all gone now

A crew of Finlaysons from Gadsden drove to South Carolina Thursday upon the news of Jennie Llew Guyton's death.  She was the last of my dad's siblings to go home.  Dad left us twenty-one years ago.  He's the one on crutches.  Each of Burruss and Jennie's children were so very unique.  We miss them all.

Mother, Brooky and Cindy and I drove up in one car.  Irene and Carrie in another car.  We arrived Thursday night at Jennie's house in Rock Hill, SC and met up with other family members.

We all caravaned to Cheraw, SC for Jennie Llew's funeral at the old Saint David's Church.  There we laid to rest the last Burruss and Jennie's children.  I know that we were all thinking to ourselves that it was the end of an era.  Before the trip I had been a little melancholy.  I hadn't felt that way when Pat and Murdoch had previously passed on.  I told Gina that I knew it was because Jennie Llew was the last one - they were all gone.

The Finlayson kin spent the rest of the day after the funeral roaming around the cemetary, the old church, the old town, as well as the vacant lot where the Burruss Finlayson home once stood.  The trip wasn't a sad one in the least.

I knew that Jennie Llew was experiencing a grand eternal reunion with her family.  Her husband 'Guytie' had died 50 years ago.  I know that she is one joyful being - reunited with loved-ones.  So my trip to Carolina washed away any sad mood that had briefly shadowed my spirits.  We all had a wonderful day time last week - not a tear - not a frown.  We all enjoyed our time with each other and celebrated some wonderful kinfolk who have gone on.

It might be the last time we all meet in Cheraw, some of my siblings may never go back there.  I know I will.  I'll go back with my immediate family and retrace with them the steps of my grandparents and their children.