ARE OLD FISHING BUDDIES RALPH AND CHARLES HAVING A REUNION ON A HEAVENLY LAKE SHORE?
By Olivene Godfrey
My sister, Jeanette's husband, Charles, passed away last week. He had a stroke 28 years ago that left him handicapped. Jeanette was his caregiver all those years. As she told me on the phone following his death, she never let him want for anything, and she saw to it that he had the best medical care.
During the drive to the funeral home in Dalton, I asked son, Barry if he thought there were fishing ponds and lakes for fishermen in heaven. He said he believed there was and he said he could just hear Ralph (his beloved late Dad) saying to Charles, "What took you so long to get here? The fish are biting good today."
We have pictures of Ralph and Charles that were made when they were both young and vigorous. Barry and I looked at some of the pictures and I told him of the days when the two men would fish on weekends and bring home buckets of large mouth bass, which I love to eat.
Charles' funeral was held in the Chapel at the funeral home and his great-grandaughter, Alex sang a solo. She has a beautiful voice and as Barry said on the way home, "Alex can really sing - she sounds like a professional." She may have inherited her talent from Charles who sang and played the organ when he was young. Following the funeral, a dinner was served to the family at the church where Charlene, Jeanette and Charles daughter, is a member.
Jeanette has had a lot of tragedy and suffering in her life. Her six great-grandchildren and Charlene have been her salvation and continue to help her during this difficult time.
Please remember Jeanette and her family in your prayers. See you next time
(As told to Tam)