More than a dream

One of the greatest ladies I have ever known has passed from this walk of life.

When Dad first accepted the minister's position at Mount Pleasant in Suches, I felt as though I had entered a different dimension. It was as though a way of life long forgotten in the rest of the world had come to rest in the valley among the clouds. The community is small, and everyone is related to everyone else by blood or marriage. People tend to be clannish as a matter of principle, but welcome outsiders with a warm handshake, an open chair, and a loaded dinner table. The twists and turns of steep mountain roads are no longer a deterrent for development. Building projects climb steadily upward, but the oldest members of the community are still turning the land that they were born on. Hard work and determination seemed to build physical strength as well as character, and most look younger than their years. Many were forced to drop out of school due to hardship and labor demands, but yet they are wise in ways that I will never be. Some would ignorantly label these individuals as backwoods, but they are simply the most genuine, loving people that I have ever known.

Minnie and her husband owned and ran a small store adjacent to their house. I had heard of people living in or above their stores, but I was amazed to witness it in person. We would often have Sunday dinner at Minnie's house, and the spread generally consisted of at least two meats and five or six different vegetables. The food was amazing in the way that only home-cooked food can be. I will always remember setting the table as a refreshing breeze drifted over hydrangea bushes and through the open dining room window. At such moments, I used to stop and stare out over the fields...completely lost in thought and contentment. Minnie was kind. I firmly believe that she loved my family, and all three of us loved her in return. She was always willing to lend a helping hand and was consistent in all things. I believe that God hears everyone when they pray, but I always felt that he must have the volume turned up on Minnie. It was almost as if you could feel the strength of her faith. She was an example to me, and I admired her most because she never seemed to speak ill of anyone.

It is hard to believe that she is gone. She was so very strong, and I kept thinking that she would somehow beat cancer. I miss her already...



"...he told about a river deep and wide and a tree of life on either side. I know that heaven is more than a dream..."