Finally, in 1998, she went to live at Baptist Village, a retirement home in Waycross. Several years earlier, Mama had worked there, and she liked place. She refused to be divorced from this “man” so she was still married. This move got her away from him. She was improving but other problems popped up and she gradually went down hill.

On January 5, 2001, I received a telephone call from Baptist Village. Mama took a turn for worse. I went over there and just sat. It was just two of us. I sure did hate to see her suffer so. Her breathing was labored and as I looked at her, I thought soon her labors will be over.

Around 12:30 PM, next day, our family began to gather in her room. We would talk to her and smooth her fevered face with a cool rag. One of staff stated, “She probably won’t last two hours.” Little did they know about inner strength my Mama possessed. As her children, grandchildren, sisters, other relatives, and friends would come and have short visits, I knew Mama recognized voices of ones she loved. Later that Saturday night, around 11:30 PM, I bent over and whispered in Mama’s ear, “Mama, it’s all right to go ahead and rest. We will be fine. Tell Daddy I said hello when you get home.”

Mama hung on until her granddaughter, Erin, arrived after midnight. Her breathing became more and more labored and her fever rose. About 1:25 AM, I felt presence of Holy Ghost as words of a song came to my mind. The words were: “It hurt us so to see Mama go, to be gone forever more. But before she closed her eyes in death, I heard a knocking on door. A band of angels just walked in to take her home to glory.”

I felt a slight breeze and at 1:32 AM, January 7, 2001, Mama was carried by angels to her new home. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Sunday morning, I went to preach at nursing home, and that evening we gathered at funeral home to make arrangements. Several years earlier, Mama had wanted me to go there with her and look at coffins and make some preliminary funeral arrangements. She liked Mitchell Bowen who was part owner of funeral home. She thought Mitchell would do (later, Mitchell ran for and won county commissioner race. When he asked me to vote for him, I said, “Mitchell, you got my vote. Mama thought highly of you and that’s good enough for me.”). Well, I didn’t know that funeral home had changed ownership. Blake Smith had bought it and Mama’s was to be his first funeral. Blake is a young man who is ideally suited for this profession. His genuine concern, professionalism, and support are rare in this day and age.

At funeral wake, over 700 people came by to pay their last respects to my Mama. She had touched many lives with her quiet, humble, gentle ways. She was now reaping what she had sowed over years.

The chapel was overflowing at Mama’s funeral service. The flowers were so bountiful and so beautiful. Mama did love flowers. I had special honor of speaking a few words during funeral service. I quoted this scripture: Matthew 25, verses 34-36: “Then shall King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit Kingdom prepared for you from foundation of world: For I was hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” This scripture described Mama to a tee.

The Lord anointed two preachers, he anointed singing, and sent us comfort for our loss. It was a sweet service for a sweet Mama. Thank you Lord that you care for your “Little children”.

Mama still lives in our hearts and memories. Most importantly, things were okay between her and her Lord. I’ll see her again one day, never to be separated again.

Luke 2.19: “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”

Copyright 2003 Irvin L. Rozier

FOOTNOTE; In late November, 2003, I was interviewed by our local paper, THE BLACKSHEAR TIMES, about publication of my book. Before we started, reporter, Jason Deal, said, “I want to show you something”. He handed me a graduation card my Mama had sent him about ten years earlier. It was Mama’s handwriting that said congratulations upon your accomplishment. This had a double meaning to me...showed one of people my Mama touched and it was like her saying to me, “Congrats on writing and publishing your book.”

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