Adeline Street, chapter 4
Brother Ed did the sermon for the funeral. We wanted him because he had done my grandmother's 2 years before and he was a very close family friend. I sat behind the pulpit, looking down into the congregation. People were standing around the sides of the church because of lack of seats. There must have been at least 500. I could believe it. Everyone knew Grandaddy. I looked toward the back and saw a familiar face- My boyfriend Casey. He had been with us through my grandmother and when Grandaddy got sick. I sighed and took a deep breath because I knew it was close. Bro. Ed was closing his part of the service.
"Finally, Bobby Lester was known for his wonderful parenthood. He has 3 wonderful children- Steven, Sharon, and Stanley, and 5 beautiful grandchildren- Angela, Kade, Carlie, Asa, and Kayla, who is sitting behind me right now." He looked back to me and smiled, then faced the congregation again. "He loved his family more than anything. He told me on many occasions about the family moving closer together and being closer with each other. It just so happens that Stanley and his wife and son just moved home after 13 years in Michigan. It was all in God's plan I suppose that this family stay together. And now I'll give the service over to Bobby's third oldest granddaughter, Kayla."
He hugged me and smiled before stepping down. I sat on the small stool and looked out. I moved the mike closer to me.
"I just wanna say thank you to Brother Ed. He's been with us through everything that's happened in the past 3 years and has really been an impact on the family. It's just been easier with him." I smiled softly at him and he nodded to me.
"This song is what was played at my grandmother's funeral. The first time I heard it I was very young, maybe 4 or 5. My grandparents used to play with my great aunt and uncle when they were here and this was an old favorite of theirs."
I sighed and looked up at my family, who were breaking down immensely. I looked over at the guys for some relief but found none. They two had started crying. I swallowed hard and began to play.
I'm kind of homesick for a country
To which I've never been before.
No sad goodbyes will there be spoken
for time won't matter anymore.
Beulah Land, I'm longing for you
and some day on thee I'll stand.
There my home shall be eternal.
Beulah Land -- Sweet Beulah Land
I'm looking now across the river
where my faith will end in sight.
There's just a few more days to labor.
Then I will take my heavenly flight.
Beulah Land, I'm longing for you
and some day on thee I'll stand.
There my home shall be eternal.
Beulah Land -- Sweet Beulah Land
I stopped to hear the church buzzing with sniffles and stifled sobs. I myself had tears pouring down my face. Bro. Ed came up beside me and placed a hand on my shoulder. He began to speak to the congregation again.
"We all wanna thank Kayla for being so strong and for sharing her beautiful music with us. Her granddaddy just loved hearing her play."
He called for the pallbearers and asked if I could play the tune for "Go Rest High", which I did, while the pallbearers carried my grandfather's casket out to the hearse. I looked down at my family and the guys again, all of him hadn't let up. Even Asa was crying. I started to shake from trying to hold it all in. As the pallbearers closed the door behind them and I finished playing, Bro. Ed said his finally announcement. "Burial will proceed at 7 at Mitchie Cemetery."
He dismissed us and I placed my guitar back on the stand. I walked over to my family and hugged my mom tight. We finally got outside to see everyone who was there. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Casey. I hadn't seen him in three months and I practically threw myself into his arms. He stroked my hair and kissed me on the forehead. "How you holdin' up, baby?" he asked.
"Could be better." Our friend Mason came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my neck. I laughed and turned to give him a hug. "Woah, your hair is black now!" he said, surprised. "Duh." I laughed.
Billie came over to me. "Your mom says it's time to get goin'." I nodded and introduced Casey and Mason. "Your Casey? Feels like I already know you as much as she talks about you."
"But it's all good!" I reassured him after he gave me a look. I gave him a hug and kiss and Mason a hug and me and Billie walked back to the car. "You did awesome today. He would have been proud." Billie said, stuffing his hands in his suit pants pocket.
I nodded, crossing my arms across my chest. It was awfully chilly around here to be February. A thought struck up in my head.
"Billie, what's today's date?" I looked up eagerly.
"Valentine's Day. The 14th."
My grandmother died on the 14th of February exactly two years before. They died on the same day 2 years apart.
I told Billie about it. "Creepy," he said.
"I didn't even realize it! Wonder if anyone else noticed."
"They will when we get there I guess," he said, opening the door for me. I got in the back seat with Angela and her husband, Chad. He smiled at me and said "I'll see you guys there."
