Last Friday afternoon I had the privilege of helping to celebrate the life of Mary Chapman. Very few of you reading this blog will know who Mary Chapman was because her circle of influence was pretty localized and limited. Let me tell you just a bit about Mary.
Mary was born in southern West Virginia in 1922 and moved to our little town in 1964. She worked several years at our local Eastern States Hospital and befriended hundreds of people who were confined to these quarters. She retired from her employment in 1987, but not from life! Mary was extremely active in our local church family until her health caused her to slow down rapidly. She seldom missed a service with the faithful help of her two daughters.
But the above is not the "real" Mary Chapman story. You see, Mary had a will about her...a very strong will! Mary knew what Mary wanted and very little would deter from accomplishing that which she desired. One young "robber to be" found out that Mary's desire to keep her purse caused him a bit of embarrassment! That's right, when she was 81 years of age, a young man decided that he would steal her purse, but Mary had different ideas! With a very strong voice, she reminded him, "I have a cane for you and I will use it!" The would-be robber fled "purse-less!" He learned quickly that you don't mess with Mary!
Another time we were having a campaign at church in some of the hottest weather imaginable for the month of May. We were hitting the streets to see how we could serve our neighbors! Mary went out the first day (she was now 82 years old) and worked "like a soldier!" I asked her the next day to stay inside where it was cool and her response was short and curt, "No, sir. I am going out with the others!" Like the would-be robber, I did not mess with Mary.
I wonder what makes the difference in people? Is it heredity? Environment? Teaching? Oh, maybe it is a bit of all three! The fact is Mary knew what she wanted and she went out to get it! The amazing thing is that what she "wanted" was not what many others would want...she wanted to do what God wanted her to do! And, you don't mess with that!
I wish all of you could have known Mary Chapman because you would have been a better person for having done so!
I know I am!
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2 comments:
As Mary Chapman's second child, I learned at a young age not to "mess with Mary." Mom was widowed at the young age of 35 and left to raise five children, ages two (twins) to seventeen on her own in an impoverished area of West Virginia. In spite of that, she was, indeed, "strong willed" and determined to instill in her children the love of God, the importance of doing His will, strong morals and values, being honest and so much, much more.
We could never thank her enough for everthing she taught us but most of all for her unconditional love and devotion to us and her love of God. Although many saw her frequently, they never really knew her.
We miss her sweet smile and just being with her. Our tears don't stop, but we know that she is with our beloved Father in heaven which is what she lived for.
Lena Stone for the Family
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