I chose this background for Mom because she loved the color purple and flowers of any color. She could look at a flower and make it grow. Mom was born in Hickman County, Tennessee in Barn Hollow now known as Barren Hollow. She attended school at Nunnelly School in Hickman County. The last grade she finished was 5th grade and then she babysat to help the family.

Mom was the oldest of five children with the exception of a half sister she didn't meet until she was an adult with children. Mom could be hard to get along with sometimes and others she could have you rolling with laughter.

Mom and Daddy married when she was fifteen. She was still a child herself when she married. She told me stories of how she would get up and cook breakfast for Daddy before he left for work and then rush to clean the house before she went to Daddy's Aunt Betty's to play with her girls.

When she was pregnant with her oldest child she became very sick. She was only seventeen and people did not see doctors as they do today. Besides she thought it was part of the pregnancy. It turned out she had Rheumatic Fever and it had damaged the valves of her heart.

She spent a lot of time with her body severely swollen . But on her good days she picked cotton, made breakfast and supper everyday.

Mom dipped snuff. Guess that was a thing in her day. But she could put more snuff in her lower lip than anyone would ever believe.

I must...just must tell this one story on Mom. Sorry Mom but this one was a good one. I hope I get this story correct. If I don't siblings please remember I was very young when this happened. I think it was an election night. My brother had been put in jail for some mischief not sure what. Moms actions kind of over shadowed our 18 year old brother's actions. Dad and Mom received a phone call in the middle of the night that Joe Dell had been arrested. They got dressed and drove to town to see what had happened. They were outside the jail talking to Joe Dell through an open window when an officer drove up. He told them they had to leave. Well that was Mom's son and she wanted all the information before she left. She continued talking to Joe Dell. The officer informed her they would have to leave or he would arrest them. Daddy urged Mom to leave but she kept talking. The officer then informs her if she said one more word to her son the officer would arrest her. She turned as if to go to the car and as she arrived in front of the officer she turned face to face and said, "Boo Damn You!"

Well needless to say Daddy went to a pay phone and called an attorney explaining he went to get his son out of jail and now his wife was in jail for saying, "Boo Damn You" to an officer. Daddy ended up paying a fine for his son and his wife within a few hours. And that is how our mother became a jailbird. I kid you not. That is our Mother:)

Brenda, Barbara, Mom & Bonnie

The last three years of Mom's life she was very sick but amazed all the doctors. During that time Mom, Brenda, Bonnie and I spent a lot of time together. Mom kept us laughing the whole time. She loved Wal-Mart and we spent as many days as her health would allow taking her to Wal-Mart. God gave us three special years that the doctors felt we would never have.

Mom we miss you. I dream of you but you are always smiling letting me know you are ok. Forever with us...Our Mom!

Mom continuing to smile a month before she past away with her third great grandchild Taylor !