Wednesday, April 29, 2015

A to Z April Challenge: Y is for Yvonne


“We need to get together more often and not at a funeral.” How many times have you and a cousin said that? Funerals are much like a family reunion. You can learn a lot about a family just by looking at who showed up. Using my grandparents’ guest books and sympathy cards, I’ll be exploring “Who came to the funeral?

is for Yvonne Ellington. There is no evidence that Yvonne attended either of my maternal grandparents’ funerals or that she sent flowers or a card. Yvonne was a family friend through membership at Cradock United Methodist Church. But she was more than that.

from Cradock UMC directory

On the day of my grandfather’s funeral, Yvonne was likely working. She was the owner and primary operator at Yvonne’s Beauty Salon on George Washington Highway in the Cradock neighborhood of Portsmouth, Virginia. In the 1960s, a trip to the hair salon was scheduled weekly. She likely styled both my mother and grandmother the day before the funeral.

In looking once again at all the lovely cards and messages from friends, I got a kick out of a note written by my grandmother on the back of a sympathy card. The envelope was addressed to my mother, so apparently Grandma was at our house when she wrote it.

Note written on back of envelope


I should be back from Yvonnes in time for supper. I have plenty food from yesterday so don’t cook.
( Lucy )







LUCY?? She never went by Lucy, so I think she was being funny.

Yippee!  There will be no yawning over the yarns yielded by yuppies, youngsters, yokels, and yodelers over yonder at the A to Z April Challenge.


© 2015, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

17 comments:

  1. My mother in law probably until the last 6 months of her life went weekly to the beauty parlor :) Her first name was Lucille but she never went by Lucy except for one friend.

    Have enjoyed your entries for the A/Z challenge; amazed with your history that you have of your family members.

    betty

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    1. I remember when my mom had weekly appointments. My hairdresser still has a customer who comes in weekly - the customer views it as her one luxury.

      Thanks for being a loyal follower and commenter.

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  2. Family history is awesome. What a fun story about the characters in your family's life. Thanks for stopping by my blog, because now I found yours! 1500 blogs are just too many to read them all this month. --JEN Garrett

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    1. I've hippity-hopped around hitting about 10-15 a day, but I have no thoughts of seeing everyone on that list. It's amazing how many people quit early though.
      Thanks for the visit!

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  3. Hey Wendy,

    You hit on a very interesting idea for the A-Z Challenge - and I hope it was as much fun for you as it looks from this post :)

    Here's to always (in some form or fashion) keeping family memories alive!!

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    1. Yes, it's been a lot of fun for me. Very enlightening. It's made me remember things I haven't thought about in years.
      Thanks for visiting.

      Delete
  4. My family and friends have always made at memorial/funerals. They've shared laughter and good memories, not just the sad. For us, it's all about affirming life--of the person gone and our own. :-)

    Sia McKye Over Coffee

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    1. I know what you mean. One person's passing reminds us how wonderful our life was with him/her.
      Thanks for visiting.

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  5. I bet there is a fun story behind signing it "Lucy." This has been a fun series to follow.

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    1. Like I said, I can't remember ever hearing anyone call her that. Maybe it had something to do with the show "I Love Lucy," who knows.

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  6. I think we spent a few times in Yvonne's chair too.

    I remember jokingly calling Grandma Lucy, but I never knew she referred to herself that way!

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    1. Yep, Yvonne gave me my first REAL "frosting" as it was known back then and she did my hair for my wedding. **By REAL, I mean Momma didn't do it from a kit.

      I don't think Grandma seriously referred to herself as Lucy.

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  7. I imagine Yvonne would so love being remembered as 'more than a friend and hairdresser' to your Mother and Grandmother. As a former hairdresser who had quite a few standing appointments, I know how close one can be to their patrons...they are like family members. Often see them more than one's own family. Fun to think about the shared secret between your Mom and Grandmother aka Lucy! It was neat that you used Yvonne for your letter Y.
    Sue at CollectInTexas Gal
    AtoZ 2015 Challenge
    Minion for AJ's wHooligans

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    1. Every time I go to the hairdresser, I think how much it is like "Steel Magnolias."

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  8. Almost there! Can't wait for the big reveal on "Z" tomorrow!

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  9. Lucy, huh. I wonder what that was about.

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