Please go with me today on a memory trip to honor one of ourown, Mary Ruth Posey.

Mary Ruth was a dear friend, an honest woman who often corrected mymistakes, and who will be missed by family, church andcommunity.

Mary Ruth served our church efficiently as church hostess,especially enjoying the privilege of working in Vacation BibleSchool as the lady who had the cookies and drinks. She served ourSunday school class as treasurer, often reminding one of us(usually me) our tithes and offerings were due that day. Our SundaySchool class had many laughs at Mary Ruth’s strict observance ofher duties.

Everything she did, she did well. Mary Ruth joined her belovedhusband, L.D. Posey in heaven last week and none of us could sit inher chair or park in her parking place at church.

One of our members placed a vase with a beautiful iris at her placein Sunday school and her memory caused us to be thankful she wasours.

Mary Ruth’s path and my path crossed many times during herlifetime, especially with our children, who were friends. She wasone of the hardest-working women I knew.

“She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat thebread of idleness.” Proverbs 31:27.

Her family was served the most delicious meals from her hugegarden; she was always hunting huckleberries, picking up pecans,anything that would provide for her family.

Her pride in the accomplishments of her children and grandchildrenwas a humble pride, never boastful nor arrogant, but just thankfulfor the joy of being their mother and grandmother.

This column would be remiss if I couldn’t tell you some of ourhappy days together.

Mary Ruth drove the Union Church school bus and I rode it with herfor a while. Between the two of us, we kept discipline problems ata minimum. She would get their attention by braking quickly andcausing books and book bags to scatter. We were stopped once by ahighway patrolman and she gave me strict orders not to tell ourheadmaster. I was so happy he already knew about it before wearrived that morning. That was just too good to keep.

Mary Ruth was very punctual and one afternoon decided I waslingering too long at school. She left me. When I finally saw thatbus rounding the corner, I took off running across the parking lotin high heels. When the children all were screaming for her tostop, she did. I will never forget that smug smile.

My one and only experience going huckleberry picking with Mary Ruthresulted in an all-day adventure with very little huckleberries. Asa result, I reminded her never to take me again.

Mary Ruth loved to fish. She would tell us in our Sunday schoolclass how close she felt to her Creator while fishing andmeditating on His goodness to her.

Mary Ruth was my neighbor when we lived at Texas Eastern. Anotherneighbor and I rode our bicycles from our homes to Highway 28. MaryRuth had two of the most aggravating, mean dogs in the area. Myhusband suggested spraying them with wasp spray as they nipped atour bike tires. On our way home, down the dogs came, snarling andbarking. Mary Ruth had a great sense of humor about that, and whenI turned to spray them (I never could multi-task), I lost controlof the bike and prostrated myself on the pavement. My two “friends”would have stood there laughing if I had killed myself. They heardabout it, too.

Yes, I miss my friend and am very confident one day I will see herin heaven and we will rejoice over the fact that we were mostfortunate to have lived in Union Church, Mississippi, while on thisearth.

If you have any Union Church area news to report, contact ErleneHudson at 601-786-3079 or e-mail ehudsonb@aol.com.