Hattie Mae Hainesworth MarshallAugust 3, 1924-February 15, 1977
My mother passed away 33 years ago today.
My father called her "puny" because of her graceful bone structure. She moved like a cat.
She was the eldest daughter of 10 children and bore the responsibility of caring for younger and older siblings, even after they were adults.
She loved children.
To know her was to know the truth (at least as she interpreted it).
She did not mince words.
Most of the time she was right.
She admonished stupidity and laziness.
"Use your common sense [your intuition]."
She picked cotton in the fields of NC and often talked about "taking the lead row." She set the pace for the rest of the workers.
Her transition upset the balance of life in our family for many, many years.
There is not a day that goes by that we do not speak of her--remember her.
She was the matriarch.
Her beauty could stop a train.
