Aunt Rachel - 1925 to 2012

This is my favorite picture of Aunt Rachel and me.

TIFTON — Rachel McGhee Hale, 87, of Tifton died Friday, Feb. 17, 2012, at her residence surrounded by her family. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at New River Free Holiness Church. The Rev. Gerald Lee officiated, and a eulogy was given by Charles Connell.

Burial followed at New River Free Holiness Church Cemetery. Grandchildren served as pallbearers.

Mrs. Hale was born on Feb. 11, 1925, in Tift County and was the daughter of Dewey Cleveland McGhee and Beulah Merinda Goddard McGhee, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by two sons, Terry Wayne Hale and Dewey Bruce Hale; three brothers, Grady McGhee, Troy McGhee and Rollie McGhee; and one sister, Grace Hale. She was a homemaker and a member of New River Free Holiness Church.

Mrs. Hale is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law Larry Jerome and Darlene Hale, Alvin Virgil and Rhonda Hale and Calvin Clyde and Faye Hale, all of Tifton; one daughter and son-in-law, Joan and Charles Connell of Tifton; two daughters-in-law, Patti Hale of Brookfield and Glenda Hale of Tifton; one brother, Harce McGhee of Tifton; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Alice McGhee Padgett of Tifton, Hazel and Jim Cattell of Tifton, and Ruth and David Carrin of Jacksonville, Fla.; two sisters-in-law, Delores McGhee and Ann McGhee; 10 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
-------------------------------------
Before moving to Wyoming, Aunt Rachel had asked me to speak at her funeral when her time came.  What an honor and a privilege it was to be asked.  She said she had informed all of her family and let them know.  And, even when I visited with her last October, she said the same thing again with Joan sitting there.

The phone rang about 8:30 and when I saw that it was Dad calling, I knew it wasn't good news and expected it had something to do with Aunt Rachel.  She'd been sick for quite awhile and had stayed with us longer than expected.  I remember that she wasn't expected to live even till Christmas and here it was almost two months later.  I called her on a very regular basis to check up on her and speak with her when possible.  In her last few days, breathing had become very difficult for her so many times we were unable to speak with each other.  The week of her birthday I had had a bouquet of flowers delivered and was very fortunate that on her birthday (the 11th) I had been able to sing "Happy Birthday" to her and have a short conversation.  This was the last time I spoke with her before her passing.

What an incredible woman she was.  There is so much I could say about her and I have written about her in earlier blogs.  Simply said...I loved her.  I loved her so much for so many reasons.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it back to Georgia to speak at the funeral.  However, I wrote the following and Nancy read it for me in my stead...

"From the beginning of time, God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children.  The scriptures are filled with accounts of angels ministering to those on earth and usually such beings are not seen, but we should also be reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil.  Some of them we walk with and talk with – here, now, every day.  Some of them live in our neighborhoods.  Some of them gave birth to us.  Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind. 

I think it would be safe to say that there is not a single person sitting here today that was not blessed by Rachel Hale in one way or another.  She truly was one of God’s ministering angels here on earth.  How many times did she come into your home or your hospital room just to be there for you – to offer comfort or food or do whatever she could to make your burden lighter?  How many times were you sitting at a doctor’s office or the hospital waiting room and she was there for you – to hold your hand, give you a hug or even a shoulder to cry on?  How many times did she perform acts of kindness that brought immeasurable joy into your life?  I was one of those people whose life she blessed.  You knew she'd always be there for you, no matter what.  And she was.

Aunt Rachel loved her family.  You only had to step into her home and look about and see the pictures and drawings and notes of her family placed on the walls and shelves.  As a single mother, you knew that she’d done a wonderful job raising them because of the caring and loving  people they became. Aunt Rachel loved our Heavenly Father and you knew that without a doubt.  She manifested that love each and every day with every person she came in contact with.  Aunt Rachel loved life.  I got to see that during trips we went on together and the many, many conversations we had.  Hopefully, we will always remember with great love and fondness something that she did or said to us. 

Thank you for your gifts to me, Aunt Rachel.  Your gift of love and friendship.  Your wonderful conversations.  Thank you for sharing your special recipes - the chicken and dumplings and the peach cobbler.  I will never, ever make them and not think of you.