Uncle Leander was one of Daddy's older brothers. He looked very much like their daddy (my Poppa Conley) except his bushy eyebrows were white. His wife was Annie and his daughter was Sandy. Sandy was very pretty. She taught us a game called "Spin the Bottle". You had to kiss whoever the bottle pointed to after it stopped spinning. Somehow the bottle never pointed to her! I promise you that kissing a cousin would have been a lot better than kissing your brother!
It was my first time to ever serve as a Pallbearer when Uncle Leander died. I had seen it done a few times. Surely it would not be that hard. It was! I was shorter than the other pallbearers. The casket handle was just below my chest. It was awkward to carry in that position. Though Uncle Leander was very thin, he was quite tall. This must have added to the weight! You would think that a casket would not be that heavy, especially with several other men sharing the burden - think again!
It is always fortunate when the hearse can back up fairly close to the grave. Uncle Leander's grave was on the far side next to a hedge row that marked the boundary of the cemetery! You had to weave through several head stones and negotiate quite a few turns before getting to it. I think that the grave may have been dug by hand. I didn't see any way a back hoe could get there! I was glad they let me be his pallbearer.
It is a great honor to be asked to do something like that for someone. When someone asks you to do something for them, though it may be difficult, do it anyway! You will be glad you did! Jesus said in Matthew 25:40 "... Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
It was my first time to ever serve as a Pallbearer when Uncle Leander died. I had seen it done a few times. Surely it would not be that hard. It was! I was shorter than the other pallbearers. The casket handle was just below my chest. It was awkward to carry in that position. Though Uncle Leander was very thin, he was quite tall. This must have added to the weight! You would think that a casket would not be that heavy, especially with several other men sharing the burden - think again!
It is always fortunate when the hearse can back up fairly close to the grave. Uncle Leander's grave was on the far side next to a hedge row that marked the boundary of the cemetery! You had to weave through several head stones and negotiate quite a few turns before getting to it. I think that the grave may have been dug by hand. I didn't see any way a back hoe could get there! I was glad they let me be his pallbearer.
It is a great honor to be asked to do something like that for someone. When someone asks you to do something for them, though it may be difficult, do it anyway! You will be glad you did! Jesus said in Matthew 25:40 "... Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."