The Colonel didn't need adopting -- he had very special parents doing a great job of raising him already -- but, Miss Martha saw the connection between her daughter and the Colonel and decided she would also lend a hand in shaping the young man who would probably end up becoming her son-in-law.
Martha lost the love of her life a year ago and came to live with the Colonel and the comely and kind-hearted Miss Brenda. She passed peacefully in her sleep early this morning and awoke in the arms of her Savior and looking into the eyes of her husband of 61 years.
Four decades ago, when the Colonel took off with Miss Brenda, Miss Martha held his face in her strong hands and simply said, "You love my daughter."
It wasn't a question. It wasn't a request.
It was a sweet command.
Miss Martha was never demanding, but she was the master of the sweet command. And, nobody dared disobey -- not out of fear, but out of tremendous love for a lady who never gave anyone a reason not to love her.
The Colonel first became aware of an irresistibly cute and shy Brenda Cannon when they were barely 15. It may not have been "love at first sight" but it was definitely not long after first sight that the Colonel, young as he was, decided that the comely and kind-hearted Miss Brenda was someone to lay claim to for a lifetime.
When the Colonel met the comely and kind-hearted Miss Brenda's beautiful mother, the deal was sealed.
The comely and kind-hearted Miss Brenda's parents were not so sure. In fact, they strongly counseled her to keep the Colonel at arms' length. It was wise counsel. But, to the Colonel's good fortune, Miss Brenda picked him to be one of the very few things on which she ever disagreed with her parents.
Jack and Martha Cannon were the Colonel's in-laws from the 31st of July in 1976. But, they were more than just "in-laws." Because Miss Brenda loved him with all her heart, they did too.
Miss Martha was a small-town girl from rural West Tennessee. She went to work at Sears in Memphis right out of high school and there caught the eye of a stock-boy working his way through school at Memphis State. Jack Cannon set his heart and mind on meeting (and marrying) the dark-haired beauty and finally finagled a date by inviting her to church. They were married not many months later and parents of twin daughters within a year. The next two decades took Martha far from Tennessee, following Jack's career as an Air Force pilot -- Texas, Florida, Washington, Hawaii, New York, California, New Jersey, Tennessee, Panama...
Martha moved and set up household for her family more times than most folks take a trip out of state. She kept her daughters safe and secure while Jack flew around the world representing the United States and helping keep the world safe for democracy. She supported her husband's demanding career without question and with evident pride.
When Linda and Brenda left home for college, Martha immediately opened her home to more children -- serving as a foster mom for dozens of children. At her church in Panama City, Florida, Martha served as a pre-school Sunday School teacher for two generations of children, one of whom later became the Colonel's daughter-in-law.
To her grandchildren and great-grandchildren she was known as "Memaw," a name that everyone in the family, young and old, used with great affection.
When Mr. Jack passed last year, the wise and courageous Miss Martha came to live with the Colonel and his bride. What a blessing that year has been! Caring for Miss Martha consumed each day, and enriched each one as well.
Compassionate, humble, positive, wise, devoted... there's a whole dictionary of noble descriptions for this wonderful woman, and all the words in the world won't fill the hole in the Colonel's heart this morning.
Love you Memaw!
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