Stephen Dare's Li'l Mama Dies. Rest in Peace, Helen Bernice Gillyard Willis.

Started by stephendare, January 01, 2009, 12:20:42 AM

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stephendare

January 01, 2009, 12:20:42 AM Last Edit: January 01, 2009, 01:25:57 AM by stephendare
New Year's Eve, 2009, my dear maternal grandmother, who raised me as both her youngest son and her oldest grandson passed away quietly while sleeping.

My Li'l Mama, an unreconstructed Southerner and a pentecostal firecracker finally went to see Jesus a little less than two weeks short of her Birthday.

She was my earliest fan and my most valuable critic and all five foot, four inches of her indomitable frame were worshipped by her grandchildren.  An old fashioned southern Matriarch, daughter of the same, she leaves behind three generations of her descendants, nine sisters, two brothers, two aunts (my great, great aunts) and a family that numbers in the hundreds locally, and in the thousands regionally.

From the Brentwood Projects, my Li'l Mama became a mother as a young teen, put all of her children through college, raised several of her grandchildren and was a mother figure to many many others.

She became a grandmother in her late twenties which she felt was too young an age to be called 'grandma', so she chose her own special title after experimenting with a couple of different appellations.  She finally decided on "Little Mama", which over the years was shortened to L'il Mama, and which her great grandchildren have shortened even further to "La Mama".

She was my inspiration and a rock of love grounded in bedrock hard reality, and she will be missed.

BridgeTroll

#2
January 01, 2009, 09:38:31 AM
She sounds like a great lady.  She will undoubtedly be missed by many.  My sympathies for your loss.
In a boat at sea one of the men began to bore a hole in the bottom of the boat. On being remonstrating with, he answered, "I am only boring under my own seat." "Yes," said his companions, "but when the sea rushes in we shall all be drowned with you."

Charleston native

#3
January 01, 2009, 10:56:30 AM
Stephen, may God bless you and your family with His comfort and strength during this time of mourning for your loss. I am truly sorry, and I'll say a prayer for you.

uptowngirl

#4
January 01, 2009, 11:15:05 AM
The quintessential southern lady, which we have an extreme shortage of in the south today.
I know she will be missed very, very much. I am so very sorry and send my condolences to you and yours.

sheclown

#5
January 02, 2009, 10:22:21 PM
Thank you for sharing this with us.  It is good for all of us to hear about Li'l Mama.
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