Aunt Gertrude’s Good-Byes

On Friday, 3/12/1978, my father, her youngest sibling, visited Aunt Gertrude (A.G.).  A.G. told Dad good-bye three times.  Over the years, A.G. gave me money for Christmas or my birthday. In the mid seventies, I bought a Bunt Pan with money, from different givers.

A.G.’s reaction: "That’s nice, but I would rather that you’d get something ‘personal’, instead of something for the "house".  So, I did in 1978.  At the latter part of 2/1978, I bought a small butterfly shaped ring for my little finger.  It was yellow gold with diamond chips in the wings, and the body was a Ruby stone.  I stalled in showing it to A.G. until 3/14/1978.                                 

Here’s the story:

It was a pleasant, sunny Sunday that day, 3/14/1978.  As I was getting ready for Sunday School and church, I felt God was telling me to show the ring to A.G. that day.   I thought, OK this afternoon.  After dinner, I felt that I was to see A.G. but visited Vickie instead of going to see A.G. (still stalling). At the end of the visit, I asked Vickie if she wanted to go to Benton to visit her mother (stall Time).   She, her daughter Melissa and I visited Vickie’s mother. She, at that time, lived on Route 37 beside the Chevrolet dealership.  I backed the car on to the highway and had gone South a few feet when I heard in an low, audible voice,  "Karen, go see Aunt Gertrude. Now!"  I literally took my hands off of the steering wheel and said outloud, "OK". Vickie looked at me!! I took hold of the steering wheel and asked Vickie if it was all right with her for us to visit A.G. She said, "Yes", so we did.

A.G. was very glad that I (and enjoyed meeting Vickie and  Melissa) had come. She acknowleged my Butterfly Ring (nice was her adjective); it was more important to her to "see" me.  In fact, A. G. told me good-bye three times.  To our knowledge, I was the last relative (same for my mom) to see A.G. alive.  Our visit was about 4 or 5 PM. Effie Smith called Dr. Lewis around 11 PM; he came and called an ambulance. She died shortly thereafter, at Franklin Hospital. 

Both Dad and I felt that it was very important to her that we visited her that particular weekend.   See all the "threes"? Dad on Friday, my stalling, and third day (F,S,S of that wk/end) to her being with the Lord. I shall never forget the experience!!!!

Karen Kay  -- March 14, 1999

Malinda Getrude (Jones, Shirley, Rea) Swain.  10/03/1878 to 03/14/1978. 

A.G. taught the 2 ^nd graders at the First Baptist Church, Benton, IL, for thirty-five years.  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. (Psalm 32:8, KJV)

The Whittington Church web site is:http://www.whittington.org