Clara Louise "Moma-Lou" Sealy Jones

Since my mom showed me this auto-obituary (username culturecatATgmailDOTcom, password flawrinse if it prompts you) when I was home, it has lingered in my mind:

Being plain-spoken was part of me, and I didn't really know how this felt for others. Scott thought this was a good quality, and he treated me as part of a "co-pastor" team. I loved him for his trust in me to be a leader with him; I did the best I could, using the help of so many of you.

I filled my life with teaching children, loving music, singing and playing the piano, reading, being in the church, cooking, baking, planting and caring for gardens and canning vegetables, soups and fruits and being a wife and mother.

Scotty loved my carmel cakes; Martha loved my fried okra; and Scott loved my homemade rolls and fried pies. I loved all of this wonderful living.

Scott and I had so many challenges and opportunities with our ministry; church picnics, covered-dish suppers, camps, vacation Bible schools, Christmas plays and cantatas, communion services, home visitations, homecomings, singings, revivals, prayer meetings, committee meetings, weddings, baptisms, funerals, sermons, worship services, beginning new churches and Sunday schools and traveling in the snow. I am so thankful I could be part of it all!

I want all of you to know that through it all, you helped make my life meaningful, and for this I am forever and ever grateful to you.

She died at age 93, and I don't know how old she was when she wrote this. I'm fascinated with this woman -- her happiness, grace, and gratitude, and her desire to communicate it to the whole town by what strikes me as a pretty radical disruption of the obituary genre. Rest in peace, Mrs. Jones.