In memory and love of Josie

Written by Frances and Stella jointly and individually

When did we meet her? We are not exactly sure; it seems we were always an integral part of each other’s lives. We just meshed from grade school thru high school to adulthood. It is a relationship that began when we were children, a relationship that will never end. Josie has a permanent special place in our hearts.

 Many of you had a connection with Josie. We know she touched your lives as she touched ours. The connections are unique to each of us, but knowing Josie as a wonderful human being is something we all share. Everyone who had the privilege of knowing her loved her.

 Josie had a great wit, an ability to make others laugh. Her humor could always bring a smile to someone’s face. She had a love of life, she was kind, intelligent, hardworking, thrifty, and mischievous but not mean.

In addition to all those wonderful qualities she was pretty. She went from a cute little girl with braids to an eye-catching teenager with her signature ponytail ringlet to a beautiful young woman. When I
texted my daughter, Chancely , to tell her about Josie passing , she said “Mrs. Josie was beautiful, inside and out, a very joyful person. She was funny and went thru life with a great attitude.” I could not agree more.

 It is really hard to sum up just one experience with Josie. We had so many. She had an active full life, she was a dance team member, later a majorette, she had football games, bus trips, school, class officer, literary rallies, slumber parties, a part time job and a great love of her family. We were fortunate to share a lot of it with her. By doing so, she brought much, much joy and laughter to all

 Once she was entertaining the entire class by imitating the economics teachers manner of walking and talking, she had everyone laughing,--- But it was not so funny to the teacher who came back into the class and caught her.

 We celebrated one of our birthdays once by planning, on cue, to get up and walk out of our English class, we actually did it, and luckily all we had to do was apologize to the teacher and the other class mates to get back into class the next day.

 All of these were little episodes showing Josie’s mischievousness, but never a cruel or mean act.

 Hardworking and a good cook—anyone who ever went to her home could testify to both. Her house was always neat and her meals were delicious.

 Thrifty—she could stretch a dollar. She fed a group of us once when we were all low on money, we pooled our money and she shopped an then cooked a big pot of Chile.

 Kind—my husband died when I was 26 years old, we had three small children, Josie came to the funeral—she managed to speak to me privately—at the cemetery. I will never forget it; she asked if I needed any money to get by on until later.  Even now, I think how wonderfully kind and considerate of her to think of my financial circumstances.

 Through our years together, especially by the time we were teens, we had long discussions about God and Life. We went to Sunday School, to church, and prayer was a part of our lives. We all had a Love of God.

I can remember a conversation I had with Josie after we were grown, we were probably in our 30’s, still discussing God and life. She said at that time, when she thought of God, she thought of herself as a little girl sitting on His Knee with Him protecting her. We do feel Josie is now in the Loving Arms of our Lord. This brings us comfort as we hope it does for Guy, Guy Jr., Joette, and Megan, and all those who loved her

 With love and good memories, Frances and Stella