Aunt Ginny's birth certificate said her name was Mildred and that her birthdate was three days earlier than it was. Try explaining that to the Social Security Administration! Let's just say the country doctor had some issues at the time and that all is well now. We know who she is. Virginia Lee Coker, daughter of Pearl, only sister of Harry and Red, surrogate sister and running buddy of my mother. Uncle Tommy called her Bread; was she his Bread of Life, or his Wonder, the other white bread?
Aunt Ginny is the reigning matriarch of the Coker Clan now (and a great genealogy resource!). She has walked this earth for eighty years and has borne both the sadness and joy that comes with that many years. She also bore my father on her back when he complained to my great-grandmother that he was tired of walking.
Her heart and home have always been open to us, still offering refuge when we need it. If you can't find one of us at Ma's house, we're probably at Aunt Ginny's, enjoying the quiet, the air conditioning, or raiding the bar stocked in the 70s and only touched when we're in town (one more Homecoming should clear it out).
We take so many things for granted, especially family. Grandma told me that I could always count on my family no matter what happens and she was right. I am blessed. Thanks, Aunt Ginny, for being part of that blessing.
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