Confessions of a Granddaughter

Confessions of a

Granddaughter

When I thought of the word matriarch as an educator, out of habit, I wanted to gain a full understanding of the term. The term defined as a woman who led her family and/or a tribe. Historically, a lot of women were considered the matriarch of their families, and many of them lacked formal education, as my grandmother did. Despite her lack in education she bred, reared, trained, led forth and raised up many children and if we children were not careful, we could be taken out by this lady. She was a strong educator in her own rights. If you would allow me to make my point: The tasks of a matriarch! Curious about the word matriarch, the Holy Spirit led me to look up the word education. As I researched the term, it simply amazed me, the similarities of what the two words have in common. Researching the term education, I determined that it derived from the Latin phrase Ēducātiō (“A breeding, a bringing up, a rearing”), ēducō, (“I educate, I train”) which is related to the homonym ēdūcō (“I lead forth, I take out; I raise up”). All the things a matriarch does. A leader in her own rights, my grandmother was the matriarch of our family. Like a lot of grandmothers when I was growing up, she stepped BY CYNTHIA OLIVER in to fill a parenting gap for three of her children. She not only raised four of her grandchildren, but she was also the hand that rocked the cradle of many babies, while raising us. These babies were no kin of ours, they belonged to women who were prostitutes. Talking about raising a village, it gives me great honor to pay tribute to my grandmother for teaching me the importance of compassion and a love for “the lease lost and forgotten”. The things I most value however are the lessons learned, the discipline and honesty she instilled in me. When we consider the job of the matriarch, educating young people has always been the key to raising up a whole new generation has always been by instructions and godly training. Proverbs 22:6 comes to mind: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it”. In loving memory of my grandmother, Jimmie Lee Evans, I know it is long overdue, however I take this opportunity designated as women’s month, to let you know I recognize I am partly who I am today because of who my grandmother were in my life. I love you grandmother, and I am so sorry for leaving the way I did, and I confess, it was your love and discipline that kept me coming back to God, until I got it right. Thank you!

LessonsThe Many I Learned From My Mother

BY MAVIS YON

I think every child believes they have the best mother in the world. I am no different. My mom, Mrs. Zelma JohnsonYon, is truly the best mother a daughter could have. Not only is she the best mom, but she is the best grandma, great grandmother, auntie, and friend anyone could have. I often thank the Lord for choosing her to be in my life as my “mommy”. She never ceases to continually offer encouragement, overall guidance, and just some plain ole unconditional love. I don’t take it for granted. As an educator, I see far too often how many children come from unstable homes or have ‘nonpresent’ parents. Not having a loving home has a tremendous impact on a child, and many times the effects follow them well into adulthood.

The lessons that I learned from my dear mother. They were passed down from her mother, my beloved grandmother, Mrs. Iler Mae Johnson; the lesson of having a strong sense of faith and trusting in the Lord. She taught me to lean on the Lord, to trust Him wholeheartedly and to depend on Him for everything. Learning to do these things can and will get you through many things life will bring your way. For example, this pandemic has truly stressed me out. It has been my faith that has allowed me to get through this unforeseen time. She would often tell me, “Your co-workers, friends and sometimes your family, can’t, won’t or just not able to be there, but the Lord is always there!”

Without a doubt, having a strong sense of faith has gotten me though the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly! I’m sure that lesson passed down from my mom’s overall experience of being a black woman, born in the segregated Jim Crow world, which was not kind to African Americans. You needed to have faith to know you could and would make it! Despite that dark period in history, it was my family’s faith in God that kept them and continues to keep us as a family to this day. Regardless of what I may face, and I have faced many challenges, I know that besides my parents, I can go to the Lord and just trust and have faith that He will get me through them all! Another lesson learned from my mother is to be thankful and appreciative. I was taught to look for something positive daily, even if I had to look harder some days! I’ve learned to understand I am blessed and not to take things for granted. She helped me to understand that in life the little things are really the big things in your life and she often says, “I may be getting older and slower but thank God that I can move and that I am here!” Her wisdom has helped me to understand, I may struggle but not to focus on the struggle; but to focus on the fact that I survived or I’m surviving, because many didn’t! She would also tell me, “There will be better days ahead,” and it is this kind of wisdom she passed onto me. It is the same wisdom and ways of thinking that help me today. To understand that if I fall, get up, brush myself off, brush away the negative thoughts and keep moving! It doesn’t matter if I move slow or fast, just move!

