Mother

Blogging Friends:

An apology is in order for you, although I know many will say it is not necessary.  That is because quilters are so compassionate and caring in all situations.  I know that many of you are looking for Block 5 of Boot Bash and I want you to know that it is mostly ready for publication, and in a few days I will be posting it.  I know you understand and will wait patientlly.

 I have told you in posts past that my mother had extreme dimentia.  My sister and I kept her at home as long as possible and a couple of months ago, we took her to a local nursing facility.  On Friday, June 3rd, she passed from this life.  This was after days of my prayers that the Gracias and loving Lord would take her into His care as there was nothing left in this life for her but pain and suffering. 

A private funeral service was held Saturday, June 4, 2011 at Union Cemetery Chapel, Freestone, TX, for Ernestine Lamberth Mandeville. She was born to Ruby Langdon and Garlan Lamberth in Freestone, Texas on November 30, 1926. Known when she was young as Teenie, she was a petite girl with a million dollar smile. She started to the Freestone School at a younger than average age because she loved to go, so her aunts took her with them before she was old enough to attend. Although she was young, she would sit very still.

In 1947 she met S. A. Mandeville, known as Pete, at a singing school being held in Freestone. She becked him into the cloak room (her own words) and asked him to come to her house for a glass of tea. They were married January 25, 1947 and had two daughters, Brenda Kay and Molly Gwen.

Their early life took them to Lufkin and Odessa, Texas and then back to Freestone County where they owned Mandeville Grocery in Donie for about 10 years. Their last home was in Teague.

Ernestine became a Licensed Vocational Nurse in 1968. She was compassionate and dedicated to her work. When she passed away at Teague Nursing Home, she was being cared for by some of those who had worked there with her years before.

Upon retiring she started her quilting journey when the nationally known quilter, Georgia Bonesteel, was teaching the world to quilt. She made some of the most beautiful quilts you will ever see, from giant to miniature. She was very hesitant to "buy fabric for a quilt", but finally did, and those creations were her best work. We’ve laughed many times about the day she washed a million 2 inch squares for her current project, and laid them out on her car to dry. A phone call came in for Pete and she went down to his shop to give him a message and forgot about the squares. The result was a million white fabric squares flying down the street. She got help from some neighborhood children to pick them up.

Another pastime was writing poetry. She wrote simple poems when she was very young and continued to write them throughout her life. She passed this trait down to both daughters. She also loved to read and work crossword puzzles.

Ernestine was a Christian, a member of the Church of Christ, and she spent many hours with her Bible in hand. She passed from this life after a lengthy trial with dementia on June 3, 2011.

She is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Brenda and Jerry Ballew of Teague and Molly and Sid Fryer of Fairfield, and her grandchildren: Troy Allison and Anne, Ryker and Denham Hunt; Hayley Allison and her daughter Cicilia King; Clinton Sneed Fryer, his wife, Kristan, and their sons Caden Sneed and Cullen Samuel; and Clark Sidney Fryer; step-grandchildren Stephanie Biggs, her husband Clint, and sons Josh, Devin, and Sam; Ashley Ballew and her son Benjamin Ullman; Tim Ballew and wife Elizabeth. Also surviving is her sister, Joan Lackey, her aunt Addie May Cullwell, and several first cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Pete Mandeville, and her parents.

A memorial fellowship for friends and family will be held Friday, June 9, 2011 at 7 p.m. at the Fellowship Building of First United Methodist Church in Teague. Please join the family for refreshments and sharing memories.

The following is a poem written by my Mother:

.  I HAVE A SINFUL NATURE


I have a sinful nature; I do not know from where it came.
But I’ve struggled with it always with many losses, some small gains.
Many days I’ve walked in darkness with a fearful worried mind,
When I asked the Lord to help me learn to live one day at a time.


The time I spent in anguish was because my faith was weak.
I learned to lean upon the Lord for the peace I had to seek.
Many days I struggled onward; long and hard has been the fight.
But I asked the Lord to guide me, help my feet to find the light.


When I stand before the judgment and the Lord looks down on me,
I only hope, in love and mercy, this is what His words will be.
“I have heard you cry for help in the darkness of despair.
I have given help and solace to let you know I care.


I have watched your feeble struggles and have known your heart was right.
And in my mercy grant you pardon as you stand here in the light.
Although you are not worthy, My grace has made you right.
For you’ve had a sinful nature, and did not give up the fight.”

                                                                                 ---Ernestine Lamberth Mandeville

Enjoy your New Life, Mama!  I Love You!