Testimonials about Nellie

This eulogy was written by Toni's Daughters:

Growing up with such a unique, exceptional, irreplaceable grandmother has allowed us to become worldly, culture filled individuals with unforgettable memories.

Summers with Granny as teenagers, dancing at the Eagles Club and listening to her play the organ, was not the highlight of our summer. However, when we hear "Moon River", we can't help but smile and reminisce of the days listening to our granny playing her organ.

Some of the little treasures we will always keep are our wondrous summers busy learning:

· swimming at the springs,

· crabbing at all the state parks,

· boiling and eating crab

· peeling and devein shrimp the proper way,

· seafood picnics at the beach,

· traveling the whole countryside,

· jumping waves and belly-surfing

· concerts at the Bandshell

· picking seashell on the shore

· singing the three little fishes song.

Even though the 3 of us are not Floridians, Granny has instilled in us her joys of living the beach life. Tubing down the crystal clear springs was a sense of home and wonder as to what our next adventure would be.

The link to Memorial Presbyterian

Personal Inflection

When I was a kid growing up in south Florida, I used to ask my Mother about her past..what was it like growing up in her family...what was my Dad like when they met...the kinds of questions that children ask before the decide family stories are dull. Mom used to talk a great deal about her youth in St. John's County. During the Depression, her life was influenced by extended family in body and soul. It was not until I came to live and dwell in St. Augustine that I had a better appreciation for all the hidden bits and pieces that I stumbled upon scattered throughout the community that convinces me I am home.

Mom described wilderness river "runs" of clean, crisp flows that merged into the St. John's River. In my youth I had limited knowledge of the St. John's River which consisted primarily of wide muddy tacks of river grass easily seen from our family car off major highway and byways of south and central Florida. I had never ventured off the beaten path to discover the spring boils that percolate up from the clear sand bottoms of numerous river runs.

She had spoken of many mysteries while growing up and living out in the swamps west of St. Augustine on a farm during the depression; running scared of panther growls...eating fresh grown vegetables with little awareness of the sufferings of scarcity...Indian children coming by to play and how neighbors would conceal their wares in the woods during hostel raids. It was a special occasion for Mom as a youth to go into town and stay with relatives. She would talk about how difficult it was being isolated on the farm and how their dependencies on one another had set the stage for some of her fondest memories.

It was obvious it was their relationships with one another that sustained them, along with something else.

Even at her young age Mom was aware of the tension keeping the farm afloat and out of reach from the debt collectors. I can remember her repeating "thank God for Uncle Fred and Aunt Louise....Aunt Louise always loved Momma so". Evidently my Grandfather was home ill a great deal of time when my Mother was a young teenager. Uncle Fred and Aunt Louise would help her parents by bringing them gifts and contributing to hospital expenses. Occasionally they would travel abroad and return with gifts for the family.

Below are the only artifacts that I know of that Momma handed down to us. Here is what I know:

Artifact 36: This is a lighter set that came from the Kirkside Estate before it was leveled. This is where Mom's Momma used to be invited to attend balls and parties host by Aunt Louise and Uncle Fred

Artifact 20: This table and urn was a gift from Aunt Louise and Uncle Fred that they brought back from overseas. Momma said she can remember they kept it by the front door of the family farm out west of St. Augustine off King Street out in Cowan Swamp.