February 17, 2010

Remembering Mama

We knew our grandmother VanSant as "Mama".  Her father was Dr. Thomas Winston Hudgins.  Dr. Hudgins was practicing medicine during the Civil War.  We were told that he took care of the wounded soldiers regardless of their Southern or Northern sympathies.

Frances Lee Hudgins was born in October 1866. Her mother was Leander Loving Hudgins.She had four older brothers, Cecil, Oscar, Henry and Winston and a younger brother, Thomas. Mama was called "Frank"  Mama told me that she would often accompany her father on his house calls so she learned a lot about the medical practices of that era.

I often remember those special times when Mama came to visit us at Mt. Victory.  Her visits took a lot of effort because she lived in Missouri with Aunt Ruth and Uncle Vest Meyers or in Oklahoma with Aunt Ruby.  Uncle Franklin or Uncle Lewis would bring her. Sometimes Uncle Henderson came with them.  Aunt Ruby usually came also.Mama and Aunt Ruby would stay and the uncles would come back for them. 

I remember very special times when Mama came to visit us at Mt. Victory. Probably the first time was about 1937.  The whole family had been busily cleaning and scrubbing and getting the house 'company ready'. As children we would write little letters to Mama.  She wrote to Mother and Daddy weekly, but I didn't really know her in a face to face way. I knew that I was special to her because she often wrote letters and sent packages for birthdays and other special times.  Her visits would last about two weeks.  She would sit at the old Singer treadle sewing machine mending clothes for us and usually would make dresses for me and my little sisters. I was fascinated to see her skill at the sewing machine.

I was always so very sad when all the luggage was packed and goodbyes were being said. I would get a lump in my throat and tears welled up in my eyes.  Mama was so careing and supportive of us.  Even though she might be far way in Oklahoma or Missouri, she was always close in our hearts.