A long life, well-lived

Maudie Mashburn ~ July 29, 1904 - February 2, 2008

Yesterday I had to take a train to get from the city to the airport. My seat faced backward to the forward motion of the train. As I looked out the window and watched the scenery going backwards, my first thought was of my mother…and how sitting turned around on a moving train would make her sick as a dog! Then I thought of how fitting it was that my ride was taking me backwards, because as I rode on the train, my mind was rolling backwards through time – rewinding through thoughts and memories of Grandma.

While I rode, I thought of the characteristics that made up her personality. I tried to not just think of the ways I thought of her, but of how her kids, her friends, and the people in the community thought of her. I tried to think of what I know of her personality when she was younger…and all the many characteristics I could think of from the many different points of view and different times in her life were unchanging. Her values, beliefs and actions were constants throughout her whole life.

She always worked hard, always made the most of what she had, always cherished her family, always loved her home in Five Points, always sat in the same pew at church…and she was always, always scared of storms. She was always a good seamstress and quilter, a good homemaker and cook.

What an amazing life we are here to celebrate! Seeing all of you who care about her and love her is such a testament to her life and the way her humble personality endeared her to everyone she met. We are so blessed and comforted by the love and support God has sent us through friends. We thank the nurses at NHC for their love and care. We are so thankful for the time Charles, Lawrence and Doris were able to spend with Grandma and with each other this past week. A lot of laughter and tears and remembering took place...

I know they remembered how Grandma used to make them choose their switch when they were in trouble and had to get a spanking. I heard Lawrence would always choose the smallest switch, and Grandma would send him back out to get a bigger one!

I always laugh when I think of how her fear of storms overcame her during a particularly threatening storm. She gathered young Lawrence and Doris and took them down the road to a friend’s storm cellar late in the night…while Arvie and Charles slept safe and sound in their beds at home.

Mama always talks of how Grandma starched and ironed the pleats of her cheerleader outfit for Five Points School. All the other girls would comment on how beautiful Mama’s skirt looked, and Mama would just beam with pride.

One of my favorite memories is hearing Grandma and her sister Mae telling the story of a time they fed the cows, and somehow the cows tied them together in ropes. So - roped together and screaming - they fell to the ground, rolled in mud, and ripped their clothes. I’m still not quite sure how it happened or how they rescued themselves, but hearing them retell the story decades later – laughing so hard they couldn’t talk! – is one of the funniest memories I have of the two of them together.

My sisters and I spent our childhood playing with doll cradles Grandma and Granddaddy made for us. Granddaddy cut and assembled the wood, and Grandma made the mattress, sheets, and pillows. We loved running through the pasture, trips to the swinging bridge, and playing Bingo and watching Wheel of Fortune with them.

There are countless stories of times shared with her, and we all know her in our own way, but for me, I’ll always think of her when I see:

A perfectly blossoming flower

Cold biscuits waiting in the toaster oven, homemade that morning

Straight garden rows

The beautiful blue sky on a bright sunny day

A neatly pressed house dress

A hot pan of cornbread

A strand of white beads

The crunch of tires on a gravel driveway

Red berry trees and blue hydrangea bushes

A dreaded dark cloud coming from the west

A rolling green pasture

A wrapped present carefully untaped so as not to rip the paper

Cars passing by on a country road

A hot cup of coffee sipped from the saucer to cool it down

The moon shining brightly in the dark sky

And a little silver tin with a yellow gold label. ;)

It’s been several years since we’ve been able to really talk clearly with Grandma, but during that time she developed a little sing-song phrase that held a big message; her lasting advice to us all. It delighted us every time she sang it, and I think the phrase is a most fitting way to sum up her 103 and a half years.

In the precious words of Maudie Mashburn, “Happy am I each day, going along life’s way.”


Proverbs 31:10-31
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.