In Remembrance Of A Classy Lady
Written by: Tom Sawyer
Martha Ann was born in 1934 and passed away in 1998 after having multiple strokes – that was ten years ago today.
She was the daughter of Lucille, a fine woman in her own right, and the oldest of 6 girls. She was the mother of three girls and two boys. She was the grandmother of 9, one of which she never knew.
Her versatility as an all-around human being has been un-matched in my lifetime. She could meet someone and literally spend hours talking and laughing with them as if she knew them her entire life. She loved children – she worked as a teachers aid for many years – one reason she started this job was to be close to her youngest son when he started going to school all day.
She had class coming out of her pores without ever acting as though she was above anyone. Nobody was unworthy of a smile and conversation.
She was an excellent cook all around, but she made the best dinner rolls in the world. This, according to anyone who had the pleasure of tasting them.
Martha Ann was the glue that held her family together. Not just in life, but her loving influence holds her family together ten years after her death. She was the rock, a best friend and someone people loved to sit around and talk to.
Martha Ann was my mother and I miss her today like I did ten years ago.
Tags: mother
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:17 am
What a lovely tribute to your Mom. I wish I had known her.
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:27 am
Ok, so she is my mother, but she is the best woman I have ever known! No one compares!
I have missed her terribly for the last 10 years. I can still run down, event by event, the last two years of her life as if it was yesterday. The pain of still needing her everyday never goes away.
Martha Ann dressed better than anyone I know. It is funny how I have seen others try to mimic her style, can’t be done! She had the best decency of anyone. She didn’t just talk the talk, but walked the walk. At times she was considered hard on her children, but I can give you glaring statistics on the outcome/lives of those five children comparing them with other children in other families. You be the judge! She was a perfect housekeeper. Can you even find good housekeepers anymore? She was a pastor’s wife and the most gracious first lady I have ever seen! Again, I’ve seen others try to measure up, didn’t happen!
Of course, all my feelings are those of a proud daughter, but truly, she was one of a kind! The classiest woman EVER to walk. I can only strive to be half the “lady” she was! Tom, thank you for the tribute!
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:53 am
I know how you all feel. I lost my mother 3 years ago. I’m at work, I can’t say much without breaking down at this point. It’s too early in the morning. I’ll comment more later.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:05 am
Congratulations on having such a wonderful woman in your life!
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:34 am
TOM,
that was absolutely a marvelous tribute!! I’m sitting here typing with tears in my eyes because every SINGLE word of what you wrote is so on point. I miss her more than I can say. I keep a picture of her on my bedside table to just look at her ALL THE TIME. There is no one else like her in so many ways but what I love to this day about her is that she was THE best teacher of anyone I know with a degree, because she lived what she taught and it is obvious that we were taught well by our accomplishments and core values that we are passing on as honor and tribute to the Lady of Elegance that she was.
I don’t even want to ever forget her and talk about her a lot and all that she was and still means to me. The incident at Burger Burger seeing the name Martha Ann on that plaque on the wall was a sign to me that she’s still with us and the birth of K was special in her eyes too. Call me crazy…but I felt that.
Thanks Tom that tribute was tremendous and should be sent to ALL emails in our family that you have addresses for, they will appreciate it.
Have a good memory filled day and I love you .
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:03 am
Good post. Many times a week, usually at work, I think about grandmother or something grandmother would say. I remember riding to McDonalds, on a close to daily basis, in that blue four door car, like it was yesterday. Man, I wish I could go back to one of those days and just live that moment one more time. She was the best person in the world, and loved her family to death. Man, I wish I could just spend one hour with grandmother, anywhere at anytime (even if it was during a Cowboys game).. Man, I wish she could spend one day with Kaiden.. just one (he would, more than likely, total up double digit whoopings and at least one toe stomp) but at least he would know that he had the best great grandmother ever! I miss you so much grandmother…..
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:21 am
She would have laughed and talked to you like you were lifelong friends. That is just the type person she was. As a kid it would bother me because I was the youngest and I would be the one standing there holding her hand while she had these conversations with people. She really loved to talk to people.
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:26 am
I was at my niece’s graduation in May and I was talking to a lady from the church. I asked her how often she went to the house when my mother was alive and she said, “Whenever I got ready.” That meant the door was always open.
It doesn’t seem like that was ten years ago.
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:42 am
Kendall, I would love to have seen her with Kaiden! It seems so unfair that she was taken too soon! Remember when Kaiden was born and I didn’t know what I wanted him to call me as his grandmother? As much as I tried other names, I came back to simply Grandmother. What an elegant way to say it! Why? Because my mother was called Grandmother to you and Kourtney and there is no better example for me to follow, so Grandmother it is!
