Stan's Memories of Lois
Thoughts of Mamuya(Aunt Lois) Shared at
Her Funeral
By Stan Elkins
I was so fortunate that for years I got to see all of my Aunts and Uncles and Cousins when they came in to see my Great Grandmother. I called her Mamuya Mollie.
I like weird names. My youngest son’s name--Canyon.
My Grandmother—I call her Mamuya. (Mom says it originated from a combination of Mamaw and Grandmother)
I had best Mamuya in the world.
After she died, I began to reflect on how large an impact she had on my life. She probably impacted me more than any other single person I've
ever had in my life.
I spent uncountable hours with her as child. I exited the school bus to Hamburgers daily.
She took me fishing. She walked me thru woods. Taught me what muscadine, huckleberries and sculpanongs (I don’t know how to spell this) were. We stomped a bunch of squash bugs when I was little.
I dug her whole back yard up looking for buried treasure. She never fussed at all.
We cross-pollinated day lilies.
We toasted almonds on a Dearborn Heater. Almonds cost nearly nothing but it made for great memories.
When I went hunting and got cold, I'd come back to Mamuya's. She'd fix me breakfast(Buttermilk Biscuits, Eggs and Sausage . I'd sit by that
Dearborn Heater and eat til I was completely warm.
Best thing about Mamuya is she was kind.
She didn't expect anything in return from what she gave to others.
She always sent something home with her brothers and sisters. Food/jelly/preserves/flowers
She planted a garden until she was 90+ years of age. Made sure there was plenty for all (black people included).
I also had the toughest Mamuya in the world
She was born 3rd of 12 children and lived thru the depression.
She quit school in 8th grade to help around the house with chores and the other children. It allowed Aunt Dot to finish high school. She
was selfless. She continuously gave to others.
Mamuya had 4 brothers in war at one time. No Internet or Skype. No Fox News, no Dan Rather or Bill O'Reilly. Mamuya Mollie had a nervous
breakdown. One of those 4 (Uncle Kenneth) didn't return from the war.
She lost my Granddaddy at the age of 53. Almost 51 years ago.
She had to watch all 11 of her siblings die before she did.
She lived off of a meager existence (Social Security of less than $221.00 per month, this is the most she ever drew on a monthly basis). She did have some supplemental income from cattle and timber. However,she never applied for food stamps or welfare or any govt assistance.
She planted a garden and raised cattle.
She grew up with little and died with little in the worlds eyes. But she died truly happy.
Why? Because she didn't place her value on things of this earth.
In the past 20 years, 4 out of 5 times I went to visit she either had her Bible in her lap reading or had it open on table beside her. She
had just finished reading it.
She never wanted much in life. She never drove a fine car. She never wore nice jewelry. If you bought her something nice, she’d put it in a safe place (typically under the bed or in a trunk) and used what she already had.
I never gave her credit for how tough she was until I watched her fight the way she did at 99 years of age to stay alive in that last week.
She had what old folks refer to as “Gumption”.
She never wanted to live away from her home. Praise God, she didn't have to for long. We had to move her to a Nursing Home/Long Term Care Facility in the last 3 weeks of her life due to the fact it had almost killed my Dad taking care of her daily.
We were back and forth to hospital by ambulance on several occasions. Dehydration set in. She had a stroke 8 days ago. She never opened her
eyes again. The last thing she said to my Dad and Mom as they walked out of the room was, “Betty, I love you
and Ronnie. Y’all go home and get some rest.” She had the stroke that Saturday night/Early Sunday morning after they left for home.
Just as she took her last breaths, she cracked open her eyes. I think she saw something. Maybe Heaven, Maybe Grandaddy, who knows???
Favorite Bible verses.
Psalms 84:10, Psalms 71:8-9, Psalms 90:12, Isaiah 40:31, Colossians 4:6, John 16:33
FAITH (Forsaking All I Take Him)—This was an acronym written in her Bible.
She dearly loved her nieces and nephews, her brothers and sisters, her fellow man.
I've learned what true dedication is by watching Mamuya's and Daddy's relationship over recent months. I’ve never seen a mother and a child
more dedicated to one another in my lifetime than these two people. They truly took care of one another. She cooked lunch for my Dad 5 days a
week from the time he retired at 62 until he was around 72 (just 3 years ago at the age of 96).
She was truly a faithful Saint. I am truly blessed to have had her be a part of my time on this earth. I am truly blessed to say that she was my
Mamuya.
