Christina, that was a wonderful story. I appreciate you sharing it with
all of us. You did a great job in articulating your feelings. Sorry for
your loss.
Your Cuz,
Jesse Carawan
[Original Message]
From: Christina Melton-Hansen <cmelton71(a)bellsouth.net>
To: <CARAWAN-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Date: 10/25/2005 7:55:56 AM
Subject: Audrey Hammond- Vincent of Winterville, NC
My Great Aunt Audrey is one of the funniest, smartest, wittiest, loving,
beautiful people I have ever met.
I loved her first when I first really met her and got to know her one
summer
I spent with my Grandparents here in the US when I was 12 years old.
My
Paternal Grandmother had seven sisters. I also got to know my Great
Grandmother, Sarah, (Kate's first name) in this time.
As my Great Grandmother and each of her daughters died ... Aunt Audrey
became our "Abuela postiza." (Prosthetic Grandmother). She did this for
the families of all six of her sisters and a few of her cousins. She took
us all into her heart as though we were her very own.
Aunt Audrey told the greatest stories and had a witty sense of humour.
She
loved God.
I consider how my family's heritage has less to do with what boat we came
off of or what money we may have had and more to do with the spiritual
heritage men and women like my Great Grandmother, My Grandmother's and my
Great Aunt Audrey passed on from generation to generation.... No Bible
Thumping ... Just showing us God's unconditional love, watching them read
their Bibles and listening to them pray.
Now my Great Aunt Audrey is gone. She died yesterday. My heart aches
with
grief over loosing her. And then suddenly rejoices in the full
knowledge
that she is out of pain and in the presence of her Heavenly Father ... As
well as family members lost before her.
She always teased that when she got to heaven that she would tell all her
six sisters how much they owed her for all these years of having to tend
to
all of their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. But
she
knew
-- she understood that while we all felt the loss of those who died
before
her ... She willingly, lovingly, laughingly -- stood before us offering
herself as a temporary Grandparent ...
To someone like me who as a missionary kid grew up away from her extended
family and didn't really her Grandparents, etc as well as she would have
liked ... This was always a priceless gift Aunt Audrey gave me. And I
will miss her. But I am also glad she is ok now.
-----------------
Audrey L Hammond is the daughter of Wm Mae Hammond and Sarah P. CARAWAN
She is the Grandaughter of Milton B CARAWAN and Unicy Jean Brinn
She was born 18 Oct 1926 in Greenville, Pitt County, NC. She married
Cleveland Vincent 23 April 1938. He died December 1975. Her son's are
Ralph, Eddie, and Gene Vincent.
==============================
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