News-Record.com

Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3:1-2, says, "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven; a time to be born and a time to die."

That's just one of the scriptures my beloved friend, Nannie Morton would quote to me. She passed away June 22. It was her time to die at the wonderful age of 94.

She was such an inspiration to me.

As I reflect on her life, I re-read some of the letters she wrote me. "Larice, don't be discouraged. Read Proverbs for wisdom." Many letters encouraged me to read Psalm 23. When her funeral began that sunny June day, it was no surprise to me that the first song was "Jesus Loves Me."

Morton loved me and so many others. A few of her grandchildren got up and shared so many wonderful stories about her. I admired them in being to keep their composure amid the tears.

"Larice, did you hear that so and so's grandmother passed away? You know she was quite a bit younger than me. Sug, I am going to die someday and I don't want you to be sad," she would say.

"Mrs. Morton, I don't want to talk about it. You are healthy and happy, and you will be 100, I just know it."

Even after a few of these conversations, my throat would close up with emotion. I did try to prepare myself. I knew she would not live forever.

I am so thankful that I drove down to Morehead City - where Morton was in a nursing home recovering from a heart attack - with my daughter Cydney a few days before Morton died. She was wheeling around that hall, just waiting for us to come. She looked fantastic and insisted on taking us around and introducing us to everyone there. I was really touched at all the fuss she made. She told them I was just like a daughter to her and she knew me even before I was born.

So much of who I am today is because of this woman, and I will never forget her when I read Proverbs for wisdom; add oatmeal to the meatloaf or plant marigolds to keep out the bugs.

Cydney just mentioned to me the Christmases with Morton playing Christmas carols on the piano. "Who is going to play them this year?" she asked.

Since Morton didn't start taking piano lessons until she was 85, I told Cyd it could very well be me playing them in her honor. After all, it's only July, and I believe Nannie Barbee Morton would really be happy for me to carry on that tradition.

Contact Larice White at triadartlady@gmail.com