We celebrated the homegoing of my grandmother, Wilmotine Brown Gwyn on yesterday. It was a day of full of love, laughter and the sweetest of memories. On the wings of a brisk wind, family traveled in from Arkansas, Indiana, Massachutes, North Carolina, Ohio and the Virgin Islands to strengthen the bonds of family and celebrate a life well lived. The daughters and granddaughters of the family were invited to wear one of my grandmother’s hats to the service. This felt like a true rights of passage for me. You see, my grandmother was a First Lady and throughout my lifetime I remember her and the hats that she wore to church. I never dreamed of one day wearing one of her hats. I was humbled to pay tribute to her life in this way and as I looked around the packed room of my family in the house just before the funeral processional, I saw and felt the spirit of both my grandparents fill that little house with an unearthly type of joy. I am blessed to be a part of this family. I am blessed to be a part of this legacy. I am blessed to wear this crown and I will do so with my head held high.

I love you, Grandma. I will miss you. I thank you for teaching us to love and protect our family at all cost because family truly is the most precious gift given to us by God the Father Almighty.

~ Marta G.