Goodbye, Granny

Just over a month ago, I wished my Granny a Happy 99th Birthday. Saturday, My Granny left this world to go Home.
Granny has been in a nursing home for the past 8 years. My Aunt Jean has been there virtually every day during those eight years. Last week, both Granny and Aunt Jean caught this terrible stomach flu that has been making the rounds. Aunt Jean missed several days of getting to see Gran.
Friday, feeling slightly better, Aunt Jean went to see Granny. She didn't stay long. She was told that the stomach bug had weakened Granny to the point where she was susceptible to, and had contracted pneumonia. Gran was put on antibiotics. Being as healthy as a horse otherwise, the Doctor at the nursing home was not concerned much over the touch of pneumonia, expecting it to respond well to treatment.
Saturday, Aunt Jean again visited Granny. Gran was having her sponge bath, and Jean was still fairly weak from her own illness, so she didn't stay long. Granny was fine, everything as normal. My Aunt lives a scant 2 miles from the nursing home. She had not been home long when the phone call came from the nursing home. Granny had passed on!
It was very much a shock, very sudden in its coming. Less than an hour before, she was doing fine, responding to the antibiotics, recovering from the flu and pneumonia... then, she was gone.

I know my Granny is in a better, happier place! To spend day after long day being unable to communicate, unable to see, read, watch TV, do anything for oneself has to be a horror. I am hoping that God was teaching my Granny the things she needed to know for the worlds now before her.
Granny was ready to go. She was beyond ready to go.
It is me, my family, my Dad, Aunts, Uncles, cousins and Mom; her grandkids who are grieving her passage. But our tears are for our own loss. How can we be sad when she has gained so much?

Arretta Gibson Beard was born January 3rd, 1915, to Forest and Margaret (Daisy Gibson) Gibson.
She married Robert Edward Beard May 5, 1932. They had three children: Melba Jean, Robert William, and Douglas Daniel.
Robert Edward Beard preceded her in death on September 24, 1983.
Arretta had 10 grandchildren,  26(?) great grandchildren, and too many great great grandchildren to keep track of, at the time of her death. (At least 25, with 3(?) more in the works!)

My Granny loved to sing! Back before radios in vehicles were normal, Granny sang us from destination to destination. She wrote many gospel songs- some* of which have been sung in places around the world: Ireland, England, Honduras, and other places.

Granny's death is both unexpected, and expected. She was 99 years old. How can one be unprepared for the death of someone that age?



I hope to see all of my family, and all of those who loved my Granny, on Friday.
Granny would want peace, love, and rejoicing at her passage, not strife and rifts.
I love you all.




* The Joy of the Lord
 The joy of the Lord is my strength,
the joy of the Lord is my Strength
The Joy of the Lord is my strength

I walk by faith and not by sight.
Not by feelings, nor by might
The joy of the Lord is my strength.

He leads me beside the still waters
 and there he restoreth my soul!
He leads me in paths
of righteousness for His Name's sake

With Him beside me I will gladly go!
OH! The Joy of the Lord is my Strength,
the joy of the Lord is my strength.
The Joy of the Lord..... is my strength!