Jamie's grandmother Gaga passed away December 20 in Baton Rouge. The services were held three days later, and I wanted to share what Jamie said about her grandmother at them.
"I have been very blessed that for 40 years I have had both of my grandmothers with me, but even better than this I had the very best grandmother, Gaga as I called her, in the whole world. She loved her family and showed it everyday. I have so many great memories of eating at her house every Sunday after church. She was a fantastic cook. She made great fried chicken, okra and tomatoes, turnip greens, and just about any country home food. She made the best coconut cake, and chocolate pies. I can remember her cooking days before every Flowers family reunion, and before every holiday that we spent with the Blaylock family. She loved being with her family. We used to make divinity at Christmas time, and I was the official tester of the hard ball crackle for the sugar.
My cousin Kathy would come up and spend every summer, and we would have picnics on the back porch. And sometimes Gaga and Aunt Alice would take Kathy, Matt and me to Caddo State park for a picnic there. Every summer, and after school everyday we would watch hours of Sesame Street, Bewitched, and Gilligan’s Island, and she never complained. She picked me up from school everyday, and spent countless hours waiting in the car while I was at piano or dance lessons.
I also remember spending just about every night during the summer with her. I would sleep on the cot next to her bed. She would hang her arm off, so I could hold her hand until I went to sleep. In the mornings after Granddaddy went to work I would get up and crawl in bed with her. I am really going to miss holding that hand.
Now let me say a few words about her pride and joy. After almost 60 years of raising just girls, she had her first great grandson, Grayson; then three years later 2 more great grandsons Collin and Parker, then a year and a half later another great grandson, Steven. In her eyes these four boys could do nothing wrong. When the boys would do something we as parents didn’t like, she would always say, “Don’t spank them, they are just being boys.” Which I guess after four girls, two daughters and two granddaughters, sounded like a good excuse. She could sit and watch them play for hours on end, and couldn’t wait to get her hugs and kisses from them; and once again she got stuck watching hours of cartoons’ with the boys this time. If I missed a day stopping in with them to see her after work, I would get a phone call from Mama saying Gaga wants to know when you are bringing the boys up.
We will all miss her more than I can say, but I know that she is in a much better place now, and she is no longer in pain. I also know that she is still watching over all of us."