Something Old: My Namesake

Much to my surprise I received a special delivery the other day all the way from Clinton, Illinois. Wrapped in a recycled checkbook box was a beautiful kerchief and broach. The kerchief, old but still in good condition, had the name Grace Lawson written on it. I knew right then this was a very special package. 

Grace Helena Lawson (Newman) was born in 1896 in Richview, Illinois to Charles and Mary Ella Newman. She was the oldest of eight children. 

Tragically Mary Ella, 28, was struck by lightning and killed while holding her youngest baby, Zola in front of a storm cellar. Grace was 13. Her and her siblings carried their mother and baby into the house. After this devastating event some of the children went to relatives, but Grace stayed home to help her father raise her four younger brothers. She also was able attend school through eighth grade.

She was married at age 18 in 1914 to William Allen Lawson. Together they had thirteen children. One girl, nine boys, and then three more girls. The youngest one, my grandmother, Laura Kathleen Lawson (Bush). They lost one son, Russell, at age 6.  She sent three boys off to fight in World War II in one week. All of them came home safely. A total of seven of her boys served in the military and all survived. She wrote them all faithfully. 

Grace sadly lost William in 1949 at age 56 and also saw the death of three grown sons.

Grace's legacy lives on with her 25 grandchildren, her many great grandchildren, and her many many great, great grandchildren. 

I, Grace Helena Simmons (soon to be Boyd), am one of those great grandchildren and I am so blessed to have received her name. She was a deeply spiritual woman with alot of strength. From all the stories I hear from my grandmother, her daughter, she was an amazing wife, mother, and grandmother.

She passed away March 20, 1983. Four years before my birth. 

I feel a special closeness to her although I never had the honor to meet this amazing woman.

And as I walk down the aisle on March 31, 2012 towards the love of my life, not only will I have Great Grandma Grace's kerchief and broach tucked in my bouquet as my something old, I will also have her name.  A name that I am so blessed to have.