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Picture of the day - November 21, 2006 "Aunt Edith" Widener
Many wonderful people had a profound influence on my life as I
was growing up in the rural community of Widener Valley, Virginia,
and one of the most influential of all was "Aunt Edith" Widener, the
beautiful lady on the left in the photo above. She was quite simply
one of the most amazing individuals I have ever met.
When I was just a small child, my family moved to the Richmond area
in search of work and a better way of life. Dad and mom did find
work, but the "better way of life" wasn't quite what they had
envisioned so we moved back to the valley after just six years.
Upon our return "back home", mom immediately began taking me to Pleasant View
Baptist Church, and on that very first visit I saw Aunt Edith
sitting right up front just a few steps from the pulpit. I didn't
know who she was of course, but somehow I knew she was a very
special lady - and I have never been more right about anything in my
entire life...
Edith Cook Widener was born on July 17, 1897 in Watauga County,
North Carolina, but when she was still a little girl her family
moved to southwestern Virginia where she would live out the rest of
her incredible life. When she was a young girl there were no cars,
radio, TV, electricity or indoor plumbing in Widener Valley. She and
her family (and everyone else) got around using "horsepower" in the
literal sense, but she was quick to point out that she never rode a
horse "astride" - only sidesaddle as was proper for a female. And
she wore "britches" just once in her life - when she went "berry
picking".
During her lifetime, she witnessed the introduction of each and
every one of the aforementioned modern conveniences. She even
remembers how her family woke her up in the middle of the night to
witness the very first time a car had been driven through the valley
after dark. She could sit for hours and hours telling stories like
that, and we could sit for hours listening to them, realizing that
we were getting a history lesson from a person who had experienced
it first-hand!
She grew up and married Mr. Monroe Widener, and they made a life for
themselves and their family on a beautiful Widener Valley hillside -
and their large farmhouse stands on that hillside still today. Their
legacy lives on through their children, grand-children, and
great-grand-children as well as the numerous people they
helped and influenced over the course of their lives together.
When I first laid eyes on Aunt Edith Widener that Sunday morning so
long ago, she was already around 70 years old. But every time the
church doors were open she would put on a sweater or a coat and walk
up the steep hill from her house and take her place in that same
wooden pew. In the years that followed, I became slack in my church
attendance but Aunt Edith never did. She was a rock. In a sense,
she was a part of the very foundation of the beautiful little
country church
that her family had helped build in 1897 on land they had donated to
the community just for that purpose. If the church doors were open, she was
there.
I had the honor of knowing Aunt Edith for many years, and I will
treasure my memories of her always. She lived to the grand old age
of 105, and she spent nearly every one of those years sharing her
love for others and for her Lord with all who would listen. Many of
the souls in heaven will be there as a direct result of her
witnessing, loving criticism and constant encouragement.
Before she met Aunt Edith, my mom had never stood up and went to the
altar to pray. One day she felt a tug on her skirt, and it was Aunt
Edith "dragging" her to the altar with her. Since that day, mom has
spent a lot of time on her knees speaking with God, and it all started
with Aunt Edith's gentle, yet firm tug on her skirt. That's the way
she was - never overbearing, yet firm in her convictions and
opinions. She was one of those rare individuals who could give you a
good scolding without showing anger or even making you upset.
You knew that everything she said was said in love and that every
piece of advice she ever gave was worth taking. It was virtually impossible get upset with Aunt
Edith because she was just too kind and loving, even when the
circumstances made it difficult for her to be that way.
She was born in the 19th century, and the Lord finally decided that
it was time to call Aunt Edith home shortly after the turn of the
21st. She had the rare opportunity of living through portions of
three centuries, and during that time she probably influenced more
people and led more lost souls to the Lord than anyone else I ever
knew. Her death left a void in Widener Valley that will never be
filled, but her life left an imprint on countless hearts that will
endure forever. She lived a good life. Now she is enjoying her
reward.
In loving memory of Mrs. Edith Cook Widener.
1897 - 2002
About the photo: Cheria and I had promised her Aunt Rebecca (on
the right in the photo) long ago that we would bring our laptop and
scanner to her home and scan all of her precious family photos for
her. We finally got around to it last night, and as we were going
through the albums we ran across this wonderful photo of Rebecca
visiting with Aunt Edith not long before she passed away. It was
a true joy featuring a picture of two of the most wonderful
women I have ever known enjoying each other's company.
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