My dear grandson Kaiden missed out on the greatest person he could have ever known, his great-grandmother Martha Ann! Gosh he missed hearing her sing the cheek-a-boo-ka-lelle song that was originally written for Kourtney but passed down through all the granmpies (as she called them). We just don’t have enough time or space to pen our many memories!
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:24 am
Hello this is auntie Wanda I,m at Monnies and chip writing this. I too miss my sister.it doesn’t seem like 10 years, but you being without her would diffinately feel it. No kids no one made rolls as did your mother,but I did get her no fail frust recipe in my head and don’t bake a pie without it.I just bake a peach pie last night using it . I will remember the times at yukla ave nue in Dayton, Also how her and your father stay up with James and when we messed up getting our lisciense fpr get married. I can se her getting up and shouting when we all got together and would sing and shout she woulf swirl around and say cha cha cha oh what time we had. I remember the time she hid from your father upstairss in one of those big draws on the landing she was that small. Oh what a lady. To know her was never to forget her. I.m feelig your pain today and asking God to help all of you. Tom that K ANN JUST DID IT. So to all of rhe K’s and the Ann’s and you Buzz and Tom God bless all of you at this time and if there is ever anything I can do in my power just let me know.
LOVE TO ALL AUNTIE WANDA
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:55 am
That was nice. Thank you Auntie Wanda!
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:40 am
Hello everyone, I have been here a few times and broke down every time. I’m going to try and make it thru this time.
Martha Ann was the WORLD to me. I hear people talk about their mother in a bad way and I think “My mom was the BOMB!” She was my best friend, we went shopping together (she was annointed by God to shop), I talked to her EVERY day, she went to my doctor’s appointments with me (as an adult), she went to my birthing classes with me because my husband couldn’t (she went to sleep but she was there), she would come to my house and re-decorate without me asking and without my permission, she was the hottest back-room hairdresser in the WHOLE state of Indiana, she was a really good seamstress, she was the first caregiver I knew (she ran me all over our neighborhood taking old women stuff. We, the kids, should all remember Ms. Davis), she spoiled my father (and she was spoiled), she LOVED her children and her grandchildren (so much that it made her sisters mad).
That’s just a little of what she meant to me. I Miss Her!!!!!
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:50 am
I wish I could have met your mom. Reading your post and everyone’s comments, I really get a sense of who she was – an amazing woman! This is a great tribute! P.S. This is great history for K too.
Kim Sawyers last blog post..In Rememberance Of A Classy Lady
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Karen stop it! Your post brought back memories! I love where you said she would re-decorate without pesmission! Stop it! I remember, my bathroom in my first apratment was Martha Ann style! She didn’t even let me go shopping with her, she just brought the stuff. Of course, I liked it, my mother picked it out!
One of my favorite memories was when she and I stayed up all night and painted and wall papered the kitchen. Then we put up chair railing. It was a fine job! To this day, if I am right in the middle of something, I will stay up all night to get some thing done.
I’m told I act just like my mother. That might offend some, it compliments me!
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:50 pm
KAREN YOU BROUGHT BACK THINGS TO ME ALSO I WAS ONE OF HER BACK HAIR PATIENTS NOT ONLY THEN BUT WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP SHE WOULD DO MY HAIR . i ALSO REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE IN SCHOOL SHE WOULD HELP ME WITH MY ENGLISH AND I WOPULD HELP HER WITH HER MATH, AND TO THIS DAY I COULDN’T DIGRAM A SENTANCE IF MY LIFE DEPENDED ON IT,I WOULD JUST TELL THEM TO DO WHAT THEY HAD TO DO TO ME. i UNDERSTOOD HER LOVE FOR YOU KIDS AND YOUR FATHER BECAUSE I FEEL THE SAME WAY STILL THIS DAY. i ALSO REMEMBER THAT WE HAD A AGREEMENT SHE WOULD CLEAN AND I WOULD COOK . SHE LOVED TO CLEAN AND I LOVE TO COOK AND STILLDO. I REMEMBER MS DAVIS ALSO.WE COULD E MAIL ALLDAY ABOUT THAT FINE LADY THE LADY WITH CLASS WITH A HAT FOR EVERY OCCASION AND EVERY OUTFIT. HER AND PATTY LOVED HATS AND TRY TO GET ME TO WEAR THEM ALL THE TIME BUT I DIDN.T LIKE THEM THEN AND STILL DON’T. MY SISTERS GAVE ME SOME OF THE NICIEST ONE BUT I WOULD WEAR THEM ONCE AND PUT THEM ON THE SHELF UNTIL I WAS REMINDED OF THEM AGAIN. I CAN REMEMBER THAT EVERY TIME SHE WOULD DO MY HAIR SHE WOULD WANT TO SCRATCH MY DANDRUFF AND I HATED GETTING MY HEAD SCRATCHED.AND STILL DON’T LIKE IT. SHE WOULD SAY JUST LET ME GET THIS SPOTT AND THEN THAT WOULD LEAD TO SO MANY OTHER SPOT YOU COULDN’T WIN IF YOU WANTED YOUR HAIR DONE AND I COULDN’T DO IT SO I WOULD LET HER DO IT. MEMORIES LAST FOREVER AND SO WILL SO MANY OF HER. MISS HER LOTS
LOVE JEANNIE
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Its right underneath the Tab key and right above the shift key, if you’re looking… Hey Aunt Wanda.. how are you. Kaiden and K just surely, right now, do not know, and will never get the chance to know, what they missed…. Second option is getting to meet Aunt Kathy and Grandmother… (i have a smile right now…)
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
You are the best son in the world! Your grandmother would like you and be proud of you!
