Spotlight on Great Aunt Donna



Hi, Everyone!

So, check this out: It is to my understanding that Great Aunt Reesie, Cousin Jade, and Cousin Erica are going to pay a visit to Great Aunt Donna’s next Thursday for Thanksgiving. It seems to me that my very first Thanksgiving in the South is gonna get real interesting.

Speaking of Great Aunt Donna, she is the topic for today’s Friday Freestyle.

Born Donna Ruth Jones on January 31, 1936 in Memphis, Tennessee, she is the fifth of six children born to Harold and Patricia Jones. Donna Ruth is just a bona fide lady—she’s classy, she’s sophisticated, and she’s spontaneous… and as you may very well know, she is no Aretha Franklin! However, what Great Aunt Donna lacks in singing ability, she more than makes up with her genuine generosity. When my Grampa Clark passed away on August 31, 1996, Great Aunt Donna was the first to call and check on Gramma Jewel.

Not too many people know this, but Great Aunt Donna was also the very first one to give Gramma Jewel the blessing to marry Grampa Clark. She said that Gramma Jewel would make “one great helluva sister-in-law” (her words, not mine). Great Aunt Donna has even gone as far as to refer to Gramma Jewel as her “sister from another mister.”

A widow in her own right, Great Aunt Donna lost her husband in 2004, and has since moved in with her son Michael and daughter-in-law Debra. I didn’t get a chance to meet them when I was on my module break, but come Thanksgiving, I’m gonna get the opportunity to do so.

By the way: Have y’all noticed that the women in my family—those of whom are age seventy and up—take such good care of themselves? I mean, I know I’m only 18 and all, but I for one can’t wait until I get to be seventy-something… actually, I can wait. I don’t wanna rush my age; I want to take everything as it is—one step at a time.

Well, y’all have a great weekend, and I’ll holla at’cha on Monday.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha