Memorial Services
By Mittie Lee Hawkins Beaird

The highlight of the year for my mother, Minnie Lee Henderson Hawkins, was to attend Memorial Services at the Bethesda Church near Lindale each year. It was the church in which she grew up, the church in which she was baptized as an infant on March 28, 1890, and the church in which she was married on January 1, 1911, at age 21.

I have fond memories of attending Memorial Services all of my life. I always loved getting to play with my cousins. There were at least ten around my age.

I remember the bountiful tables of food that were spread outside under the trees after the memorial services. All of our relatives and friends had such good food to share.

Today the same traditions are shared by the descendants of the Henderson family which reaches out to include everybody who needs a friend.

My mother always made sure that she, my sister, Dora, and I had a new dress to wear to Memorial Services. She wanted us to look our best. When she introduced me to the relatives or friends, she always said, “And this is my baby!” I didn’t like that very much. Now that Bill and I have reared four children of our own, I understand the pride she felt in showing off her family.