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:44 pm
OK to all y’all Tom, Kathy, Boo, Kendall, and aunt Wanda ALL of y’all are bringing back lots of great memories. One of the funniest things I remember is when I was about to have Kelsey and told her I was getting ready to go the hospital and asked her to come on over to Indianapolis. She said, as she did….”Well, Mom was thinking that she wouldn’t come now and just wait until you come home.” I was devastated and told her that it meant I was going to have to be at the hospital alone with Hollie and I didn’t want to do that. She just said she was sorry and didn’t come! Wow, she was something!
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
What about when Karen called her at church and said she was going to the hospital to have Korbyn (I think) and she said she would be there after the choir sang! Roll on the floor laughing!!!
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Let me also say, she was the BEST and ONLY thing I wanted or needed when I went through my traumatic pregnacy and delivery having Kourtney! I honestly, truthfully, and from the bottom of my heart, DO NOT know what I would have done without her!
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I would like to thank John for allowing me to practice my computer skills. Since I’ve changed jobs I don’t get to work on computers as often as I would like.
He can keep finding ways to comment on this site and I will keep finding ways to ban him.
Thank you Henry!!!!
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
My fellow officers are probably wondering why I am sitting here with tears in my eyes and wiping my cheeks occasionally. Like I have on this day for the past 9 years, I visited the gravesite of “Aunt Marthanne” today and felt as numb as I did on that first visit. I remember that morning when I received the news of her passing. I was sitting at my desk and looking forward to going home. I sat for over an hour with a blank look on my face and tears coming down my cheeks. Another loss of another great woman in my life. For those who did not know her, well, your lives will never be as full as that of her children, siblings, and family. She was not special simply because her dinner rolls made God smile with hunger, or the regal manner in which she carried herself and made you realize that you were in the presence of humble greatness. No, she made everyone around her feel that much more important and special. I still drive past 110 North 13th Street and imagine the vision of her standing on the porch waving as I passed by. Or the way she would greet me, “Praise the Lord, Cuzin Bubby!” I am having trouble finishing this because my eyes are once again blurred with tears. To my cousins, mother and aunts…we have been blessed to have had in our lives two of the kindest, sweetest and gentlest women there could ever be, Grammie and Aunt Marthanne. She was my mother’s confidant and friend, she was my grandmother’s first child….she was my friend…..I love you all and I can hardly see now. We have been so blessed.
Bubby
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:33 pm
uh oh….
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Ok this is my 4th or 5th visit today and I’m like Bubby, I can hardly see to write because of all the tears of all the good memories that are flooding my soul.
Bubby – what, not her rolls making God smile with hunger LOL.
Great lady, great memories!
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:12 pm
…and let’s not forget that one of a kind cheese cake! sad thing, I don’t think any of us have her recipe. wasn’t she just dynamite!
