A Tribute to my Grandmother

My last grandparent on this Earth recently passed away. There is nothing more adult than dealing with death. Additionally, you know you are seriously grown when you are asked to write and speak a tribute to your family member at their funeral. I was certainly honored to do this and very nervous as well. I speak a lot for work events but there is a certain amount of distance from those speaking opportunities. This one was deeply personal and I really wanted to make my mother proud. So the final words below came from the heart and from memories shared by my aunts and uncle to help paint a picture of her life.

As a part of her legacy, I know my successes mean so much. She wasn’t able to reach her professional dreams, but she created a beautiful family that I’m happy to be a part of. And I will always carry her struggle, optimism, class with me.

Audrey Ross: A Tribute

Daughter. Sister. Wife. Mother. Grandmother. Friend. Believer. These are a few words to describe my grandmother. Her children, her grandchildren, and her siblings dearly loved her. As a child of God, she accepted Christ at an early age and let His Word guide her life. Her demeanor was constantly pleasant with a smile that could cause someone else to smile and feel happier just being in her presence.

Growing up, she had a strong desire for education and for helping others. She was a proud graduate of Weaver High School and had a dream of becoming a nurse so she could help people. While she was unable to realize her dream of becoming a practicing nurse, she shared her commitment to making people’s lives better with her six children whom she adored: Patrice, Denise, Karen, Juliet, Paulette, and Damon.

She was a founding member of Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church, taught Sunday school and raised her children in the traditions of walking a path of faith and love for God. She encouraged her children to pray always, even in the valley.

Grandma Audrey enjoyed spending her summers in Maine, basking in the sun at Ogunquit Beach, relishing in delicious salt-water taffy at York Beach and never leaving Maine without tasting whole belly clams. Her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews would follow in this tradition of spending many wonderful summers at Aunt Ethel’s house in Maine.

Grandma Audrey was a woman who paid attention to politics and the movements in the community such as the fight for Civil Rights. Her son Damon shared a fond memory. After Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King was killed, his mother walked him down Pliny Street to Albany Avenue where there rioting and protesting were happening. Through her marching down that street, she taught him a message of survival and triumph, even through turbulent times. She was a strong woman throughout her life, even surviving rough periods of mental and physical hardship.

She enjoyed music, from faith-based songs to R&B and soul, which gave her joy. And she was a sharp dresser with exceptional fashion sense, much of which rubbed off on my mother, Karen. She made sure her children were always dressed well and instilled in them a sense of pride.

When my grandmother and Aunt Denise came to visit my family in Chicago many years ago, I remember her being so warm and loving with my sister and me. We loved to play outside, ride bikes and walk to the store for candy. We would often hop a creek to take a short cut to that store. I’ll never forget walking to the store with my little sister and friends, with Aunt Denise and Grandma in tow, and us all hopping a creek to get there. She was so cool to do that and I felt like I had the best grandma ever. I saw her for the last time in 2014 when my husband and I traveled to visit Maine. When I came upon her in her room, she didn’t know who I was. But, for a brief moment, she let me gently hold her hand and she lovingly touched my face. In that instant, we connected and smiled at each other. I’m thankful for that memory.

The best lesson that she has left us with is her example of strength. Even with some of her challenges, especially toward the end of her journey here on this Earth, she faced this world with faith and love. Even when she couldn’t communicate in a way that we understand, her light still shone through. In Matthew 5:16, it reads: “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Bigger than the sorrow we all feel as heaven, and each of us, gains another angel, is the light of her life’s legacy. The light represented by each person in this room who was touched by her and continues to be living, breathing proof that this world was made better because of her life.

Witty. Classy. Fashionable. Graceful. And forever Faithful. Rest well Grandma Audrey. And to all of us, let us keep walking in that faith.