Today my grandfather, my mother's father, has been laid to rest.

This man with a tribe of children and a deep gravelly voice was my last living biological grandparent. I will miss the phone calls at random times. "LaShunda this is your granddaddy" and "how's the baby girl?" (He meant Yolanda) are phrases that have seared themselves in my memory over the past 10 years.

To my vast and extended family I pray for your peace, and though we are not there, our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Lena, thank you for being awesome and loving Ezekiel and taking care not just of his body but also of his soul. It is a comfort knowing he came to know and love the Lord and is even now resting with God. Rayford thank you for keeping us in the loop.

We hope to come soon and visit with you all. Life is short. forgive quick, laugh often, love hard.

I am thrilled I got the opportunity to know you a bit here on earth and I pray that all of us will see you again in Heaven.