Grandaddy passed away one week ago today. It is still sinking in that I will never get to hold his hand again or hug him, feeling his tight squeeze that was so reassuring. My heart feels so bare.
This is what I shared at the funeral:
“My Granddaddy”
By Felicia Miller
To be honest, I feel that there truly aren’t words that can adequately express what an incredible man granddaddy was, but here is my humble
attempt to express my deep love for this honorable man.
I have countless memories of my childhood that include spending time with him…whether in the house learning about how something worked (he loved teaching), in the back yard playing with ducklings, or fishing at the pond, they all conjure up a smile as I reflect on our times together so fondly.
But many of my favorite memories are from the time I was privileged to live with him for about 3.5 years as a young adult. We had such fun
together. Well, everything was fun with Granddaddy! Between giggles and winks, we’d wash dishes, share meals, watch animal planet on TV, and do “normal” things together, but there was nothing normal about spending time with Granddaddy, because he always made you feel so special, loved, and important, no matter what we were doing. I especially enjoyed singing old hymns with him, like Amazing Grace.
And he was precious as he talked with my husband Bill when we were dating, telling him to take good care of me, his “Sugarlump.” Bill still calls me Sugarlump to this day, which is so special to me. I call him Sugarlump, too. :-)
Living together, I always looked forward to Saturday mornings because we’d sleep in (well, I slept in :-)) and we’d have pancakes together. He’d tell me how much he loved cows and considered them his pets. He loved stroking them and talking to them as a child. I’m not sure why pancakes or
waffles always reminded of him of his fondness of cows, but I didn’t mind. I kind of looked forward to hearing the same stories each weekend. It was comforting to me that it made him feel good to share the memories.
Granddaddy and I especially liked holding hands. Growing up, I’d see him grab grandma’s hand and hold it very often, and I think touch was comforting to him. Even near the end, we’d hold hands and I’d rub is head as we talked, which seemed to relax him almost instantly. I treasure those moments so much.
In the last years, when the Alzheimer’s had progressed, I took comfort in those moments when you could still see his outstanding character. He may have lost his memory, but he never forgot how much he loved the Lord or quit having deep compassion for others. And He prayed the most beautiful prayers. I wish I had one recorded.
When we told him our baby was going to be named “David,”
he’d first say, “Wow, wee!” with a big grin and his eyebrows raised, followed by a comment about how he hoped he could live up to such an honor. He was humble, yet so deserving. I feel so grateful that he got to meet and hold his great-grandson David, who is now 7 weeks old, and to know and love my dear husband Bill, who reminds me of Granddaddy in so many ways.
I hope this has articulated in some way the deep, heartfelt love and memories I’ll always have for this incredible, Godly man. I know he is rejoicing in Heaven with Jesus and those who have gone before him.
Thank you for allowing me to share.
