tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527434627416065375.post6123388311966881428..comments2015-09-29T13:23:12.317-07:00Comments on Jim Ainsworth: A Funeral in the CountryJim Ainsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18240405075941678085noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527434627416065375.post-50018681010681614722012-02-17T06:36:58.563-08:002012-02-17T06:36:58.563-08:00I absolutely loved your article today. I did know...I absolutely loved your article today. I did know Rogene Swinson and you nailed it. She was not only an icon in the Fairlie community but one of the sweetest women to walk the planet. She made a major impact on my family and we feel very blessed to have known her. Again, great job!<br /><br />Tracy McQuearyTracy McQuearyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07837261898582031491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527434627416065375.post-49068535108300287652012-02-16T17:54:57.657-08:002012-02-16T17:54:57.657-08:00AME Funeral, 1968, Commerce
We had a tiny sweet l...AME Funeral, 1968, Commerce<br /><br />We had a tiny sweet little black woman that helped keep our house. Mom had to drive down into the "Norris Community" or the holler, as it was commonly known in that Non-politically correct era.<br /><br />Our friend died after a brief illness. I very much wanted to go to the funeral, which was at the African Methodist Episcopal Church. As I recall, it was mid-summer.<br /><br />The tidy white painted churh house was packed. As I recall, I was the only white face in the crowd. There were five, count them, five choirs which performed enthusiastically. There were three ministers who preached with great force and eloquence in that peculiar sing-song cadence that black preachers of any worth had down to a science.<br /><br />Purple robed attendants ran with fans and smeliing salts any time some sister was overcome with grief, call out loudly as she stood, then fainted dead away.<br />The funeral was an all afternoon affair. My seldom worn tie and jacket were begging to be removed. My fan, provided by Grundy Funeral Home of Greenville Texas had a scene of the Last Supper on the front. But no amount of fanning seemed to stir the hot, humid air.<br /><br />I knew the end was nearing when the casket was brought to the front of the auditorium next to the deacons' "Amen Bench." I had not ever then, or to this day, seen a hot pink crushed velvet casket. We respectfully filed by the cakset, then formed two lines outside through which the casket was wheeled.<br /><br />We walked the short distance to the cemetery where the graveside service began. It was only forty-five minutes or so.<br /> <br />I have never forgotten my friend. Nor will I forget the funeral at the AME Church.Doc Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03771622965389391657noreply@blogger.com