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Okay…maybe I’m all dried up now. So I’ll try to share this. I remember a song Aunt Marthanne sang wehn we were really little. Karol, Kathy, do you remember the trip to Texas when Aunt Reecie’s husband passed away. There was a song that was sung and she did the lead. All I remember is the part where she sang, “The Lord strong and mighty. The Lord mighty in battle…..”. I never did remember the rest of that song but I DO remember her voice and how high it went when she sang that part. It was 22 years ago yesterday that I had my near fatal accident on South 9th Street. She was able to share with me how she came over, with Uncle Harold, to pray for me while I was still trapped in the car. Amazingly, she said that she did not even realize that it was me until the first officers arrived and began to call me by name. I have to believe that it was those prayers and her kind words whispered in my ears that allowed my subconscious mind to remain alert. And remember those bus trips with the choir out of town? Today as I celebrated her, I drove by the old house on North 8th Street near the dead end, the house on South 12th Street, and 110. Ah, the memories, the blessed memories. What a True Lady and Woman of God.
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Okay…it’s my turn (deep exhale):
The very first time that I met my mother-in-law was the summer of 1986 in Indianapolis at Tom’s band day at the Indiana State Fair. I saw this beautiful, black woman with the most gorgeous smile and cute, little moles all over her face. She had a certain air about her that made me feel as though I knew her all my life.
At the time, I didn’t know that she would become one of the few people that I would truly love (with all my heart) for the rest of my life.
She is, and will always be, the KINDEST and most sincere person that I’ve known so far in my lifetime. She is, without a doubt, ONE OF A KIND!
Oh man, the feeling that I would get when I’d walk thru the front door at 110!
“Hey, TONE!” she would affectionately call me….I’d give half a breath to hear her voice again.
She had nicknames for all of us:
Tom was “Bill Dad” or something like that..
Karen was “Boo”.
Kathy was “Kaff”.
Dad was “Baby”.
I remember how I would make her laugh so hard, that she would literally pee on herself!
I’m sighing now just thinking about those time with her….
Tom, thanks for the post, man.
-Tony
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Things haven’t been the same for ten years now. I wish mom was still with us, but god must have needed her up there with him. He probably wanted some rolls and cheesecake. She’s no doubt cookin for all the saints up there in heaven. When i see people my age who still have their moms with them, i feel jealous, but then i realize just how blessed we are to have had her ,the years did. When i graduated highschool, i wrote a poem called, “the time has come”. Mom didn’t beleive i wrote it myself, but i did. I rewrote it for her. I’ll share both.
The time has come, it’s finally here, 12 years are up, there’s no more fear. The fear of maybe not making it thru, but the time has come, there’s no more to do. Now that i’m finished, i’ll start again, but this time it’s real, and it will not end. Yes it feels so good to see the day, when i’ve made it thru, and can finally say, the time has come.
The time has come, it’s regrettably here, god’s called you home, there’s no more fear. The fear of maybe not making it thru, but the time has come, there’s no more to do. Now that you’re finished, you’ll live again, but this time forever, there will be no end. It will be so good to see the day, when we’ve all made it thru – when we all get to heaven, when we all see jesus, what a day of rejoicing that will be. – and can finally say, the time has come.
Alright, i gotta go, yall got my eyes watery. pray my strength in the lord.
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:04 pm
I want to say more about your mother, your memories, and the likes, but I can’t. It will stir-up too many of my own memories of my mother and her death in 2005. I just can’t! Not now, the wounds are still to fresh. My seven sisters and brother are all too many miles away, I don’t have any shoulders to cry on tonight (and I don’t want to upset my kids). There’s not a day go by that I don’t think about my mother. At least once a week I pick-up the phone to call her…
You all were blessed to have a wonderful mother like Mrs. Martha Ann!
August 23rd, 2008 at 5:41 am
I’ve commented so many times, forgive me.
Yesterday was hard for me, I was sad and mad all day. Like Buzzy, I feel jealous at times because it seems there are people that are not nice like my mom was and they are still here. Nevertheless, she is gone. The flood gates broke this morning when I read Tony’s post and then the poem by Buzzy. I loved that poem…
It is amazing how much I need her today just as much as I needed her ten years ago. Carol it may have only been three years for you compared to our ten, but let me tell you, the hurt is still fresh. Martha Ann was all that! And because she was all that, it is amazing we were able to go on without her, but God is good and somehow, we took everything she put in us and journeyed on!
Buzzy, what about the song you wrote about her? lol.
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:15 am
Every once in a while I think of your mom and the first time that she met me,I was very nervous but it was cool. She did talk to me like she had known me my whole life. She was a classy lady with a warm heart. Harold the poem was beautiful and so is this tribute to your mom. She is missed and still very much LOVED.
