Clois Parker Lashley
I HEAR a good story . . . Clois Parker Lashley, who calls Traylor Health Center in Roanoke home, reached her 92nd birthday on Sept. 15.
And what a birthday.
Clois’ daughter Phyliss and husband Tommy Whatley picked her up with the announced intention of heading to their home for lunch.
They were lying, big time.
On the way, Tommy turned to his mother-in-law with a question: “Would you like to ride by the old Parker house to see how the work is coming along?”
Clois was delighted. After all, the “Parker house” was where she was born back in 1902. What she didn’t know is kin and a birthday celebration were waiting at her birthplace.
Among those waiting were her sisters, Josie Teal, 94; and Winnie Baker, 90. That’s 276 years in three sisters. Roll that around in your mind. Wonderful, huh?
Taking it a step further, five generations of the family were there. A bit more that warms you is the three sisters have “broke bread” with no less than seven generations in the Parker family, beginning with their grandmother, the late Susan Rebecca Wilder Parker. She moved in with the family when Clois was a baby.
At the end of that string is the sisters’ great-great-great nephew, Eli Harris.
It was a wonderful day . . . and I love stuff like that.
He was struggling and I helped him to a table, brought the food, and listened as he told me a deadly cancer was at work in his body. He spoke quietly, without complaint, sort of the way he did things.
I got word this week that Frank had died. The news came in an e-mail from his daughter-in-law Christina Reaves.
Frank lived a full life, military, teacher (Southern Union), city council in Wadley, a man of considerable faith. He was also as much about family as anyone I ever met, always with stories of kin. Frank also planned his own funeral, to the last detail.
Frank Reaves, age 77, said it pretty good in writing the epitaph for his tombstone:
“Lived as long as he could and died when he had to.”
In that is some of the dry wit Frank could slide by you if you were not paying attention.
A good man . . .
Emily is a member of the Senior National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta, math honor society. A member of the JHS Student Council since her freshman year, she was vice-president as a junior.
A member of the softball team for two years, she is also in her third year as a varsity cheerleader and is now the captain.
Down the road, young Miss Bass is considering two career options, nursing or something in education.
“Lauren is an outstanding young woman,” says Marcia Stallings, senior council. “She excels in academics, in leadership, and in community service. She is a wonderful role model for those around her.”
Proud parents are Louis and Debbie Bass of Jacksonville.
Some applause if you please.
George Smith can be reached at 256-239-5286 or e-mail: gsmith731@gmail.com
