Daddy Ben got three granddaughters in 1935, although Mama was the only one he got to name. Mary Black Chapman (right) came first. Mama (center) came second. Barbara Jean Morris (left) came third. Mary Black was always called Sissy and Mama always insisted on spelling it Cissy. Cissy joined the ranks of the motherless early in life (less than 5, I think) and was much pitied by my grandmother, Ladye, who had had a similar experience. Sarahann, at 6, 7, 8, 9, was not capable of such pity and tortured her cousin mercilessly. Mama was the only child of a man who survived the Depression with steady railroad contracts for watch maintenance. Cissy was one of six children of a young widower. Mama flaunted her many toys and fancy dresses and once flung a leaded crystal ashtray against Cissy's head in a fit of anger. Ladye admonished her, "Now Sarahann, you be nice to Cissy. Poor Cissy hadn't got a Mama."
Cissy must've had a tremendous capacity for forgiveness because they were friends until the end. Here they are in the Bahamas in 1990. No matter where they were together, they were doing exactly this.
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Comments
This really got me thinking, mothers, work, modern medicine, I take so much for granted, or too quickly criticize (AMA). Thank you for the reality check.