Tribute

September 1, 2007 in Uncategorized

My grandma was born Vivan Jane Jackson on November 10th, 1927 in Villa Grove, Illinois. I wish I could say “she was the 7th of 9 children” but I don’t know that information. There were a bunch of kids and she was somewhere in the middle, that’s all I know. She was born a blonde, but her hair darkened to nearly black as she got older. She was a beautiful teenager, and became the valedictorian of her graduating class, winning a scholarship to college.

Her parents were unable to afford to send her to college, so she worked in a dime store. The summer my Aunt Louise gave birth to my cousin Delores, she came out to Muncie, Indiana to help with the baby and met my grandfather, Ed Hogan. He later said she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen. Later, she married him and moved to Muncie.

She had three children, my uncle Tom, my mom, and my uncle Richard. She was a girl scout leader and was very active at my mom and uncles’ schools. She started selling Avon and did well enough to buy my mom a nearly new convertible Ford Fairlane when Mom turned sixteen.

When I was a child, she was one of the most beautiful, glamorous women I knew. It always amazed me how she could put on makeup and totally transform her face. “Always take care of your skin,” she told me. She showed me her beauty secrets and although I will never be able to transform my face the way she did, the beautiful skin people always compliment me on is largely due to her tutoring and genetics.

My grandma was one of the toughest people I will ever know. One of the things people usually describe me as is “outspoken” and she certainly had a big part in teaching me to make sure my voice was always heard. She wouldn’t take any crap off anyone and wouldn’t let anyone give any of her family crap, either.

She also taught me that while it’s important to be tough, it is also okay to be feminine. She taught me the importance of kindness. “Kill them with kindness,” she told me. Not always- she could verbally shred you to bits as well- but she taught me there was a time and place for both.

She was a great Christian. She taught Sunday school until she moved down here. People are usually amazed at the amount of scripture I know and that’s mainly due to my grandma. She could quote scripture with the best of them. She always spent a lot of time reading and studying her Bible.

She was vibrant, sassy, and an amazing woman. I wish everyone could have known her the way I knew her. She was an absolute gem. I am still reeling that I will never see her again. I am going to miss her.

Memorial services will be held at the Murfreesboro Funeral Home Monday at 11 AM. She wished that no flowers be sent, but donations be made to your favorite charity or the Fellowship United Methodist Church (Murfreesboro) building fund.

I know none of you knew her, but if you would like to be there to support me, you are certainly welcome.