To Mammy's Page

Maude Elsie Wheeler Griffith "Mammy"

My Mammy By Ramona Griffith Phipps I was only 9 years old when my grandmother died, but I still remember her and the day she died vividly.  I loved her very deeply and have grieved every year on the anniversary of her death.  I feel like a lot of her lives in me. Everyone called her Mammy and my grandfather, Pappy, even people around our town.  I'll have to ask my dad to refresh my memory on how that got started. Pappy called her "Mom" and Mammy called Pappy "Willie".  Mammy was a very "stay at home" person.  The only times I remember her going out was when we took her to Kroger's at Linton, or to visit the cemetery.  She loved Kroger's and would always get the coffee that you had to grind in the store and my brother, Steve, and I would put our noses in the sack when she got done grinding it, because the freshly grounded coffee smelled so good. Their house always smelled like Vick's salve, because Pappy always put it on his chest.  Everytime I smell Vick's salve I think of them.  They were very old-fashioned.  I remember having to use the outhouse when I was littler and visited them.  After mealtime, they covered the leftovers with a tablecloth -- I guess that was the way to do it to keep the flies off of it in yesteryear because I've seen other old people do it too. Mammy used to keep a big barrel by the back door and it would fill with rainwater and that's what she washed her hair with.  She didn't like city water. Rainwater made her hair soft.  She had natural curly hair that went all the way down her back, but I rarely saw it that way -- she always wore it in a bun at the back of her neck. Mammy always made sure us kids had our spoonful of honey when we visited. Just like apples - she said a spoonful of honey would keep the doctor away. She loved to write and she kept notes to herself all over the house "change the sheets on...," or "so and so visited today"..... They weren't in any order at all - she would pick up an envelope or whatever was handy and write her little note. She loved flowers.  Her favorite flowers were red roses and her whole back yard was a flower garden.  She spent hours outside taking care of them.  Something that I've always been proud of is being left-handed, like both of my grandmothers. Dad told me that when Mammy went to school, they did not approve of people being left-handed in those days and tied Mammy's left hand behind her back and made her learn to right with her right hand. Her favorite color was blue.  She was buried in a beautiful blue gown. I hope that other members of my family will add their own memories to mine so that this very special lady can live on.

This picture captures Mammy and Pappy as I remember them -- Mammy in her apron and Pappy with his cap.

Mammy was 18 years old when this picture was taken.

These pictures were taken June 1, 1958, at the marriage of their son, Max, to Patricia Roudebush

Mr. and Mrs. William Griffith

Pappy & Mammy

My Mother's Eyes by Max Griffith I remember my mother�s eyes and the love that I saw there no other eyes in all the world have held me with such care No other eyes have spoke to me in silent beauty rare and told me how they loved me none but that lovely pair Sometimes when as a child and we two alone would be I�d turn real fast to catch those eyes smiling down on me I watched them cloud as she grew old oft filled with pain and despair but how they�d brighten when I�d say Mom have you some time we two could share Now she�s gone from this old world gone with her look of love but I know God has given me a glimpse of what�s above

Heartstrings By Unknown

When those we love go away, they never really leave us; they are with us now, wherever we are. Those whom we have cherished, live on forever, for love wraps itself around the heart. Although it's difficult now, someday beyond our tears and all the world's wrongs; beyond the clouds and all that we can see and touch, we shall all understand.

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