Bidding good-bye to a great Southern lady

Today I attended a funeral for a 91 and 3/4 year-old woman. I liked her. During the 15 or so years I knew her, she would always engage me in conversation making me feel welcome. She was the mother of six, grandmother of 12, great-grandmother of 25, and great-great-grandmother of two. I liked the amount of respect shown the funeral entourage as we wended our way along the streets, through the red lights, and finally to the cemetery for her final resting place. Many motorists driving in the opposite traffic lane stopped to pay their respects. Police cruisers led the cavalcade followed by the hearse. It was a cold day but motorcycled officers keeping cross-traffic at bay. As we entered the cemetery, the police officers who had been leading the procession, parked outside the graveyard and stood in front of their cruisers at attention, saluting. I felt grateful as I slowly drove past their saluting figures to the grave site. What a wonderful way to send off a grand old Southern dame! I’m going to miss her.