REMEMBERING MY GRANDMOTHER

My grandmother, Geneva Louise Self, passed away 9 years ago today at the age of 78 years. She was born April 24, 1920. She was buried on January 20, 1999, 30 years to the day after her husband, Charles Lawson Self died. He was born January 13, 1913 and died January 20, 1969 at the age of 56. Lawson and Geneva married on May 12, 1944. He was 31 and she was 24.

Geneva was the daughter of Joseph Isaiah White and Sarah Ida Mae Millsaps White. The picture I am posting with this story was found among her personal things about a year after she passed away. I never saw it while she was living. When I first saw it, I was amazed at the picture. She looked so young! She was so young when the picture was taken. We figure it was taken before she married, so she would have been in her 20’s. I never thought about her ever being young when I was growing up. I guess it is something all grandchildren do. We assume our grandparents have always been old. The fact is they were once young too. This picture has been special to me since mamaw died. It reminds me of the way I picture her now, in death. I believe she is young again. I believe her body is no longer falling apart. I like to think of people as being youthful in heaven. Maybe they are and maybe they are not. It makes me feel better to think of them as being youthful. I hope they are anyway. I am sure immortal souls do not age, so even if she is still 78 after being in heaven for 9 years, this is good too. I still miss her. I probably always will.

FRED MARTIN, A SELF COUSIN, HAS DIED

MARTIN, FRED, age 76, of Lafayette, TN, formerly of Tellico Plains, passed away Wednesday morning, December 26, 2007 at Sumner Medical Center. He was a member of Unicoi Baptist Church. He was a 50-year member of Local 102 Plumbers and Steamfitters where he served as business manager for the last 3 years of his career.
Survivors: wife Martha Martin, son and daughter-in-law Fred, Jr. and Sharon Martin, Sandy, OR; step-son Vin Cline and wife Diane of Lafayette, TN; 4 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; sisters LaVern Hensley, Englewood, TN, Zandra Martin, Tellico Plains, TN; brothers and sisters- in law Carl and Sherry Martin, Richland, IN, Clarence & Sharon Martin, Ames, Iowa, Johnny Martin, Grandview, IN, Larry & Mary Martin, Roberts, KY, J.W. & Linda Martin, Friendsville, TN; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by parents Elbert and Ina Josephine Kirkland Martin. Funeral was 11 a.m. Saturday, December 29 in Biereley-Hale Chapel, Rev. B.J. Wall officiated. Interment was in Unicoi Cemetery. Arrangements by Biereley-Hale Funeral Home, Tellico Plains, TN.

Fred Martin was the grandson of Ruth Self Kirkland and Jess Kirkland and the great- grandson of John J. Self and Lydia A. Waters Self.