This week’s bulletin will be in memory of my Momma, Margaret Thomas Vaughan, who passed away Sunday, March 2 at the age of 94. I know many have lost parents, and I know they have been sad, but I never realized the depth of sadness that comes when you lose your own Momma. We know she is in Heaven, having the best time, but our hearts are still broken, and we miss her more than we ever thought possible.

Momma pretty much raised five children all on her own. She was the most courageous and bravest person I have ever known. She was a strong, smart businesswoman who loved to have fun. She was adventurous and loved to travel anywhere, but especially to visit her children and grandchildren. My family moved to Atlanta in the 80’s and lived there until 2010. Momma never hesitated to get in her car and drive to Atlanta, even to downtown Atlanta when we moved there. She loved to drive to Florida to visit her daughters, Deborah and Lisa. In her fifties, she joined a square dance club and loved dressing up in those costumes and dancing away. Momma was a people person and loved to carry on conversations with friends and people she would meet. She worked at Sam’s, in her 70s, as one of the demo persons and loved talking to all of the people who would stop by her stand. Many of my high school friends would tell me how much they loved talking to her.

Her very favorite thing was having her children and grandchildren visit her so she could get plenty of hugs. Momma never failed to ask about them when they were not around. My sister, Deborah and I moved back to Pell City to be close to her. That made four of her five children close so we could be with her. Lisa is still in Florida but visited as often as possible. We are so blessed to have had her with us as long as we did, but it is never enough. She had 13 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

At her death, her friends wrote of her as being a hero, Mother of our church, a sweet Southern Belle, always a blessing, a sweet lady and caring friend, a precious Southern lady, a sweet precious lady with hands raised in worship, and she was all that and more. I don’t remember her saying an unkind word to or about anyone.

Hemingway once wrote: “The world breaks everyone, and afterward many are strong at the broken places.” Our Momma had many broken places in her 94 years, but she was always strong and held our family together. She created order in our house despite the disorder that she tried to shield us from. She loved God and taught us to love God, love each other, and to love others. We will always love her and keep her close in our hearts.

Momma, thank you for always being there for us.