My Friend Erma

Erma, Mom, Granny, GG, my friend Erma was all these things to many people. She died this week, the fourth of my close friends, whose lives have impacted mine since the first of February. I would love to write about them all, and I might sometime, but for today, I'll concentrate on my friend, Erma.

When my parents moved to Bradenton in 1945, they opened a restaurant in downtown. A young man just returned from the war, came into the restaurant to eat. He was a regular. Everyone called him "Buck." After a year or so, my parents sold the restaurant and went to work for other people. Mother worked in a drug store, and a couple of young ladies who worked in an appliance store would come in for lunch and Mother got to know them. One of them was Erma, who had married Buck.

They settled down and had two children, Sharon and Glen. After some time, Erma and the children began attending the church that I went to. Erma jumped right in and became very active, teaching Sunday School, working in DVBS, and Pioneer Girls.

My mother often had to work on Sundays, and my daddy didn't attend church too much. He would take me to Sunday School, and I often went home with Erma and had Sunday lunch with her family. I became very close to them and felt a part of their family. As years passed, and there were family reunions every year, I was always included, long after Don and I married and had our children.

Years went by. I graduated from college and went off to teach in Cincinnati. My father died in January of 1964. When I got home and went over to the church, Erma was there with the ladies, planning how they would help our family during our time of loss.

After five years, I was on my way to Haiti. Erma wanted to know how she could help me get ready to go. I needed some dresses that would be suitable for working in Haiti, and she got busy and helped me make some dresses that served me well during my time there.

I came home from Haiti and had fallen quickly in love with Don. We didn't have long to plan a wedding, but Erma was right there, asking how she could help. She told me not to worry about the reception, she would take care of everything. She did...even the cost. I took care of the cake, and she did everything else. Mind you, that was in the day when one had cake and punch at the reception, not elaborate dinners, but I'm sure she would have done that too.

After our children were born and turned 2, they graduated from the nursery to the 2's & 3's where Erma was the Sunday School teacher. All of us who had children pass through those doors were confident that their children were being lovingly cared for and taught Bible stories.

Some time passed, and Buck became ill. He was diagnosed with cancer and died almost a year later. Erma faithfully and lovingly cared for him during his illness and his passing. She was a true example of how a wife should be, from the day she married him until the day he died. Many wives and young women learned from her life.

Both Sharon and Glenn ended up in North Carolina, and some years ago, she decided that she would move to be near them. She said that she wanted to go while she was well enough to get out and get to know people and be part of a church where she could worship. Glenn had a lovely master suite in his home, and Erma lived there with them until just a few weeks ago. She would come back to visit here in Florida, and she often stayed with me when she came.

Last summer I stopped in North Carolina to see her on my way to be with Ella. I was so glad to see her again, and I knew that it might be the last. It was. But I know I will see her again in heaven. Good-by for now, my dear friend. I love you.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Psalm 116