This repost from DeDivahDeals is in dedication to and in memory of Miss. Christine Ross, who passed away today. She was a true friend to my grandmother, a rock to me and a wonderful woman to many others.
After my grandmother passed away on May 1, 2009, at the age of 98, I stopped attending Mt. Pisgah UAME Church on a regular basis because every time I walked into the church and saw the pew in which she sat it always made me sad.
Miss. Christine was my grandmother’s best friend and she must have sensed my anxiety because on the Sundays that I didn’t attend church she would often drive to my house after service. She would park her white Hyundai Sonata in front of the house and walk up the long driveway, ring the bell just to check to make sure I was okay. I appreciated this small gesture and although the visits were brief, I always told her that I loved her for stopping by.
As the years passed, Miss. Christine wasn’t able to walk without pain or without a cane, so those visits ceased, however, whenever I went to service on Sundays if Miss. Christine was there, I would hug, kiss and sit next to her during service. She sat in the same pew as my grandmother, but I never felt grief as long as Miss. Christine was sitting next to me.
This morning as I was running late for service, I thought, “I better get to church or Miss. Christine will be looking for me” and for some strange reason I looked out the front window looking at the spot where she would park her white Hyundai Sonata so many years ago.
Upon arriving at Mr. Pisgah UAME Church this morning, I was greeted by our Usher, Sis. Germaine, who told me of Miss. Christine’s death only hours earlier and I immediately began to cry…not tears of pain but tears of joy as I believe Miss. Christine stopped by this morning to tell me goodbye… She and my grandmother are now reunited in friendship and I have another Angel watching over me making sure that I am okay.
God Bless You, Miss. Christine and thank you for being a big part of my life. The following post is an unedited article that I wrote after a visit to her home several years ago.
Childhood memories of visits to Cousin Bessie’s House
Have you ever gone to someone’s home and a smell, a sound or an object reminded you of a good childhood memory? The other day I delivered an Avon order to Miss. Christine, a good friend of my grandmother’s from the MOT Senior Center.
In all the years that they were friends and before my grandmother passed, I had never gone to her house. The moment I pulled into the driveway memories of going to Cousin Bessie’s house in Port Chester, NY came flooding back.
My grandmother raised my sister and me in the projects in New Rochelle, NY, I wouldn’t call it a concrete jungle but it wasn’t a grassy knoll either. Entering Miss. Christine’s house reminded me of visiting and going through Cousin Bessie’s house, looking at all the knick knacks, sneaking candy from the jar and shaking the snow-globe then holding it still until all the flakes fell back into place.
Growing up in the 60’s/70’s life was simpler but the small things meant a great deal. You weren’t supposed to be in grown folks business and if you fell or got hurt you were told to just get up and next time don’t be so clumsy!
Entering the back yard through the metal gate, there sits an old red wagon
Miss. Christine’s house was built in the 50’s and decorated in the 60’s and would now be considered retro in 2012. From the paneled walls, metal hand rails to the big spoon and fork on the kitchen wall, it all just took me back to Port Chester, NY and the happy family times we had when visiting that home.
Miss. Christine – remembering the chair/step ladder
We always entered the house from the back or laundry room
The paneled walls, metal stair rails, retro kitchen table and chairs
Back TV room for the “men folk”
Wallpapered powder room with wall mounted Dixie Cup dispenser.
Upstairs living room for the grown folks – “stay outta grown folks business, now get your candy and git!”
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Love these stools and kitchen chairs – never replaced or worn out
I think every kitchen had the large spoon and fork hanging on the wall
Ceiling mounted glass cabinet
Fluorescent lights mounted to the side of the cabinets
There was always some gardening tool around and parents weren’t concerned – if you got hurt it’s because you shouldn’t have been touching it! Kids today are too protected from everyday disappointments and mishaps!
RIP MISS CHRISTINE – I’LL KEEP SITTING IN OUR PEW!
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2 thoughts on “In Memory of Miss. Christine at Mt. Pisgah Church”
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After reading this, I am sad for your loss, also. I grew up in projects in the Bronx and I would have just loved to visit this cozy home, with lovely woodwork and all the plants. What a wonderful, kind woman must have lived here. Did I mention all the plants? Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you, Alana, for taking the time to read and comment. None of us knows when our last day is, therefore, it is important to live and love in positivity so that our memories here on earth are remembered by many and cherished by most.