After riding for about 30 minutes on gravel, we finally got to the cemetery. It was so beautiful out there at dusk. Even though all the grass was dead from the cold, it was still very serene and comforting for a cemetery. We found the fresh mound of dirt that had been placed over the casket, right next to my grandmother's slightly smaller mound. Most everyone had left the church and went home, but a few came out to the gravesite. After they all cleared out, me, the family and the guys sat out on the ground around the two graves.
"Cant believe they're both gone," Steve said, rubbing his bald head.
"I know. It's hard to believe that just 3 years ago they were both with us." Stan agreed.
I stared at my grandmother's headstone so long I memorized everything on it.
Shirley Mae Lester
March 13, 1942 - February 14, 2004
Beloved Mother, Grandmother and Wife
I'm going to a land where the roses never fade
I was shaken by a hand on my shoulder. Asa was standing next to me, looking at me. He leaned down to hug me. I stood up and picked him up in a big hug. I cried into his shoulder.
"Are you ok, Kayla?" he asked me, picking at my necklace. I nodded. "I just miss Grandaddy."
"He's in Heaven with Momma Lester?" he asked. I nodded. "He'll be happy then." He said and hugged me tight. You know, for a 4 year old, he's very smart.
Mom came and got me. We got in the car and drove back to Grandaddy's house. Mom wanted to talk to me before we went into the house.
"Kayla, I just want you to know how proud I am of you and how proud of you he was. He recorded your first concert in Jackson. He watched it at least once a day, sometimes twice when he was feeling really bad. He memorized the song you wrote for the show and said he would love to hear you play it for him one day."
I smiled softly, trying not to cry again. I didn't know he cared that much about my singing.
"Well, what I really wanted to tell you is, when you come home next time, we will be living here. Angela and Chad are moving into our house and selling their trailer."
I was stunned and happy at the same time. I thought my kids would be coming home to my house from the hospital when they were born. I never would have thought we would leave it. But yet again, I was happy because it was best that it was still in the family and not going to someone who wouldn't take care of it. I nodded and gave her a hug.
"Let's get back in there." I nodded and we went back into the house.
The next morning, me, Billie, Mike and Tre' were getting ready to go back to California. I really didn't wanna get back on that plane. I HATED flying. But I knew it was best just to get back up there and move on. I still had a record to make. I hugged my family goodbye. My mom hugged Billie, Mike and Tre. "Thank you for being here. You guys were really helpful." They smiled. "Anytime you need anything, just call us. My wife would love to help too if she can," Billie said. With a final goodbye, we pulled out of the driveway and drove to Jackson Airport. We boarded the plane and took off, bound for California, and off to another chapter of my life.
"Finally, Bobby Lester was known for his wonderful parenthood. He has 3 wonderful children- Steven, Sharon, and Stanley, and 5 beautiful grandchildren- Angela, Kade, Carlie, Asa, and Kayla, who is sitting behind me right now." He looked back to me and smiled, then faced the congregation again. "He loved his family more than anything. He told me on many occasions about the family moving closer together and being closer with each other. It just so happens that Stanley and his wife and son just moved home after 13 years in Michigan. It was all in God's plan I suppose that this family stay together. And now I'll give the service over to Bobby's third oldest granddaughter, Kayla."
He hugged me and smiled before stepping down. I sat on the small stool and looked out. I moved the mike closer to me.
"I just wanna say thank you to Brother Ed. He's been with us through everything that's happened in the past 3 years and has really been an impact on the family. It's just been easier with him." I smiled softly at him and he nodded to me.
"This song is what was played at my grandmother's funeral. The first time I heard it I was very young, maybe 4 or 5. My grandparents used to play with my great aunt and uncle when they were here and this was an old favorite of theirs."
I sighed and looked up at my family, who were breaking down immensely. I looked over at the guys for some relief but found none. They two had started crying. I swallowed hard and began to play.
I'm kind of homesick for a country
To which I've never been before.
No sad goodbyes will there be spoken
for time won't matter anymore.
Beulah Land, I'm longing for you
and some day on thee I'll stand.
There my home shall be eternal.
Beulah Land -- Sweet Beulah Land
I'm looking now across the river
where my faith will end in sight.
There's just a few more days to labor.
Then I will take my heavenly flight.
Beulah Land, I'm longing for you
and some day on thee I'll stand.
There my home shall be eternal.
Beulah Land -- Sweet Beulah Land
I stopped to hear the church buzzing with sniffles and stifled sobs. I myself had tears pouring down my face. Bro. Ed came up beside me and placed a hand on my shoulder. He began to speak to the congregation again.
