Saturday, January 21, 2023
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My mom and I met Grandma Sheila in the spring of 2014. We went on a road trip with Cameron and Johanna from Florida to New York. On the way back to New York, Cam and Johanna planned to visit Grandma Sheila, so Mom and I decided we might as well go sight-seeing by ourselves when we were in town. Once she found out that we were there, Grandma Sheila insisted that we visit her as well—to the sensibilities of her southern hospitality, there is no such thing as a stranger once you are a friend of the family. We arrived late due to traffic. She and Susan were already waiting in the front porch when our car approached. After we entered the house, Grandma Sheila set the table with all manner of delicious nighttime snacks, paired with her famous sweet tea. She showed us the house built by Grandpa RG and Robert and regaled us with the stories of the decorations she had collected through the years. We told her how Johanna and Cam became our close friends and about other fun things that had happened on our road trip. Though we only stayed for a few hours since we had to get back on the road, we left feeling pampered by our wonderful time there. Grandma Sheila not only packed us a big bag of home-baked stuff when we left, but she also gave us the recipe for the delicious Mullinax biscuit! I remember waking up groggily after we drove through the night, wondering whether what had happened last night was just a pleasant dream. Then, to my delight, I saw the biscuits and happily munched on one, feeling lucky that what had felt like a very sweet dream was in fact real. Even now, whenever we talk about her, Mom and I still fondly feel the passion, warmth and love Grandma Sheila showed us.
Though Grandma Sheila is in God’s embrace now, she will live on in our hearts as the beautiful, elegant lady who made this world a better place with her southern hospitality and love. She will be deeply missed.
-Brian and Sophie
