This past weekend we all celebrated Mother’s Day with our
most significant motherly figures. I’m so grateful to have my Mother and 84 year
old maternal grandmother still here to be celebrated. I can’t help but
appreciate and admire the sacrifice of motherhood. I‘ve had the honor and privilege to be
surrounded by strong, intelligent, nurturing and god-fearing women who have made copious contributions to my
life that have equipped me to arrive in this place . I reflect today on the two
most influential women who are no longer here to celebrate with us. I remember
Verdie Powell Dillon and Marion Redden Dillon:
I was born in a hospital in McComb, Mississippi,
but my family resided in beautiful Magnolia a little ways down the road. I was fortunate
to live in a household that included my Great-great Aunt, Verdie Powell Dillon.
She was a quiet natured lady, with soft
answers and an always pleasant disposition. She never had a harsh answer, her
wisdom was always relevant and reprimand was given with a gentle implied
sternness. We called her “Aunt T”, but
she was so much more than an Aunt. She and my great-great uncle, OW Dillon,
raised my grandfather, so she considered herself our great grandmother. When I
think of those formative years my sisters and I were under the watchful eye of Mama,
Aunt T, Mrs. Patterson, Mrs. Richardson, the Lillie Mae Bryant Federated Club
and whomever made their way down Dillon Street. We were destined for success. God placed Aunt T
in our lives and I believe my life would be much different without having her
around during those critical years. She went home to be with the Lord more than
30 years ago, but I can still remember and feel her love.
 |
| Marion Redden Dillon |
My grandmother, whom we affectionately called Momee, lived a
few miles from Magnolia, in Greensburg, Louisiana. At that
time the population of Greensburg was probably abt 500. The town had no traffic
lights and there was only 1 stop sign. I can remember on several occasions
having to stop for what seemed like hours at cattle crossings waiting for cows
to cross the road. Momee, lived in the real
country, down a gravel road with no street lights. She was so sophisticated it was hard to
believe she came from the back woods of Louisiana. An important figure in the
lives of my siblings and I, she had so much class and was always so calm. Momee was born Marion Redden to Fannie Montgomery and Dave Redden
in Greensburg, St. Helena Parish, La. She was a lifelong member of Turner
Chapel AME Church, formerly Crossroads AME Church. Generations of our family are
buried right there. She graduated from Grambling State University in Ruston, La
and received a Master’s Degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in
Hammond, La. She was an educator and educate is what she did best. Momee could
educate not only students in her classroom, she could educate the common man
with practical solutions for everyday living. Dilemma? No problem, she always had a
solution. She was a concerned neighbor and friend; I can recall her sending us,
on foot, almost a half-mile up the road to feed her elderly neighbor’s hogs.
Lol, not so much fun in the sweltering Louisiana heat, but Momee was concerned.
Everything she had was absolutely
perfect. She had the Finest China, Royal Duchess pattern by Modern China and
Table Institute Inc., in pristine condition. She made the best Jambalaya, her
ribs were to die for, and don’t even mention her 7-up cake. I remember
her teaching us how bake a Red Velvet cake over the phone, 562 miles away. That cake was so good, her secret was to …
well, I won’t tell that. But my sis still uses that recipe today. At my 8th
grade graduation, I decided along with my fellow classmate to wear my cap
tilted a little to the side, so my bangs would show. During the ceremony, I saw
Momee stand up and start making her way to the front, she donned the stage,
swept my bangs back, adjusted my cap and said, “now that’s how it’s supposed to
be”, turned around and exited the platform with the grace of a queen. Well,
alright Momee. When the postman would
arrive with a package from Greensburg, La, we’d all make a mad dash to the
living room to open the box. She would ship packages with our summer clothes
each summer; store bought clothing for
my sisters, always homemade for me because I was a little “stout” as she would
put it. I could go on for days about my grandmother,
but I loved that lady so much and I cherish her memory greatly.
So as a mother, I strive to live in the same grace and
dignity both of these women did, setting an example for the next generation to
follow. I glean from their lives, accomplishments and experiences. Although I
miss both of them greatly, I am so grateful to God for placing such influence
in my life.
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