Farewell Mama Doris

My Grandmother passed away this past week at the age of 88. She lived a good long life, and though her passing is sad, it is also met with a sense of relief that she will no longer suffer the trials of this life, but only reap the rewards of the next. Below is an exerpt from her obituary in the NTH (that's the Newnan Times-Herald for all you non-Newnanites out there.)

Mrs. Ellen Doris Baxley Hammett (Mama Doris), age 88, of Sharpsburg, passed away on Wednesday, July 30, 2008. She was born to the late Sam and Kate Baxley on May 24, 1920 in Carroll County, GA. She retired from Playtex and was a member of Hope Memorial Baptist Church. She is survived by 6 children, 19 grandchildren, 28 great granchildren, and 6 great great grandchildren. What a legacy Mama Doris leaves behind!

Walking into Hope Memorial for the funeral was like stepping back in time. Nothing had changed. The Baptistry was still decorated with a landscape backdrop, the same wood paneling that has been there since the 70's adorned the walls, the pink and yellow swirl stained glass windows providing filtered light, and the orange crushed velvet on the pews sticking to the back of your legs in the summer heat. I immediately remembered sitting there next to Mama Doris the times that I had spent the night and gone to church with her the following morning, after a breakfast of oatmeal and biscuits... and when I didn't like oatmeal, all the lucky charms I could eat. Mama Doris always had butterscotch, or mints, or something in her black leather purse that provided just enough incentive for a young child's behavior in church. I can't remember ever getting reprimanded by her... her house was the kind of place that you could have so much fun, we all behaved so that we would get to return. My cousin Jennifer and I were talking about how she let us play dress up in all her clothes, and make mud-pies in the bath tub. Nothing was off limits to her grandchildren. (I am number 8 out of the 19, which is pretty tall on the order considering my father is the youngest child.) The thing I remember most about Mama Doris is that whenever you would show up at her house, she made you feel like a celebrity just for coming by. She would see my face round the corner, and say "Oh Christy, God love your little soul. How are you?" And like lightening she would have jumped off the couch and met me half way across the room with a big hug. The other thing that sticks out in my mind, was this picture she had of her, my aunt marion, my cousin cathy, and her daughter Amanda. She was so proud of that picture, and would always tell me how that was four generations of women. About four years ago, Amanda had her first baby and made it five generations. I imagine that must have tickled Mama Doris so. She was so proud of her family, and she knew us all, and everything about us. She kept everyone informed on the family scoop right up into her 80's. You might say she was a large part of the glue that kept everyone around.... but even in her passing, she'll still be the glue, for she has created future generations of "family glue." There will still be Hammett Family Christmas at Aunt Marion's house. And even though things will never be the same without her, look at what she's left us, and you can't help but feel her around you. So thank you Mama Doris! Thank you for oatmeal, hot buttered biscuits, chocolate pies that Uncle Phillip was so fond of, spaghetti and meatballs, cheese toast made in the broiler, mashed potatoes in the big yellow bowl, and the list goes on and on... but most of all, thank you for the never ending love you've always given your family. It was evident on everyone's face as we celebrated your wonderful life over the weekend. Good bye Mama Doris, God love your special soul!