General Notes

Custom Field:<_FA#> She lived to be 89 years, 7 months and 3 weeks old.@@S726784@@Date of Import: Jul 31, 2003
[coosa1.ged]
On April 14, 1996, Foye Rushing Black and I rode in my van to the Rushing
family reunion , located in Luverne, AL. Foye revealed to me about her
mother’s enjoyment of writing letters to people who had moved from the
neighborhood and relatives who did not live in Troy, AL. When people
wrote back to her mother, Ella, they would send her different types of
handkerchiefs, because everyone knew she was very fond of them.
I can still visualize the ritual of the gathering around her bed.  As
she stood at the side of the bed where she slept, sets of eyes stared at
the quilt covered pillow in awe and excitement.  She smiled and her
wrinkles stretched.  Pulling the quilt back, she glanced around at the
young guests.  The pillow was exposed.  It had a little lace at the edge
while the rest was crisp from the ironing that morning.  The sets of eyes
were still focused on the pillow; a few jaws dropped opened to expose
some missing teeth by some; and then she rolled the pillow back . They
scooted closer.  In all its splendor it rested there in its designated
place.  A black silken cloth change purse.  Her hand, which had a red
stone ring on one finger, grasped the purse.  After spreading the purse’s
clasp open, she turned the purse upside-down and the silver and copper
coins sprinkled in a fall and bounced softly off the crisp white sheet. 
Glances exchanged among the guests.  A few giggles popped out here and
there. We all saw them there on the bed and we knew their power.  The
ones with the Indian and buffalo on it could buy a drink, or a candy bar,
or a bag of peanuts, or even pieces of candy at the store, located down
the alley behind her house.  The dimes and quarters had even more power.
But the three I prized the most had women on one side and eagles on the
obverse. They were powerful indeed - with beauty.  One was a Walking
Liberty half-dollar. The other two were called the Morgan dollar and
Peace dollar.
If there were enough nickels, dimes, or quarters, she distributed the
coins among us.  The pennies as she said, "takes care of the odd costs."
At times, to my joy, there were not enough small coins to distribute. She
would give me, the oldest, one of the powerful beauties to manage to the
sadness of the others.
Most never knew what they desired at the store, but she always did -
a Mounds Bars.  Sweet chopped coconut formed into two separate bars and
covered with dark chocolate.  We all knew her favorite and never forgot.
After the dispersal of the coins Great Grandmother Ella Melissa
announced the safety instructions about watching for snakes in the alley
and crossing the street.    Then the rush from the house began.  Out the
backdoor we fled.  Clutching our spending power, we skipped and danced
down the alley, while proclaiming to each other our purchasing
intentions.  I said little. Just as my Great Grandmother, my purchasing
intentions were always the same - a Doctor Pepper drink with some type of
chocolate candy bar with nuts.  Sometimes I would be teased that I never
got anything different.  I cared little about the teasing.  Chocolate and
nuts with a Doctor Pepper were great together!
The trek down the alley created opportunities to tease, boast, and
swap stories. We looked for snakes but never saw one.  However, we had to
watch for the cars that traveled up and down the street before we
crossed.  Safely across we entered the store.  Immediately we dispersed
to our favorite parts of the store.  There was the glass counter with
candy displayed in boxes.  There was the glass jars with candy in them,
that sat high up on the glass counters.  In the corner against the wall
was an ice cream box, containing the pop sickles, ice cream cups, bars,
and sandwiches.  Besided it a large red cooler sat with sorted