On Friday night, Sherry and I attended our first TNT Halloween party. Not having spent much time in the costume department, we hit the local mall’s “Halloween Store” and slap-dashed something together. Turns out, some others at the party–who shall remain nameless–put less material but loads more wit into their garb. (Who knew sugar packets could make such an impressive costume?) In the end, Todd went as a bloody mouthed Mardi Gras reveler, and Sherry was something of a Goth Kitty.

Our host, Terrance Henry, generated peals of laughter from his wife when he appeared in a crushed velvet suit, lacey frills, and a long haired wig. Throughout the evening he was identified as “Prince,” “Rick James,” and “pimp.” We preferred to think of him as “our gracious host.”

After loads and loads of excellent comestibles, arcade games, and conversation, the evening came to a crashing halt in a large pile of Elyria West alum on the couch.

Granny and I almost share a birthday: Nov. 24 and 25. Every so often we get to share our birthdays with the Thanksgiving holiday. I, for one, am a big fan of this convergence: two cakes, two meals, three holidays rolled into one big package. Before I recount for you some key events in Nannie’s life, the Truffin family—Judi, Terry, Todd, Joy, Sherry, Chris, and Mercy—in the spirit of celebrating life and giving thanks would like to make a special tribute to Nancy and Ted Burcham. When Ed passed away, they made a promise to him that they would take care of Nannie. They have given their lives these seven plus years to keep that promise. We will never know the full extent of their sacrifice—though we can guess some of it—and we can never repay them for all they have done for Nannie and for the comfort we have had in knowing she was in their loving, capable care. But we do know that they have earned many jewels in their heavenly crowns. Nancy and Ted, you have done well; you are good, faithful servants.

I said that Granny and I almost shared a birthday. We were a mere 50 years apart. On November 25, 1919 in Dyersburg, TN, Nannie Hayes Bowers was born to Thomas and Vashti. Nannie would be the second of five children; her brothers and sisters are Obiedeen, Duke, Glynn, and Lila.

One of Nannie’s earliest memories was riding in the back of a wagon as the family moved from Tennessee to Detroit, MI when she was four. Vashti wanted her children to have the opportunity for a better education, and Nannie took full advantage of that chance. A bright student, she graduated high school at the age of sixteen.
Showing the dedication to family that would be a hallmark of her life, Nannie immediately went to work to help support her struggling family.

Two years later, at the age of eighteen, Nannie worked for a family who had a summer home on Lake Michigan in the Silver Lake area near Little Point Sable lighthouse. Little did she know how important this area would become to her and to her family. That summer she was most likely focused on the job and swimming. An avid swimmer, Nannie would often remind us of the time she made it all the way out to the third sandbar and wasn’t she would make it back. Years later, she brought her family back to Silver Lake where we made many of our own memories at Hank’s Hideaway, on the dunes, and even having the “old-fashioned” photo made which you can see in the album here at the front.

Before going to work that summer, Nannie was spending time with some friends from high school. While she was distracted by any number of things, there was one young man in the group whose attention was entirely focused on her. Later that summer, this young man drove across the state of Michigan to call on her unannounced at the summer house. Trips to George’s Coney Island and dates watching boats on the Detroit River followed. Eventually, the relentless pursuit of this young man met with success, and on June 29, 1940 Nannie married Edwin L. Larkins at the Simpson Methodist Church in Detroit, MI.

The young couple moved to Taylor, MI and started a family. First Nancy and then Judith were born. Following the example of Vashti, in 1963, the Larkins left their Michigan home in search of better opportunities. Ed found work in Cleveland, and they built a home in the then largely undeveloped North Olmsted. Ed and Nannie lived in their house on Vincent Drive until Ed’s death thirty-five years later.
After the move, Nannie found she wanted things for her children that the family could not afford. She wanted her children—and later her grandchildren—to have a better life than she had had. In a series of events recounted in her McCall’s article published in 1976, Nannie did as she had done before and entered the workforce. For sixteen years, Nannie was an executive secretary for the advertising firm now known as Ligget Stashower.

As the years passed, Nannies daughters grew and married. Nancy married Ted, and Judith married Terry. She soon got to spoil her grandchildren—Todd and Joy—with trips to Cedar Point, Cabbage Patch Kids, and the regular distribution of “prizes.” Ed and Nannie went to great lengths to support her grandchildren’s endeavors, often traveling great distances to attend events. Later, Nannie inspired all of us by taking up painting and showing her grandchildren that creativity and education are lifelong pursuits. She watched her grandchildren start their own families. Todd wed Sherry, and Joy married Chris. Sadly, Nannie was not able to know her first great-granddaughter Mercy Hosannah, who was born and adopted by Joy and Chris in July.

Family was always important to Nannie. She made sacrifices for us so that we could enjoy material and relational blessings she never had. But the greatest prize she has given her family is a strong spiritual heritage. She read her Bible and prayed every day until she could no longer read. When her ability to read failed, she sang hymns to God and reminded us that “the best is yet to be.” She taught all of us at an early age the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and encouraged us to seek Him for the gift of eternal life and all the needs of this life. We thank God that, for Nannie, her best is now and will forever be.

Tiffin
Function: noun
Etymology: probably alteration of tiffing, gerund of obsolete English tiff to eat between meals
chiefly British : a light midday meal : LUNCHEON

from Merriam-Webster Online