women have done wonderful things, but you mamaw have outclassed them all!"
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades, but the woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives her life with a respect for Jesus, the Bible, her Church and the Wisdom of God. She knows how to worship Jesus.
This is the kind of women I want to be around. This woman is my Mamaw.
I say, to those women like her in your life; give her anything she wants, for it is everything she deserves!
There are so many wonderful things we have to say about her, but it will take an eternity to say them. So let's start today, first by thanking God for those amazing people in your life who shape you, strengthen you and encourage you. These are this life's real heroes.
So Mamaw, this is what is on the "Agenda" today.
I am going to dry my hair by the fire.
Eat some long's donuts, until I can't.
Make sure to stuff my pockets with Kleenex hoping someone will put it through the wash, then laugh.
Pick the fuzz off my sweater and throw it on the floor.
Then I will ask everyone around me "what's that is in the corner."
I am going to moan a little, just until I get one of my children to pay attention to me.
I'll run someone's toes over with my walker, just because.
Maybe I'll yodel in my sleep, or wake Shirley up at 1 am just to sit with me and eat some popcorn.
I am going to eat southern cooking, then push my plate nearly across the table signifying I am finished, for now.
I am going to wipe the floor with a dishcloth gripped firmly between my toes.
I am going to insist we play cards, some form of poker, maybe 5-card draw, or maybe even some rummy. I will win because I am that good.
But most of all I am just going to be there for my family, be a rock for them...of goodness, sweetness, kindness, gentleness and respect, and if anyone tries to challenge one of my little ones, I will defend them within an inch of my life.
With my very last breath, I will LOVE them unconditionally.
Because when I grow up, I want to be just like my Mamaw.
Thank you for sharing her memory with me today…
Mamaw, I love you!