Her Funeral
By Stan Elkins
I was so fortunate that for years I got to see all of my Aunts and Uncles and Cousins when they came in to see my Great Grandmother. I called her Mamuya Mollie.
I like weird names. My youngest son’s name--Canyon.
My Grandmother—I call her Mamuya. (Mom says it originated from a combination of Mamaw and Grandmother)
I had best Mamuya in the world.
After she died, I began to reflect on how large an impact she had on my life. She probably impacted me more than any other single person I've
ever had in my life.
I spent uncountable hours with her as child. I exited the school bus to Hamburgers daily.
She took me fishing. She walked me thru woods. Taught me what muscadine, huckleberries and sculpanongs (I don’t know how to spell this) were. We stomped a bunch of squash bugs when I was little.
I dug her whole back yard up looking for buried treasure. She never fussed at all.
We cross-pollinated day lilies.
We toasted almonds on a Dearborn Heater. Almonds cost nearly nothing but it made for great memories.
When I went hunting and got cold, I'd come back to Mamuya's. She'd fix me breakfast(Buttermilk Biscuits, Eggs and Sausage . I'd sit by that
Dearborn Heater and eat til I was completely warm.
Best thing about Mamuya is she was kind.
She didn't expect anything in return from what she gave to others.
She always sent something home with her brothers and sisters. Food/jelly/preserves/flowers
She planted a garden until she was 90+ years of age. Made sure there was plenty for all (black people included).
I also had the toughest Mamuya in the world
She was born 3rd of 12 children and lived thru the depression.
She quit school in 8th grade to help around the house with chores and the other children. It allowed Aunt Dot to finish high school. She
was selfless. She continuously gave to others.
Mamuya had 4 brothers in war at one time. No Internet or Skype. No Fox News, no Dan Rather or Bill O'Reilly. Mamuya Mollie had a nervous
breakdown. One of those 4 (Uncle Kenneth) didn't return from the war.
She lost my Granddaddy at the age of 53. Almost 51 years ago.
She had to watch all 11 of her siblings die before she did.
She lived off of a meager existence (Social Security of less than $221.00 per month, this is the most she ever drew on a monthly basis). She did have some supplemental income from cattle and timber. However,she never applied for food stamps or welfare or any govt assistance.
She planted a garden and raised cattle.
She grew up with little and died with little in the worlds eyes. But she died truly happy.
Why? Because she didn't place her value on things of this earth.
In the past 20 years, 4 out of 5 times I went to visit she either had her Bible in her lap reading or had it open on table beside her. She
had just finished reading it.
She never wanted much in life. She never drove a fine car. She never wore nice jewelry. If you bought her something nice, she’d put it in a safe place (typically under the bed or in a trunk) and used what she already had.
I never gave her credit for how tough she was until I watched her fight the way she did at 99 years of age to stay alive in that last week.
She had what old folks refer to as “Gumption”.
She never wanted to live away from her home. Praise God, she didn't have to for long. We had to move her to a Nursing Home/Long Term Care Facility in the last 3 weeks of her life due to the fact it had almost killed my Dad taking care of her daily.
We were back and forth to hospital by ambulance on several occasions. Dehydration set in. She had a stroke 8 days ago. She never opened her
eyes again. The last thing she said to my Dad and Mom as they walked out of the room was, “Betty, I love you
and Ronnie. Y’all go home and get some rest.” She had the stroke that Saturday night/Early Sunday morning after they left for home.
Just as she took her last breaths, she cracked open her eyes. I think she saw something. Maybe Heaven, Maybe Grandaddy, who knows???
Favorite Bible verses.
Psalms 84:10, Psalms 71:8-9, Psalms 90:12, Isaiah 40:31, Colossians 4:6, John 16:33
FAITH (Forsaking All I Take Him)—This was an acronym written in her Bible.
She dearly loved her nieces and nephews, her brothers and sisters, her fellow man.
I've learned what true dedication is by watching Mamuya's and Daddy's relationship over recent months. I’ve never seen a mother and a child
more dedicated to one another in my lifetime than these two people. They truly took care of one another. She cooked lunch for my Dad 5 days a
week from the time he retired at 62 until he was around 72 (just 3 years ago at the age of 96).
She was truly a faithful Saint. I am truly blessed to have had her be a part of my time on this earth. I am truly blessed to say that she was my
Mamuya.