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:43 am
well since i WAS the youngest AT THE TIME i dont remember too much but i liked her. everytime i eat ice cream cake & butterscoth candy i think of her. welll uhmmm she pretty much still lives on in this house everytime we get in trouble cause mommy is always sayin “YOU KNOW WHAT GRANDMOTHER WOULD HAVE DONE”. it used to scare me..oh yeah i remember one day we was all riding in the car & she kept gettin in my face sayin “you want a SAMMICH”. i didnt know what was really going on at her funeral but i cried anyways. nowwww since im older i understand and I MISS HERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
she can never be REPLACED [ahemm].
August 23rd, 2008 at 11:16 am
Aight,
Let’s talk about some fond (not so sad) memories of Mom:
One thing that will always be etched in my mind is how she LOVED to DANCE! I mean, she LOOOOVED to dance! She would always be patting her lil feet—dancing and singing…and then she’d make you dance with her.
And she looooved to clean—Mom would be up past midnight sometimes, “Cooking and Cleanting” as Madea says.
Man, she was fun-loving…for real. I’ll never forget that about her.
Karen reminded me about that song Buzzy made up about her:
He’d get right in front of her, bend over and start doing the hambone on his legs and say,
“Marth Ann, Marth Ann!”
Those were the days……
August 23rd, 2008 at 4:38 pm
I wish I could have met Mrs. Martha Ann Goodson Sawyer, for so many reasons. I have been told by many different people of all ages that Mrs. Martha Ann was a lady of character, a very devoted wife, and a wonderful mom to her children. She was a very “classy lady”, a very well-spoken person, a woman of pizzazz, and those who came in contact with her, I’m told, would leave her presence smiling, because of the way she always presented herself to everyone she encountered. I know if I have had the opportunity to just touch her hand(s), she would had made a big difference to me. I have told my mother about Mrs. Martha Ann Goodson Sawyer and her responds too were “yes!, she sounds like a lady that she would have love to had met. From my understanding, she was the WORLD to her children, the BOMB mother any kid would want to had have in their life.
Although I never got to meet her in life, I have seen many pictures of this lady. She dressed very well. I recall some of the moments my wife Kathy told me about the way her mother was when it came to cleaning the house, nuturing her during her pregnacies, just going over and beyond the call of duty for people, the church, etc. In my own thoughts, my own words, Martha Ann was one of a kind. From some of the things her aunts have said to me, I can see Mrs. Sawyer at moments when I look into my wife’s eyes, because of the way my wife speaks, the way she walks, and cetain way she acts. I CAN SEE THAT IN MY WIFE because, yes, my wife mimics her mother!
She just was such an INSPIRATION to many people that came in contact with her, you wouldn’t have any choice but to “LOVE” her. WOW! a woman of STYLE. If only I could have met this LADY of CLASS, I know she would have made a BIG IMPACT in my life. I know I will never ever see her in the flesh, but I have a part of her in my LIFE and that’s still a blessing to me. I’ll will comment again. Peace and Love to you Mrs. Sawyer!
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:43 pm
My grandmother meant the world to me! She was a wonderful example of what a woman should be. She was devoted to God and her church. She was the epitome of what a GREAT first lady should be…she was never too high and mighty to do anything-she didn’t mind doing whatever it took to keep the church running smoothly! I remember one time in Richmond when she let me, Kelsey, Kourtney, and Kandace (although none of us, especially Kanna, helped much) and then took us to Dairy Queen. I remember coming to Florence for the summer and all of us grandkids sittin on the pew with her and we would be talkin and she would take out her comb and said “you want grandmother to swat you?” She loved us dearly-even if overbearing at times. I remember going to Belk one time and HATING this dress my mom wanted Kelsey and me to wear. I got this long speech about needing to be grateful, how some kids would love to have that dress, and that it was cute…I still hate it…I even got sick one time when I wore it…lol. She was an awesome babysitter-always waiting for us when when we got home and she would give us snacks! We were rotten but she was strict at the same time! She was so strong and independent despite the fact that her stroke paralyzed her entire left side and she had to relearn everything because she was left handed. She shocked all of us one day by getting in her car, driving to the grocery store, shopping and driving home. I was outside with Kelsey, Kandace, Korbyn, and either my mom or Aunt Karen. We were shocked. We started fussin cuz she only had the use of one hand. The last thing I remember is of my last conversation with my grandmother-I think it may have even been the last conversation she ever had. She was sick-she left church the day before and had a fever and all-and her speech was slurring. My mom, sister, and I went to check on her before we went to school and work. I asked how she was doing and will never forget her response-”please pray for me!” WOW!!!!! She could have been mad, upset, frustrated, and a who spectrum of emotions but instead she just simply wanted prayer! I will always love this woman and never EVER forget her!
August 23rd, 2008 at 10:12 pm
*she let us help wash the car*
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