Who was Carolyn Lee? (Eulogy for my Mawmaw)

Who was Carolyn Lee?

December 16, 1933 to March 21, 2019

*My Eulogy for my grandmother.  Written on the morning of her funeral March 24,2019.*

·        Carolyn Lee was a mother.   She had two children, James Carroll and Joe Frank.  She was so proud of her children.  She never tired of telling stories about them growing up.

·        She was a grandmother.  Mostly known as Mawmaw.  She was known as Mawmaw not only to her biological grandchildren. She had many “kids” she claimed along the way.  She would tell you quickly that Nathan, Ashley, & Kim were her “kids” too.  She always had a story about her “kids”.  She would tell everyone about everything that the “kids” had going on.  She would show off the latest pictures of the houses or the kids or whatever new was happening with them. 

·        She was a great-grandmother.  Her face would light up as she spoke of her babies. 

In the position of Mawmaw she loved anyone who needed it.

·        Carolyn Lee was a wife.  Married to Carroll Lee- our pawpaw- until his death 22 years ago.  She took care of him and never left his side during his sickness.  Mawmaw knew exactly what until death do you part meant.   She fulfilled that for as long as she lived.  Only in the last few years did she say that she just wanted to go and be with Carroll.  We know that she is rejoicing with Pawpaw today.  What a great reunion that had to be. 

·        MawMaw was a great historian/ record keeper.  For years she served as the secretary for Mt. Zion Church.  She made sure the business meeting minutes were written out. 

She was the family historian.  She has a family tree handwritten out that dates back 3-4 generations before her.  And not only is it written out.  She could tell you right down to your third cousin twice removed. 

It never failed that I would ask her about someone in Pike County and she’d reply “Well, you know that’s your fourth cousin.” She would then explain exactly how we were related.  I think we were related to half of Pike County. 

               She had an address book that only she could understand.  She would never forget a birthday.

And if you needed a phone number or address, you’d call her and she would have it. 

She could tell you where everyone in the family lived, where they were born, where they died, how they died and where they were buried.

Her traveling directions rivaled most.  Just as Tori said last night- Mawmaw would tell you to go to Roeton and take a right at Aunt Nettie’s house, then you’d pass a barn with a red Massey Ferguson tractor and then you will take a left at the Old Sanders place and you’ll drive a little piece and it would be just down on the right next to the river.   No possible way that any of us “younguns” as she called us could have found it- but she could have. 

She documented everything.  She had an old Avon date book she would write down everything- births, surgeries, weddings, funerals, job changes, every time someone moved. 

Speaking of a historian- I was going through her Bible the night before she died.  I was just trying to feel closer to her.  She had every sermon scripture marked that Rex Godwin, Jerry Wilkes or Jason Hughes preached.  I could tell that Brother Jerry has a favorite scripture to preach about.  Brother Jerry really likes to preach on John Chapter 3. 

·        Mawmaw was an amazing hostess/cook. 

When you walk into her house, you’d know she had been preparing for you.  The minute the screen door slammed behind you; you could smell something fresh baked.  Even if you stopped by her house unexpectedly, you would find something to eat.  It was usually warm, fresh from the oven, full of pecans, or it was a bowl of chicken and rice.  When you were ready to leave, she would make sure to send you home with 14 bowls of butter dishes/Tupperware filled with homemade goodness. 

Every doctor’s office she was a patient of she would take a delicious baked treat.  Earthquake cake or Georgia Cornbread Cake were her favorites to share. 

Recipes- She loved to share her recipes.  If someone bragged on her cooking, she would always take the time to write the recipe down and give it to them.  I found an envelope in her Bible addressed to Ms. Juanita Wilkes.  It was her recipe for Blueberry Delight.  I wonder how many times people have requested that recipe? 

Most times you could ask her about a dish she made, and she wouldn’t have a recipe.  She would cook with a handful as a measurement and intuition as her guide. 

For years I never understood why Tang always tasted so good at her house.  My mom would make it for me, and it was never the same.  The same goes for those little Piggly wiggly biscuits in the can.  I will never understand how they could taste so good at her house and so bad at mine. 

Breakfast at her house- never failed to be at, what seemed to a sleepy teenager/adult, the crack of dawn.  You’d hear her in the kitchen, pots, and pans rattling, utensils being placed.  And at a certain time in her routine, she would turn on the radio to listen to WTBF and Max Seay. 

One of the last times I remember staying with her.  Her mind had been deteriorating for a couple of years at this point and the night before was particularly difficult.  I think she and I both went to bed dreading the next day and not knowing what it would hold for the both of us. 

The next morning, I woke up to hear the shuffle of mawmaw making coffee and Merle Haggard’s song “Silver Wings” coming from that kitchen radio on WTBF.  It was there in that moment that I knew somewhere deep down she was still in there.  It was a memory that I will treasure forever.  It seemed that everything had changed but at that very moment everything was right with the world. 

I could talk forever about her recipes and all the wonderful things that she cooked and did for others.  Sharing her food was a way of showing her love.  Boy, did she have a heart full of love!

·        She was the definition of 1^st Corinthians 13:4-8.  We chose this as the scripture for her memorial folder because we couldn’t find a verse that was more suited for her.  She was patient, kind, she was not envious, or boastful, she wasn’t self-seeking, or easily angered. She always protected, trusted, was hopeful and she always persevered.  Mawmaw was LOVE and her LOVE- NEVER failed. 

In closing, we could all learn a lot from our Mawmaw- Carolyn Lee. 

1.)    Be a good mother, friend, sister, mawmaw, and wife.

2.)    Write down all your family history so that your family can have it to share in the years to come. 

3.)    Share your love with others through your talents and share them freely. 

4.)    Believe in our Lord Jesus Christ so you, just as Mawmaw has, can find victory in Jesus.