|
Memories and Stories I do not even know where to start describing Mary Anna Moore Donaldson. She was 'Grandma' Donaldson to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a devout Christian woman. She was the epitome of the godly woman (Prov. 31). She "poured her life out on the alter of Christian service" for her family, her friends and neighbors, and her church. She was a member of Spencer Memorial Methodist Church for 81 years. That is longer than that church has kept records, but she has many witnesses of her longevity and faithful attendance, both in that church and in the community.
She watched Spencer church grow to several hundred members, in the 1950's. And, she watched it struggle (sometimes, for its' very existence!), for the past few decades. But, it was always her church! She seldom failed to support and attend Spencer, even into her nineties!
I can still remember, as a child (and I am 52 years old) the many times that Grandma "took the cake," as the prize for having the most family members, in church attendance, on a given Sunday. For her, it was easy! What was hard was facing her, if you could not be there!
Grandma was never mean, at all. She had a way of raising her hands above her head, in dismay. Then, she had a saying, "You missed it all!" These words will ring in the ears of her children, and her grandchildren, as long as they live!
Grandma was always cooking and keeping house (as you might imagine, with 10 children!). She might cook for, as many as 100 different people, on any given Saturday, or Sunday. It was mostly family that wondered into her house and kitchen. But, looking back on the years, I realize that there were other friends, who dropped in-a future judge, a future major league baseball player (or two), a future military leader-just to mention a few! Actually, looking back on the years, some of the greatest men I have ever known frequented Grandma's kitchen.
I remember sitting for hours and listening to the stories of France in World War I, of playing major league baseball, and meeting Mickey Mantle, or Catfish Hunter, of the heroic feats of the Marines in World War II. All the while, Grandma was busy, in the kitchen, fixing something for everyone to eat! We did not pay much attention, and seldom thanked her, but she was always caring for us, with all her heart.
I don't think that I can remember a time that, when getting into the family car, with my father, he didn't say, "Let's go over to Mama's and see what she has to eat!" It never failed! Daddy did not have to have an excuse, but this was plenty of reason to go to Grandma's.
Grandma's children (and their children and grandchildren) always felt at home, at her house. It was a place of joy and freedom, for me as a child. It was a place where the adult Donaldsons could relax! But, for the kids, there was always cousins (and uncles) to play with. We seemed to all be the same age and size. And we all seemed to like to play baseball, army, cowboys or whatever might come to mind. Looking back, I know that happiness and love pervaded the whole house, because it was Grandma's house. I still remember sitting on her knee, while she sang, "Old Tommy Tucker was a fine old man..."
Oh, we had our problems. As a family, the Donaldsons have never been rich in material possessions, but we were rich in many blessings. Psalm 127 says, "Children are a blessing from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward...blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them (children)." And, Grandma loved all of her children (10), grandchildren (31), great grandchildren (21) and great great grandchildren (11 with one on the way) at her death, in 1999. |
