Some of you may remember that I blogged earlier about my grandmother, Geraldine (or Geri as she preferred), taking a health turn for the worse in the beginning of the year. I was fortunate enough to be able to fly down to Miami and spend a weekend with her. It was a special time, made all the more special because it happened to be my last time with her. She passed away on May 6 at 93 years old. She was one-of-a-kind. She had an amazing story and one day I hope to write it. It is hard to lose someone you love, but in a way a relief. She was in a lot of pain and wasn't able to be her true self. I have no doubt she is in a much better place . . . most likely wearing her tennis whites, watching her favorite game shows and enjoying a box of weight watcher ice cream bars (eating the entire box is ok by her standards because it's weight watchers!) all from a comfy perch in Heaven.
We celebrated her life with a small, immediate family only service in her birthplace of Lakeland, GA. Her childhood home there has been purchased by the Historical Preservation Society and will be turned into a museum. Geri's father was governor of Georgia and she lived in the govenor's mansion for a while. Like I said, a pretty amazing story.
Posing with one of her six great grandsons
90 years young
Her father, Gov. Rivers, in the car with for the parade for the Gone with the Wind premiere at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta
She hosted the cast of Gone with the Wind at the Governor's mansion
Geri's father and her fiance's father ran against each other for the democratic nomination
There were literally hundreds of newspaper articles, clippings, photographs and artifacts--these were just a few. It was pretty cool to walk through her home and see pieces of history (mine included) wallpapering the walls of a home she treasured.
Saying goodbye
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