Writing from a favorite photograph.

Mother and Daddy's fiftieth anniversary. All seven of their children were present

I cherish this photo of my family taken at the celebration of my parents' anniversary. We celebrated at their home on Fleming Road in our third house built in the same spot. Neighbors and relatives came and Mother enjoyed the day. I am on the far left and Gay is on the far right. My beautiful sister, June, is behind Mother. 

In my classes I often ask my students to write using a photo for inspiration. This photo brings back so many memories I can write for days about the people in this picture. On the front row, next to me, is my brother Ray, the oldest boy. He was an excellent student and always made top grades in school. When I started high school as a freshman, he began there as a math teacher. He was such a smart man in so many ways. 

Ray joined the Navy after graduation from high school. 
That was the time when World War II was winding down. He never saw combat, but during his time in the service, he hurt his back and when he was discharged he suffered much pain. I remember going to Emory Hospital with Mother when we visited Ray in the hospital. He had back surgery. He was lying on his stomach in recovery and was to be like that for days. He was strong and insisted Mother not stay with him. It broke my heart when we walked away, went back to south Georgia, and left him there. I can imagine how my mother felt. 

She adored Ray and appreciated him so much because he had taken responsibility for the family when Daddy was injured in a farm accident. Ray missed the last three months of his senior year in high school because he had to do the planting on the farm. It was hard work and he was often exhausted and had to lie down under a tree and rest. But he never complained about anything. He still graduated at the top of his senior class.

One summer when he was teaching, he gave me a job helping him grade papers and mind summer school students while they took tests. 

He had a great impact on my life. I worked for him when he opened an automotive business. I was still in school and I felt important when he asked me if I wanted to help him in his office. He taught me to balance a checkbook and keep records for the business. 

He was generous and kind, never showing any outward emotion, but I knew he loved me and would take care of me If I needed him. He actually took care of all of us at times, as he managed the family business and made sure Mother and Daddy were financially secure in their later years. 

I was always proud of him and I wrote a letter to him in his later years telling him how much we appreciated him for all he did for our family. 

"You will always be remembered in a special way." I told him.

At his funeral, the pastor read my letter and my brothers said they were glad I had written it because I spoke for all of them. 

One of Ray's good friends said, "When Ray Council gave you his word and shook hands with you, you didn't need a signed paper to know he would honor the agreement. He was a man of his word and everyone knew it."

On the day of my wedding, Ray walked me down the aisle. He was a perfect substitute for my father who would have hated every minute.

When I look at the photograph of my family, when we were all present and in good health, I remember how our lives were filled with such love for each other. How blessed we were.

Our home, built in the early 60s, in a rare snow fall in southwest Georgia 

 school because he had