Season of Loss

There are many seasons in our lives and it seems for our family this has been a season of loss.  Back in November we lost my daddy's youngest brother, Uncle Jack, shortly after he and Aunt Ada lost their son, Barry.  Then in January, we lost my mother's sister, Aunt Bernice.  

This week we lost our dear Aunt Frances, my daddy's last sibling.  It's hard to think all daddy's siblings are gone now.....and daddy.....a new generation are the elders of the family. 

Aunt Frances lived a long life.  It seems she was a well of information, especially about our family.  You could ask her any question about any one of the many of us and she knew their story.  Even the Sunday before she died, when my brother and two sisters and I went to see her, she knew who we were and asked about mama.  I think that's pretty incredible at 96!

Our Cmama, her mother, always lived with Aunt Frances and Uncle Wilkie and their children Ellen and Claire.  They lived just around the corner from our church and we could walk over after a service.  I guess we did sometimes, my memory isn't the best anymore.  I do remember going for Sunday lunches where all us kids were delighted to drink iced tea!  We didn't get tea at home, only milk, so tea was a real treat!  

When my daddy married my mama, they lived with them for a while too.....along with Uncle Jack who was the youngest of the siblings.  Must have been interesting around that house! 

Here's Aunt Frances on her 95th Birthday with her two daughters Claire and Ellen.  They have faithfully cared for their mother and been right at her side.

This is a picture of a picture of Aunt Frances with Ellen as a baby.

 Just a few of the thousands many cousins and Aunt Evelyn.  Seriously, there are a lot of us.

Aunt Frances was a real southern lady with a very pronounced Georgia drawl accent that was lovely.  One word in particular was mayonnaise.....she pronounced it myonaise.  

This is mama and Aunt Frances at mama's birthday party last September.  

Below is Aunt Frances with her brothers and sister and their mother, our Cmama.  There were two more sisters who died as young children.

Mama is the last of her siblings and Aunt Evelyn and Aunt Ada along with mama are the last of the sister's in law.  We deeply miss all those who have gone before us, but know they are all together once again.


I was thinking about this song as I have been remembering those who have gone on.....


This world is not my home I'm just passing through
my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore


They're all expecting me and that's one thing I know
my savior pardoned me and now I onward go
I know He'll take me through though I am weak and poor
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore

Just up in Glory Land we'll live eternally
the Saints on every hand are shouting victory
their song of sweetest praise drifts back from Heaven's shore
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore

O Lord you know I have no friend like you
if Heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do?
the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore.


In loving memory of Frances Duncan Jennings
1915 - 2012