Mattie Lavern Galloway Warren began her life in Bruce, MS on October 24, 1927, as the only daughter of Donny and Ludie Galloway, farmers, sharecroppers, hard workers. A family with deep moral values; respect for each other and foremost a deep rooted faith in God.
Before Mattie was old enough to work in the fields, picking cotton, she took care of the babies in the family. She was the ultimate caregiver. Something she carried forward throughout her life. She made sure everyone was taken care of; their needs meet before her own. Often times going without, so someone else could have. She was independent and determined to do for herself, for as long as she could. I hope she has a broom so can sweep those streets of gold, and pray there aren’t any moles there either, because she will find it.
She had the love of her life; though she might look at you and shrug her shoulders give you that “look” that only she can give, “like I’m not so sure about that”. Even though she literally had to sit for most of the wedding ceremony, as she was too nervous to stand. They shared 66 beautiful years together. Teaching us the true meaning of what makes a marriage work. What true love really is; devotion to God and each other, hard work, trust, honesty and faith in each other, and that we’re not perfect.
To each of her children she has given these same values and tools to get us through life, while at the same time individually taught each of us how to find our own paths. You have to learn to crawl before you walk, so you have to make mistakes to learn from and correct your course. She let you know quickly when you had crossed the line, and the hame string or a peach tree switch, fly swat, belt, wash stick was never too far out of reach. And the boys can tell you that she knew just how many peas or butterbeans were picked, versus how many were shelled when it came time to ride horses. It didn’t end well when half of them were found unshelled in the road ditch, and the girls knew the dust would be found under the rug. She could make you jump a bed, and laugh the entire time and tell you “it hurts me, more than it hurts you”. One could never understand that phrase until you became a parent.
She loved her family. Cooking big dinners and having everyone gather around brought her such joy, and everyone’s favorite dish was always on the table. You never had to worry about finding a place to sleep; she would grab a quilt and make a pallet for you in a minute. Quilting was her escape, her joy, her art. Each grandchild has a hand pieced quilt that she made specifically for them. It brought her joy to sit and know that they had a little piece of her with them forever. She gave each one of us a token treasure, a jewel, to carry with us the rest of our lives, and generations to come. She would sit all day outside and load BB guns for the “big hunters”, play softball or basketball with the athletes, or swing babies on the porch. Read books by the pictures, regardless to what the story actually was, comb their hair until they fell asleep. It didn’t matter, it’s just what Granny did, the rest of the world stopped for her grandbabies. Her words of wisdom and best advise “take your time, take your time” as each child grew into adulthood and approached marriage.
Faithful to God and His word, it was evident in her daily life. You never had to question where she stood on her belief or her faith. She was quick to tell you. She’s read the Bible through more times than I can remember, studied every scripture verse after verse, but her favorite is:” Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” She was filled with the Holy Ghost at the age of 14, serving God, faithfully 76 years. Never looking back, never giving up, and always striving toward her goal of heaven as her eternal home. She lived II Timothy 4:7 I have fought a goof fight, and I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”. Her only prayer would be that we all do the same.
A visitation will be held at the Holly Springs Funeral Home on Friday, September 14, 2018 from 5-9PM. The service will be held in the funeral home chapel on Saturday at 11:00am. Burial will follow in Baldwyn Memorial Cemetery in Pontotoc, MS.