Steve Daniel 'SD' Surrett
By James Carroll
Steve Daniel Surrett was Shirley's dad and her mother was Lorene Surrett. We called her dad SD! SD's occupation was truck driver; he didn't move furniture nor mow the lawn, he just drove a truck. I think about him a lot during the winter because his favorite topic was Alabama Football. Each year they would come to our house for Thanksgiving Dinner and he would always say " the president can't eat any better food than this". No matter how hard life was he always managed to laugh about something. SD was the kind of man who worked hard without even a hint of dissatisfaction with his job; when it was work time, he went to work. When it was payday he didn't need much for himself he just kept enough pocket change for coffee and what not and gave the rest to his wife, Lorene. (Below is a picture of the truck I made for my wife in the memory of her dad.)
Lorene was a strong spirited woman who kept her house spotlessly clean and taught her children to do the same. Her daughters could cook a full meal including homemade biscuits by the time they were ten years old. Lorene had her own garden every year and raised her own food with the help of her children. They would can enough food that they didn't have to buy too much at the store.
Lorene had this way about giving her children something they needed without handing them cash. If one of them needed a bedroom suite, she would go to the furniture store and buy herself a new bedroom suite, then she would give her old one to the child that needed it. She never kept furniture more than a few months. If you were lucky enough to be the recipient of some of her furniture you would get the best. Lorene lived to buy furniture to give it to her children.
Lorene could save up money for about six months until she had about five thousand dollars, then one day she would call one of her children to come to take her to the furniture store where she would replace almost all her furniture. Then she would call the ones that needed something to come and get it. She had eight children and she bought more of their furniture than they did.
When SD would come home from a trip and find that she had spent so much money on new furniture, he never said a word...not a word! There will never be another quite like Lorene!
From: "bishopb@cableone.net" Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2008 8:47:45 AM
Subject: Lorene Surrett
Hello Sister Tammy,
I talked with Bro. Surrett on the telephone. Here are the thoughts he gave me; I'm sure you can make them sound good.
Lorene Surrett- born 7-17-1918, died 2-23-2008 Joined the church, 8-14-2006.
Mother was bed ridden when she joined the church; although she had attended some since back in the 70's. She loved the old time songs and was a good singer. She was very liberal in her giving to help pay for the new church in Anniston.
I and my seven siblings appreciate having a good mother. She worked very hard to make and keep us a good home; she also taught us the value of hard work. She brought joy to our lives in her last days as we had services in her home. What a delight to see her worshipping the Lord and enjoying the fellowship of the saints. We look forward to meeting her again in heaven.
Clifford Leon Surrett-- Anniston, AL.
Sister, thank you very much for this memorial to our mother.
The Surretts.
Daddy
In A Very Quite Place, Where Gentle Breezes Blow Lies The One We Love So Dearly, Who We Lost Some Time Ago.
Your Resting Place We Tend And Place Flowers there With Care But No One Knows The Heartache When We Turn and Leave You There.
It's Lonely Here Without You There's Such An Empty Place For We Never Hear Your Footsteps Or See Your Smiling Face.
If We Could Have a Lifetime Wish A Dream That Would Come True We Would Pray To God With All Our Hearts For Yesterday and You.
You Left Behind Our Broken Hearts And Happy Memories Too But We Never Wanted Memories Daddy We Only Wanted You.
Love You!
Your Wife & 8 Kids more later)
