Summer Begins!!!!

Tim's Uncle Wayne made it through his surgery fine. The Dr.'s took the voice box and a muscle in the left shoulder out. Also, they seem to think that they got all of the mass in his throat. He will have to undergo radiation. I hear that he has been tryint to flirt with the nurses. Nicole and I took the girls to Jonesboro yesterday (Memorial Day) to see him. He seemed in good spirits and looked better than I had imagined.

Garrie's surgery is scheduled for the 15th of June. I will of course keep you all updated if anything new comes up.

My mom had asked that I put a picture of me and Mae Mae on this site...I haven't forgotten...also, have not heard from her in awhile...Mom, I did find your address, so I will be getting those gifts off in the mail.

Last weekend we had a graduation party for Johnathon...its hard to believe that he has grown up and we will be doing this for Ben and Amanda next year!

Crazy Times

Yes, I haven't posted anything lately. Life has been crazy. Busy at home and work both. We are getting ready for Johnathon's Graduation party (Angela says one down and two to go!) and father's day. I'm posting a picture from Mammaw's funeral. A lot of you have been asking how they are all doing, for the majority of them, they are fine. Dad sounds a little down. From left to right...Barry Brawner, Scott Brawner, Lisa Crowder, Ann Turner and James Brawner.

Love to everyone!
K

Mammaw’s Loving Touch
by Marni Davis Lathrop

During life we encounter special people who love us uncondionally. My Mammaw was one of those people to me.

The day that I was born she waited and waited for me to arrive. Everyone else had gone home she said except for her and Grandma South. She would smile with such pride as she remembered it in her mind. She would then tell me “Dr. Young walked out into the waiting room and layed you in my arms. My first moment in life was welcomed by “My Mammaw’s loving Touch.”

As I grew into a child and I was learning to behave, she knew right when to administer “Mammaw’s loving touch” just as soon as she could find the fly swatter.

If times were ever rough at home all I had to do is call her on the phone. She never said today was not good for her or she was too tired for company. Mammaw never said maybe next weekend. Instead She would turn her tires over so fast it threw gravel behind her as she pulled out on that number 1 highway to come to pick me up. She would speed to me to take me into her arms and give me “Mammaw’s Loving touch” then away we’d go back to Mammaw’s and Papaw’s house. There she would say I think I have some oatmeal scotchies or a chocolate pie just sit down and I will get you some. Then she would take me into the living room and she would rock me in the rocking chair and I did not have a care in the world because I knew I was loved and safe.

We would go visit Aunt Pearl and Grandma Brawner just to make sure they were ok. But Mammaw always carried them something to make them feel special. She gave them “Mammaw’s Loving touch” through a hot lunch or dinner or perhaps she had just made a cake or canned some pickles or jelly whatever she had she made sure they had some too.

We would work in the garden and in the flowerbeds. Pappaw would turn it over and then we would plant and weed and pick and can what we grew. She always had such a clean garden row. I have tried it myself as an adult but I mostly grew weeds and nothing else. I just do not have “Mammaw’s Loving Touch”.
Our family used to have big dinners that she would make for us. She would stay up all night cooking and start baking a week ahead of time. She wanted to make sure that everyone had their favorites. Each bite was so delicious you knew that it was made with “Mammaw’s Loving Touch”

She was so happy and proud to be a mother. She would say so proudly, “I was married eleven years before I had my first baby. Then I had: Ann, Scott, Barry, James and Lisa. She never forgot how many children she had even at the end when she did not always remember what day it was or how old she was. She was so proud of her babies and grand babies and great grandbabies.

Mammaw was so devoted to Pappaw she loved him so much. She said I promised your grandfather out in the garden that I would always be Mrs. Odis Brawner until I died. She stayed by his side through each and every hospital stay giving gladly my Mammaw’s Loving Touch. If he was going to be their then she was not going to leave him alone. I would catch her crying and talking to herself, or God, hoping he would get well and come home with us. Then I heard her say she did not want him to suffer she would rather him go on to Heaven. Then she let him go so unselfishly with “Mammaw’s Loving Touch”.

Aunt Pearl was such a wonderful mother and sister to her. Grandma Rhodes was the mother she knew but Aunt Pearl was also a mother to her. She was the great grandmother I knew. Mammaw would say lets go see Pearl and we would walk that sidewalk to her house. Then Mammaw and Aunt Pearl would walk around and look at their beautiful flowers and shrubs and that famous Smoke tree that was planted between their houses. Mammaw would say and truly believed there would be a cloud of smoke around it when it bloomed. Aunt Pearl and Grandma Rhodes gave Mammaw her Loving Touch that only a mother can give. Mammaw’s mother died just 9 days after she was born. I am sure that she held her in her arms with that same loving Touch until God needed her to come back home.

