On Sunday mornings is when I miss
her the most. Even though I have been
through several churches since she was a part of my life, and I have come to
love and cherish several great ladies along the way, she was one of those who
truly placed an imprint on my life.
America Armstrong was a striking
lady, one who always looked as if she had just stepped out of the beauty
shop. She was the daughter of an Italian
emergent named “Valentine” who found his way to America and settled in
Dadeville, Alabama on Lake Martin. Her father
was a businessman, family man and raised two boys and one girl to respect, love
and honor America.
She would smile and light up a
room. She loved her name and was with
much affection called Mrs. America.
I guess that is how she gained an
unusual name. Mrs. America played the
piano for the crowds that would gather in the restaurant in Dadeville. From what I was told, she could rattle the
house and pleased the people.
When I met her, I was the Youth
Minister/Associate Pastor at Dadeville’s First Baptist Church. She became a fast friend and one who stood by
me with her whole heart. She was loud,
vocal and did not mind getting in a conversation. She could hold her own.
Every Sunday morning she played the
piano for the Men’s Sunday School Class, which was located across the hall from
the Nursery in the “Chapel” just inside the north side of the educational wing
and normally they would sing for about ten minutes before starting class. Her Ladies Class, which she attended met
across the hall from the men and all classes started at 9:45.
Each Sunday morning Mrs. America
was fashionably late. She would come
through the doors around five minutes before ten and pass the hall where she
was suppose to go and come down to my office.
No knock, no pausing at the door; she would come right in and announce
that she was in the room:
“Good morning,” she would say
loudly and clearly, “Bro. Jeff, how do you like my dress? I selected it for the men and so the women
could see it.”
She liked bright colors, and
applied them with precise care, matching and accessorizing just right. Even though she was up in years by that time,
she was a beautiful woman, aging with much class and grace. And play the piano-oh, could she ever! I so enjoyed listening to her play. Not only would I stand outside the chapel
door and listen to her play, I would stand beside her as she would play monthly
for our seniors meeting we hosted for the local hospital in our Family Life
Center.
The patriotic songs she played
always thrilled me more than anything.
She would take those fingers, which were swollen with arthritis, and
touch the keys ever so lightly; making it sound as if there were a band inside
those wooden covered harps.
I not only took a liking to her, my
wife also loved her immensely. At that
time we were developing our relationship, as she worked in Alexander City at
Belk’s Department Store. Tina says that
she could be anywhere in the store and know when Mrs. America walked in the
front door. Mrs. America would stop and
call out, “Tina! Where is my Tina?” Tina would hear her and come to meet her at
the door. Then she would spend the next
hour or so helping her select dresses and accessories or giving her advice on
how to winterize her wardrobe.
If Tina had experienced one of
those long difficult days, with no break to eat, America would leave, go home
to Dadeville, prepare food for Tina and return with enough food to feed the
entire crew. But she was stern, “This is
for you and you only; you need to eat, dear.”
As Mrs. America’s health began to
fade, I would stop by to visit with her.
What a joy it was to sit and talk, listening to the stories of her past,
and being assured of her future. She
planned her services, bought the dress she would be buried in from Tina and
Belk’s. She was ready to meet her King
when she left this world.
Of course that was almost twenty
plus years ago now, but I still think about her every Sunday morning. I still see her walking into my office,
twirling around like a school girl and asking for a complaint on her beautiful
attire. She was an amazing woman and
yes, one my favorite ladies who entered my life and left an imprint.
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