"We all wanna thank Kayla for being so strong and for sharing her beautiful music with us. Her granddaddy just loved hearing her play."
He called for the pallbearers and asked if I could play the tune for "Go Rest High", which I did, while the pallbearers carried my grandfather's casket out to the hearse. I looked down at my family and the guys again, all of him hadn't let up. Even Asa was crying. I started to shake from trying to hold it all in. As the pallbearers closed the door behind them and I finished playing, Bro. Ed said his finally announcement. "Burial will proceed at 7 at Mitchie Cemetery."
He dismissed us and I placed my guitar back on the stand. I walked over to my family and hugged my mom tight. We finally got outside to see everyone who was there. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Casey. I hadn't seen him in three months and I practically threw myself into his arms. He stroked my hair and kissed me on the forehead. "How you holdin' up, baby?" he asked.
"Could be better." Our friend Mason came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my neck. I laughed and turned to give him a hug. "Woah, your hair is black now!" he said, surprised. "Duh." I laughed.
Billie came over to me. "Your mom says it's time to get goin'." I nodded and introduced Casey and Mason. "Your Casey? Feels like I already know you as much as she talks about you."
"But it's all good!" I reassured him after he gave me a look. I gave him a hug and kiss and Mason a hug and me and Billie walked back to the car. "You did awesome today. He would have been proud." Billie said, stuffing his hands in his suit pants pocket.
I nodded, crossing my arms across my chest. It was awfully chilly around here to be February. A thought struck up in my head.
"Billie, what's today's date?" I looked up eagerly.
"Valentine's Day. The 14th."
My grandmother died on the 14th of February exactly two years before. They died on the same day 2 years apart.
I told Billie about it. "Creepy," he said.
"I didn't even realize it! Wonder if anyone else noticed."
"They will when we get there I guess," he said, opening the door for me. I got in the back seat with Angela and her husband, Chad. He smiled at me and said "I'll see you guys there."
After riding for about 30 minutes on gravel, we finally got to the cemetery. It was so beautiful out there at dusk. Even though all the grass was dead from the cold, it was still very serene and comforting for a cemetery. We found the fresh mound of dirt that had been placed over the casket, right next to my grandmother's slightly smaller mound. Most everyone had left the church and went home, but a few came out to the gravesite. After they all cleared out, me, the family and the guys sat out on the ground around the two graves.
"Cant believe they're both gone," Steve said, rubbing his bald head.
"I know. It's hard to believe that just 3 years ago they were both with us." Stan agreed.
I stared at my grandmother's headstone so long I memorized everything on it.
Shirley Mae Lester
March 13, 1942 - February 14, 2004
Beloved Mother, Grandmother and Wife
I'm going to a land where the roses never fade
I was shaken by a hand on my shoulder. Asa was standing next to me, looking at me. He leaned down to hug me. I stood up and picked him up in a big hug. I cried into his shoulder.
"Are you ok, Kayla?" he asked me, picking at my necklace. I nodded. "I just miss Grandaddy."
"He's in Heaven with Momma Lester?" he asked. I nodded. "He'll be happy then." He said and hugged me tight. You know, for a 4 year old, he's very smart.
Mom came and got me. We got in the car and drove back to Grandaddy's house. Mom wanted to talk to me before we went into the house.
"Kayla, I just want you to know how proud I am of you and how proud of you he was. He recorded your first concert in Jackson. He watched it at least once a day, sometimes twice when he was feeling really bad. He memorized the song you wrote for the show and said he would love to hear you play it for him one day."
I smiled softly, trying not to cry again. I didn't know he cared that much about my singing.
"Well, what I really wanted to tell you is, when you come home next time, we will be living here. Angela and Chad are moving into our house and selling their trailer."
I was stunned and happy at the same time. I thought my kids would be coming home to my house from the hospital when they were born. I never would have thought we would leave it. But yet again, I was happy because it was best that it was still in the family and not going to someone who wouldn't take care of it. I nodded and gave her a hug.
"Let's get back in there." I nodded and we went back into the house.
The next morning, me, Billie, Mike and Tre' were getting ready to go back to California. I really didn't wanna get back on that plane. I HATED flying. But I knew it was best just to get back up there and move on. I still had a record to make. I hugged my family goodbye. My mom hugged Billie, Mike and Tre. "Thank you for being here. You guys were really helpful." They smiled. "Anytime you need anything, just call us. My wife would love to help too if she can," Billie said. With a final goodbye, we pulled out of the driveway and drove to Jackson Airport. We boarded the plane and took off, bound for California, and off to another chapter of my life.
