WhatFinger


More than 100 years after she was born

Meet the mother who is still taking care of us on Fathers Day



Momma Susie was my wife's mother. Her full birth name was Susie Lula Gertrude. She was the oldest of 13 children, born to Preston C. Thompson and Ludie Idella (Lane) Thompson. Momma Susie was born in 1907 and lived to be 93 years of age. Her parents were farmers in Monroe, Georgia, so Momma Susie only finished the seventh grade, because she was needed to help care for the other 12 children. Birth control was unheard of then, and besides, a lot of kids was how a family produced workers to help maintain the farm. Just saying! Needless to say, Momma Susie did not attend college. Let me be clear, I'm not suggesting college was and is for everyone. But as I got to know her, I recognized she certainly had the attitude and aptitude to have succeeded in college and in a professional career.
Momma Susie's sacrifice to help take care of her twelve siblings eventually allowed her two youngest sisters to attend college and graduate. Momma Susie was swept off her feet at the age of 18, and married James Arsby Goolsby Etchison. They had four children, the youngest of whom was my wife Gloria. (I swept her off her feet and we have been married for 49 years this year!) Gloria and I are proud parents of Melanie and Vincent. Between them, they have produced four grandchildren we obviously love beyond words. Our oldest grandchild, Celena, graduated from high school this year. She is headed to college! Celena's mother, Melanie, had saved some money for her college education. Gloria and I had anticipated that we would also have to help Celena with college expenses. While discussing how we would help her with those first year expenses, Gloria suggested we use the relatively small amount of money she inherited from Momma Susie, since she had never done anything with the money. Boom! My head almost exploded! Momma Susie who sacrificed so much and still managed to save, was going to help send her great grandchild Celena to college! This is 110 years after Momma Susie was born. God is great! We just never know how long it will take for his plan to unfold. Momma Susie, we will love you forever! You made an impact on the world and didn't know it while you were living, but your memory will live forever. Thank you Momma Susie!

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