Post by Angela on Apr 19, 2009 12:20:17 GMT -5
Brenda Gale (Hampton) James was the daughter of Charlie Wade Hampton who at the time of the Lawson family murders in 1929 was Marie Lawson's boyfriend. This is a tribute to Gale written by Matt when Gale died.
Matt’s Gale Tribute
Gale James, baby songbird of the infamous James Gang, and one of the stars of A Christmas Family Tragedy went to her final reward yesterday after battling heart disease and emphysema. Gale, as I mentioned in a recent blog, was the one whose voice made my last NPR interviewer break down and cry; now, the lack of her voice is doing the same to me...
Oh Gale....We're gonna Miss you. I'm gonna miss you. I'm So glad we got to hang out a week or so ago...My prayers are with her family, and her little poodle dog Heidi. Last time I saw her, she was playing with her 5 y/o grandson and I remember telling that kid 'Remember this, kid. Since you're all of about 5, and I'm 33 and I can easily remember 5, I can honestly tell you the good news is you'll be Able to recall this day when you're my age. Remember this happy time with your Gramma; remember it for the rest of your life and this memory will help you through dark times later." Heidi'd just had a bath and was wet and shivering, trying to jump on Gale's bed, so I pulled her up into my lap to keep the bed dry and held her and stroked her till she stopped shivering. Once that was done, I put her on the bed to play with Gale, leaned over and gave her a big hug and said 'I love you Gale and so does mom; only reason she ain't here is because she'd be a wreck if she saw you like this.' She wrapped her arms around my neck and said 'I love you too, Matthew, and you tell Tina I love her too, and don't cry, because all I'm doing is going home when the Lord calls me'. Then she went back to laughing and cutting up with her grandson, and I wiped my eyes before hitting the road, never to see her again.
Just got word from mom that her brother Darryl (who you also see in the film) will be doing Gale's funeral. I'm telling you, I knew Darryl was one tough man of God, but this task must require near superhuman strength. We know he'll do it with grace though, because he also presided over his father's funeral. Our prayers are with the whole family in this dark time, and I'm gonna shut up now before this awful shock wears off.
Godspeed Gale, we love you!
Matt’s Gale Tribute
Gale James, baby songbird of the infamous James Gang, and one of the stars of A Christmas Family Tragedy went to her final reward yesterday after battling heart disease and emphysema. Gale, as I mentioned in a recent blog, was the one whose voice made my last NPR interviewer break down and cry; now, the lack of her voice is doing the same to me...
Oh Gale....We're gonna Miss you. I'm gonna miss you. I'm So glad we got to hang out a week or so ago...My prayers are with her family, and her little poodle dog Heidi. Last time I saw her, she was playing with her 5 y/o grandson and I remember telling that kid 'Remember this, kid. Since you're all of about 5, and I'm 33 and I can easily remember 5, I can honestly tell you the good news is you'll be Able to recall this day when you're my age. Remember this happy time with your Gramma; remember it for the rest of your life and this memory will help you through dark times later." Heidi'd just had a bath and was wet and shivering, trying to jump on Gale's bed, so I pulled her up into my lap to keep the bed dry and held her and stroked her till she stopped shivering. Once that was done, I put her on the bed to play with Gale, leaned over and gave her a big hug and said 'I love you Gale and so does mom; only reason she ain't here is because she'd be a wreck if she saw you like this.' She wrapped her arms around my neck and said 'I love you too, Matthew, and you tell Tina I love her too, and don't cry, because all I'm doing is going home when the Lord calls me'. Then she went back to laughing and cutting up with her grandson, and I wiped my eyes before hitting the road, never to see her again.
Just got word from mom that her brother Darryl (who you also see in the film) will be doing Gale's funeral. I'm telling you, I knew Darryl was one tough man of God, but this task must require near superhuman strength. We know he'll do it with grace though, because he also presided over his father's funeral. Our prayers are with the whole family in this dark time, and I'm gonna shut up now before this awful shock wears off.
Godspeed Gale, we love you!