I am so thankful to have had Mammaw as my grandmother. She lived a long life full of “Mammaw’s Loving Touches”. Mom said the last week of her life before she went to the hospital, Mammaw would look up at the ceiling and call out “Aunt Pearl” and “Momma”. I now believe that they were coming to take her hand and lead her to Heaven. On her last day here on earth she was at the hospital, the nurses were bringing her back from a test and asked us to wait in the hall while they get her settled. I could not obey, I felt compelled to go in the room and touch her hand before they could move her to the bed. I felt I had to touch her at that moment in time and now I know that is because that was the last time I would have my Mammaw’s Loving Touch. I believe that as I was holding her hand in this world while Aunt Pearl and Mammaw’s Mother was holding her other hand and leading her to Heaven. What a wonderful Mother’s Day she will have with all of her mothers and their Loving Touches.

Lula Ernestine Head Brawner Obit

On a cold winter’s day, in Wynne, Arkansas, a baby girl was born to Ernest O. and Lula Allison Head. And so began life’s journey for Ernestine Lula Head. Born January 17, 1922, she was the fourth child born to this family, losing her mother in death 9 days after her birth.
Being an engineer on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, Ernest was unable to care for his young family. The three older children were placed in the Methodist Orphanage in Little Rock but the orphanage did not take infants. Two ladies, Anne Rhodes and Pearl Campbell agreed to care for baby Ernestine.
As a young girl she attended the Christian Church in Wynne with “Aunt Pearl” and attended the youth activities at the Wynne First Baptist Church. She professed her faith in Christ at an early age and later became an active member of the Fitzgerald Baptist Church.
Ernestine was united in marriage to Odis Andy Brawner on September 18, 1937. They made their home in the Colt/Wynne area and were blessed with five children, three boys and two girls.
Ernestine worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for 25 years, retiring in 1970. A hard worker, she excelled at gardening vegetables and beautiful flowers. She loved to cook and was known for the huge meals she would prepare for her family after church and during the holidays, especially the deserts.
Never meeting a stranger, Ernestine loved everyone and would do anything to help her family, friends, neighbors and even strangers. She always had a beautiful smile and a sparkle in her eyes for every one she met. Her interest included cross-stitching, crewel embroidery handwork, and listing to gospel and country music.
“Mammaw”, as she was lovingly known to her grandchildren, was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Every member of her family and extended family was most precious to her. She would always say “Mammaw loves you!”
On Tuesday, May 9, 2006, at St. John’s Regional Health Center in Springfield, MO, God called Ernestine home. Mothers Day will be this Sunday but Tuesday was a special Mother Day reunion between Ernestine, her birth mother and the mother that raised her, Anne Rhodes along with Pearl Campbell. Though our hearts a heavy and sad we know that our loss here on earth is truly Heaven’s gain.

Ernestine is survived by three sons:
Odis Scott Brawner, Sr. & Charlene of Lead Hill, AR
Barry Allen Brawner & Bettye of Jonesboro
James Franklin Brawner of Red Banks, MS
Two daughters:
Ann Sharon Turner & Jerry of Protem, MO
Lisa Carol Crowder of Searcy, Arkansas

Nine grandchildren:
Kaye Butler & Tim of Wynne
Andy Brawner & Amanda of Kansas City, MO
Odis Scott Brawner, Jr. of Harrison, Arkansas
Delani B. Brawner of Lead Hill, Arkansas
Marni Lathrop & Pat of Branson , Missouri
Bevan Brawner of Fayetteville, Arkansas
Begina Proctor & Kyle of Little Rock, Arkansas
Brandon Brawner of Jonesboro, Arkansas
Odie Jack Crowder and Shane Crowder both of Forrest City
Ten Great Grandchildren:
Kirkland Lathrop
Karagan Lathrop
Alisa Brawner
Tyler Brawner
Alyssia Brawner
Blake Harris
Landon Proctor
Milo Brawner
Mary Margaret Butler
Taylor Butler
and a host of other relatives and friends.

Her husband Otis preceded her in death on August 21, 1984. Her father, E. O. Head, foster mother, Anne Rhodes and Pearl Campbell, her brother Elva, and sisters, Lucile and Ernice also preceded her in death.

Funeral Arrangements

For those of you wanting to know the funeral arrangements for Mamaw, they are as follows:

Visitation will be from 12 - 1 pm Friday at Fitzgerald Baptist Church in Wynne, the funeral immediately follows with burial in Cogbill Cemetery. My family has requested that all memorials be made to the Church...Fitzgerald Baptist Church, 422 Hwy 1, Wynne, Arkansas 72396.

Thank you all for your calls and prayers and I look forward to seeing you all.

K

In Loving Memory
Lula Ernestine Head Brawner
1922-2006


Love you Mamaw,
Your Katie Bug