On this date in 1905 a man was born who remains very much in my thoughts today.
One of 13 children, he was introduced to hard work at an early age. As a young adult he married and began a family, rearing his children on a farm.
His skills with car repair led him to manage a tire and battery shop.
In mid-life he lost his eyesight and spent the next 28 years until he retired standing in one spot and making brooms at an industries for the blind. When he made a dozen brooms, they were exchanged for a token, and at the end of the day he traded in his pocketful of tokens for his pay. This arduous task of providing for his family showed great strength of character.
This man who was never handicapped devoted his life to his church as a deacon and taught an adult men’s Sunday School class for 25 years.
The center of his life was his family: his children, grandchildren and generations of babies which came along. He entertained them with lengthy poems learned in the schoolrooms of his youth.
I never knew a wiser man.
He gave me life twice, the second time saving me from drowning when I was nine.
When he died in 1986, the pastor quoted the scripture, “A prince and a great man has fallen this day.”
Isaac Lafayette Turner, Sr. To me, he was just “Daddy.”
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Jan
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dreams
A warm welcome to the naturally curious, the politically engaged and constant learners. I am a retired newspaper editor with a fickle foe, retinitis pigmentosa, or RP. While my sense of sight is waning, my "vision" is not, and, by God, I can still see my dreams!
simply ...
- B.J.
- South Carolina, United States
- constant learner
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12 comments:
I think this is a very sweet tribute. Thanks for making my day!
Great Grand-daddy Turner was inspirational to me. He felt the difference between a 1 dollar bill and any other bill and felt the colors of his socks and was able to sort them with no help. He quoted the bible verbatim and had so many interesting stories. On occasion I saw him drive with the guidance of grandma Turner. What a great man who truly wasn't handicapped. Thanks for reminding me of this. School is hard but I must remember that I am blessed to have my sight.
Phillip
My sweet great-nephew Phil: Your PhD will come! I have to add that you are also truly blessed with a voice for opera that is a gift from God! BJ
BJ, That is a neat story about your father, you are very fortunate to have had him as your "Daddy."
Never A truer word spoken. I have told a "grandaddy" story to my children that they find hard to believe. During my teens I would love to go by and visit with he and grandmother. I would on occassion take him for a milkshake. (One of his favorite things) After I would order he would always throw in the he wanted it triple thick. He'd say "Make it so thick it'll make my head hurt to suck it through the straw." He had a wonderful sense of humor. On one such visit I complained of an annoying squeak under the hood of the car. He instructed me to turn off the car radio and take him for a short 1 block ride. When we arrived back home, he went inside and returned in just a few minutes. He instructed me to "pop the hood." He produced a small rubber change purse in which he stuck under the hood somewhere past the engine. I was then instructed to take him for another short ride. I swear, the noise was gone. I never questioned any thing he said or did for the rest of my time with him. Handicapped? I think not.
A wonderful tribute to your Daddy. It also brings memories flooding back of the cohesiveness of families and communities where great role models were held in the utmost respect for their unquestionable character. Perhaps someday that stately prominence will be witnessed again among the masses of the people. Thanks for sharing this tribute with your readers. Jan
Ohhh, BJ -- this is beautiful. I know your dad was proud of you too.
I enjoyed the blog so much today. Wasn't he a true gem? If we all got together and just told our stories, we could write a book. Grandaddy and I use to swap off -color jokes. Grandma thought we were just terrible. I would love to see him get tickled about something and laugh. I can remember playing a little sneaky game of catch with him when we were kids. We'd dance around his chair (I know Ladd has to remember doing this) and he would hook us with his cane. We were so lucky to have grandparents that loved us so much. I hope my grands will remember me with just a fraction of what they gave us. Why just look at Mama Tims. She died when I was 8. I will remember her sweet smile and kind nature till I die. Thank you for reminding me of blessing long past.
Hey B.J.,
I still have his birthday marked on my calendar.
Granddaddy would have been 103 today.
He was the sweetest granddaddy in the whole world.
Grandmama told me I was an ugly baby and Sharon was the pretty baby, so she held Sharon and Granddaddy would hold me. She would laugh and say "he didn't care because he couldn't see you anyway". Of course, she didn't tell me this until I was elected Homecoming Queen my Senior Year in High School---oh well I guess that is the reverse of the old song "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" haha!!!
Sharon & I, as little girls, would sneak up on granddaddy and yell "boo".
He always acted like we scared him to death. Then he would grab us and feel our backbone and say "hey grandbaby Sha-sha or Debdo.
We never knew how he told us apart by our backbones.............but we knew He was Magic.................
I still get teary eyed when I hear a song in church that granddaddy Turner taught us. He knew all the songs in the Baptist Hymnal.
Happy Birthday Granddaddy Turner. I know all the Angels in Heaven are singing to you right now.....
I love you,
Deb
I love you too B.J.,
Thanks for always sharing your memories with us.
I hope you are writing all this down-it is priceless......
Happy Birthday to your daddy B.J., I know how much you miss him. My daddy was a sweetheart also, and he has been gone since May 31st, 1990 and I'll always miss him.
Huggies, Tom
BJ, what a beautiful memory. I cannot predict when I'll be overwhelmed with my father's memory, though he's with me every day. "It doesn't get easier," someone said at the funeral. But it stays so nice. You never go far from his side. The memories are clear and warm. And, you know, when you realize that they will go on forever, you know that he knew in his own time he'd live on with you all of your life. I wish I could say it well, but family is all of it, and forever, and we know it in our own time. All the other stuff is like meteors we may or may not even see, we only occupy our time with these other things like cleaning up our kitchens. Happy Birthday to the gentleman. He has a lovely daughter.
Hey B.J.,
I have enjoyed reading all the comments on Grandaddy Turner and
also reading the comments about you,everyone holds you in high esteem, I am not surprised. You are a brilliant lady. I am proud of you.
I love you,
Deb
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