Let me introduce you to my sister-in-law Brenda. She has been a part of my life for almost 30 years.
She died on February 18, 2007 of a massive coronary at the age of 53.
Brenda was an important person. Not just because she was one of the best hair stylists in Newport News, or even because she was an usher at New Beech Grove Baptist Church. What made Brenda important was the unlimited love and acceptance that she offered to all.
Brenda or (Aunt BiBi) as she was called by her monumental number of nieces and nephews, was one of the least judgemental people I have ever known. Throughout my divorce from her brother Warren and the subsequent divorce aftermath, Brenda was Switzerland. Neutral.
Brenda bring joy into people's lives through her generosity and infectious laughter. She recently traded in her sedan for a 9 passenger SUV and she would gather as many of the children that she could find and take them off to Busch Gardens or some other fun place. She loved the children and they loved her right back. She would also do hair for women in the church who were sick or shut in.
We are much poorer for her loss. She also left us an example to live. One of finding your passion and doing it well. Her passions were the children and hair.
As I drove back from Virginia on the following Sunday, I saw a cloud shaped like a car in the sky. I said to my daughter Imani, "look at your Aunt driving the heavenly chariot around full of cherubim. She's probably going to the Angelic Great Adventure. Can you imagine her with the Heavenly Host lined up as she curls hair?"
We both smiled because we could really imagine it.
