I'll See You in the Mornin'

(Let this be a lesson in always backing up your work.  I lost this post while trying to copy and paste it into the manuscript for my upcoming book titled: "Through the Glass."  While I can never duplicate the piece, exactly, I have to give tribute to a really great lady, whom I loved -- and always will).

Today, a great friend, confidant, mentor, church mother with the perpetual grin and my sister-in-Christ, Clara Ella Ward, went home to be with the Lord.  We read and hear that phrase: "Went home to be with the Lord" quite a bit.  But too often deep down inside we're not all that sure where that person has gone.  I know where Clara has gone.

I don't know who she was before I met her -- and I don't much care; because like all of us her life experiences culminated in creating the person that she was.  A Black woman of substance and character who loved people.  Now, wait, it wasn't always sweetness and light.  Clara had no problem telling you, in a caring yet firm way when she thought you needed to give a matter a little more thought or when she thought you were just plain crazy and wrong.

She had only an elementary school education but one of her most fervent prayers was that all people should reach their highest possible level in education, career and in Christ (but not necessarily in that order).  And she dedicated herself to the task of helping anyone who wanted to achieve their goals.  When I entered law school at the age of 53, Clara bragged about her "friend" and was one of the few people, including a lawyer she knew and some of my law professors who didn't think I was crazy for trying.   Her limited formal education in no way presented itself in her character, speech, thought or actions.  She was informed on so many levels and combined with her "mother wit" she was a formidable opponent on most subjects.

Clara had one quality that, to me, exceeded all others because it is so rare.  She lacked the spirit of jealousy.  This is rare in most people but particularly in women.  Clara, with her impeccable sense of style and quality clothing, bought clothes, donated clothes, collected clothing and dressed women as a part of her ministry.  She visited and cared for the sick, handled their business and protected their rights -- because she knew everyone who was anyone and they were only a phone call away.  She was the ultimate resource person and if she didn't have an answer she knew someone who did.

Clara, who was raised as an only child by her grandmother and great-grandmother, had only one half sister who predeceased her.  So Clara made every woman, particularly every black woman, her sister.  However, that didn't stop her from turning up her nose and tsking at "slouchy" dressing and "hootchie" behavior.  If you wanted to get straightened out she was the one to go to because she cared, really cared about us.  And felt we should all rise to the top like the cream of the crop that we are.

I love Clara and I will miss her until I see her again.  Or as the old folks used to say: "I'll see you in the mornin'."