A Mississippi moment (Cleveland, Ruleville: home, live, move)

[Chris Balducci]

The funeral of my 91-year-old Aunt Inez was Wednesday afternoon. It was in Cleveland, where she lived the last 50 or so years of her life, but she was buried in Lehrton Cemetery just west of Ruleville, the community Aunt Inez and my mother's family first called home. As we slowly drove east in the procession from the funeral home on the west side of Cleveland to the cemetery, most westbound vehicles pulled over and stopped, even where the highway was five lanes wide with plenty of extra capacity to handle traffic. Police officers were stationed at the intersections, allowing us to travel even when the traffic signals were red. As we left Cleveland for the countryside, I saw corn, soybeans, and rice growing in the May heat. The winter wheat was already mature due to the mild winter and was being harvested. Then we reached the Lehrton Cemertery Road and made a right turn, next to the spot where the roadside park existed many years ago. The road has been patched up so much that the original pavement is hard to see. Then we made another right, onto the gravel lanes in the cemetery. After coming stopping, we walked along the uneven ground to the tent where Uncle Tommy was waiting to begin the internment rites (he had already conducted Aunt Inez's funeral). After the brief service, the family and guests exchanged hugs, kisses, tears, and conversation before heading back to their vehicles and their separate ways.

God bless,

CKB

[BirdieBelle]

That's where my people are from.

Thanks for the great mental picture.

[Southrain]

It has been awhile since I been thru Cleveland. The world could use a little more of the respect and thoughtfullness that was given to you and your family, when the vehicles had pulled over. So, many don't even move out of the way of ambulances.