Magic of Aging November 2008 by R. H. Carter

Enjoy Thanksgiving Every Day

One morning, I was involved in a serious issue that demanded my thoughts.  As I walked through the dining room, one of the senior ladies, Ms Jerylene Howard, stopped me and said that I looked stressed.  She asked that I sit with her while she sang to me.  She began singing, “you don’t know just how blessed you are….you have eyes to see, a mind to think and feet to walk, blessed you are….blessed you are.”  I said, “Thanks, I needed that.”  Her melodious voice brought a kind feeling that would reduce stress in anyone.  As she talked her laugh became so contagious that everyone at the table began to laugh.  It was obvious that she was a perfect subject for Thanksgiving.

Jerylene Odessa Andrews (pictured) was born two days before Christmas in 1925.  Her mother died six months later.  They lived near Wakulla in a community called Caseys.  She was raised by her mother’s sister, her aunt, Agnes Triplett.  Agnes was married to Walter Triplett.  Jerylene grew up in Hyde Park.  Her Aunt Agnes was an institution in our county’s history.  She taught in Medart, Crawfordville, Hyde Park and Shadeville.  Jerylene attended school in Hyde Park and finished in 1942.  She then married Columbus Howard.  He joined the army that same year and never returned to live with her.

During her school years life was hard.  Before school she picked clover for the hogs and did many chores.  She never had new clothes and was sometimes teased about her clothes and a pair of shoes that she had repaired with wire.  She worked in restaurants in St. Marks for 35 years and drove a school bus for one year.  During this period she raised four children:  Barbara, Sandra, Voncilla and Michael.

Jerylene began attending the senior center six months before we moved to our current senior center.  Several times during our conversation she talked about how much she loved our staff and other seniors.  Staff and seniors would always call when she was absent.  She only talked about what people did for her.  I don’t think she really understands what she does for others.  She could not understand why I would want to write about someone with such a meager life.

{sidebar id=1}This person yields such a beautiful story.  Jerylene Odessa (Andrews) Howard has lived a very ordinary life.  Financial resources were almost nonexistent in her life.  She is probably the only person anywhere that lives in a home constructed for her family and given to them by Seminole Asphalt.  The only time in her life to travel out of state was a trip to Thomasville, Georgia. 

With this background she loves everybody.  Everyone that visits with her for more than three minutes will fall in love with her.  She brings smiles and kind feelings to everyone.  She is an ambassador for God, the beauty of life and our Senior Center.  She experiences Thanksgiving every day of her life and expects nothing in return.  The happiness and peace that she enjoys every day  is a goal that many seek for a lifetime and never find.

This Thanksgiving is a beautiful opportunity to give thanks for all you have and not worry about all those other things.  It’s a perfect time to join your family and friends and discuss all that we enjoy.

This article originally published on November 15, 2008.

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Comments (1)

..., This was a wonderful Article about my mother. She

December 03, 2008     

This was a wonderful Article about my mother. She is a wonderful person and loving mother. I am so grateful to have her here for 83 years. Thanks Mr. Carter for thinking of her. You made her day.
Barbara King | 158.229.248.10 report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

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