My mom is 77 and is still going strong! Her wisdom and youthful spirit inspire me. I want her to know I am thankful for investing in me and pouring into me, which shall forever live inside of me. Both of my parents are exceptional! I appreciate all the sacrifices made and thank her being not my friend, but a mother! There is a difference, and she reminds me of that often! Thank you, mommy, for loving me despite my flaws and imperfections. Thank you for being you and accepting me for me! Love your daughter, Mavis.

TwoPowerful Mother and Daughter Matriarchs!

BY DEBORAH FAITH LEXYE LEVIN AVERSA

My Cheerleading Matriarch My Mother, Niki!

“If I cannot help my fellow man, then my life has no meaning” was my Mother’s passionate obsession with her purpose on this earth. Nikki Levin was always there for her husband, her family, her friends and loved ones. You could say she even cared for them more than they cared about themselves!

In good or bad moments of celebrations and challenges, life’s triumphs and sorrows, my Mother was always the first one to be by your side, cheering with you or gently consoling you. Her years nurturing my brother and I filled our lives with fun and meaning. She was always with us during those special childhood occasions at school or on the sporting field. Mom’s warmth and caring was never out of reach or out of mind. If a baseball victory was important to Bruce, or an opening in a school play was my passion, it was Mom that carried our banner even higher, with compliments and congratulations. She never ran out of “pats on the back” for a job well done, be it a stellar report card from school, or my weaving a pot-holder from yarn at summer camp.

Sacrificing her time or pleasures for our benefit, we adored our Mother who blessed our lives with her love, generosity and selflessness. Her friends knew they could always count on Nikki, and to her family, she was the voice of reason and comfort to others, for many years. Her altruism began even as a child, when the difficulties of the Crash of ’29 and the war took a toll on her parents, and she became a care-giver for her family in so many ways. My Father, Al Levin, became her guiding light for 55 years of a blissful marriage, and an ideal home life. And, through the years, Mom became the fulcrum of strength for us all….. caring for her Father, her Mother, and at the moment of most love for her life partner, she became the lifeline for her Husband, expressing utter devotion to the man she cherished and who so cherished her.

The recent lights in “Nan’s” life are Bruce’s children, Mac and Danielle, the fortunate recipients of that special love that radiates from their grandmother. So, Mom, for your birthday today, I pay you this humble tribute for the multitude of gifts and life treasures, I discovered as your daughter. Our entire family and all your friends knew that if they needed a soothing voice, an oasis of calm, an understanding confidante, or a perspective of reason, it was to you they turned. The time and experiences we shared in Palm Beach after Dad passed will always bless our life together as Mother and Daughter.

After you left us on July 8, 2019, two ironic scenarios took place. We met with the Funeral Director at the locale for your Memorial; Bruce and I drove in separate cars to the cemetery to discuss the service there. In route, your Caddy, which I was driving, simply died in the middle of the road. A few days later, I was driving home (in your repaired car) from the Funeral and gathering of family and friends at your condo, full of your character and joyous memories. It had been an exhausting day, physically and mentally; after about 10 minutes, I turned on the radio for some music to take my mind off the obvious…. Legends 100.3, whose owner is our friend (who also hails from our region of Connecticut). “Embraceable You” was playing…… your cherished song with Dad….. along with the incredulity of the coincidence, I was so comforted to know you and Dad were finally together, forever.

With my deepest love, respect and gratitude for the incomparable life you bestowed upon me.