Today I am remembering my Cousin, Lesia Juanice Mackey, who died on September 27, 2011. She was an amazing woman, and I miss her so much.
Lesia and I, along with my sisters Debbie and Teresa and her brother Steven, grew up together in Gadsden and Hunstville, AL. My brother Shane joined us later. Although we didn't have as much time together as we would have wanted, we were always in each other's lives by way of summer visits, holidays at our Grandparents house, etc.
I have so many fun memories of Lesia, but the one that we laughed about most recently was when we wrote our names in the top of Grandmother Mackey's desk. (You can still see a little bit of the writing, if you look really hard! grin!) I don't remember our reasoning at the time; don't remember what made us think that would be a great idea, but we did. It still baffles me that Grandmother did not share our enthusiasm for redecorating her desk! That was one of the few times that I remember being in trouble with Grandmother Mackey.
The only other memory I have of being in trouble with Grandmother Mackey was also with Lesia.... (I am seeing a pattern here...) Grandmother had this granite topped table that she was very proud of. Lesia and I saw it as a wonderful opportunity to play see-saw on either side of that granite top. And .... you guessed it .... Crack! The table top broke. oops....
Our obvious threat to all things furniture aside, Lesia and I had loads of wonderful memories, most of them centered around our Grandparents, Bob and Hazel Mackey, and our families intersecting in their home at 808 S 14th Street, Gadsden, AL. We took for granted such wonderful joys as early morning breakfasts with Grandmother singing at the top of her lungs as she cooked; climbing down the bank at the back of their house with Papa, Grandmother telling us not to go down there, Papa saying "come on girls, walk down sideways like this..."; going to church at Ragland Church of Christ (always with a jar of ice water wrapped in a towel); platters full of Grandmother Mackey's fried chicken and hand made biscuits; holidays with family; warming up to the gas heater, then running to climb into bed under a dozen blankets, curling up in a ball to stay warm, and then sleeping the best sleep ever, surrounded by love and family and faith.
In her younger days, Lesia was always smiling, always kind, always good. In her last days, she was strong in suffering, brave in death, faithful to the end. Her favorite scripture: John 3:16. Her favorite saying: If we meet and you forget me, you have lost nothing; but if you meet Jesus and forget Him, you have lost everything.
Celebrating the life of Lesia Juanice Mackey. Celebrating a life well lived.
