By Cheryl Dodson
It is never easy to be a single mother.
Especially to not just one, but 3 young girls- ages 10, 7 and 4.
Sometimes it took 3 jobs.
You waited tables, cut hair, and worked at the garment plant.
You hung up sheets and lived out of one room with a space heater.
You walked in the woods and cut down a skimpy Christmas tree. It was so skinny it wouldn’t stay in the stand. You used bricks to prop it up and it fell every time, so you finally stapled it to the wall.
Just a few years before, you were Junior Miss WBHS.
You probably had no idea what life was about to send your way.
Through it all, you would be kind to those who faced hardships along with you.
You would stop at the food bank and deliver it to local households.
No one was watching. You did it because it was the right thing to do.
Throughout your lifetime, you continued.
From local group homes to the Bibb County jail, you have been a mother to those without one.
You have spent your check on simple things like socks and underwear because you know how good those feel to someone without family and money.
You may even be seen buying spices at our local Wal-Mart to make bland jail food taste better.
In titles, you have been the jailer, the cook, and the transporter.
But in life, you have been the hero.
You have been called in to talk to inmates who would not listen.
But they would listen to you. They saw that you truly cared.
You have even been the recipient of someone’s one phone call from jail.
They used it not to ask you to bail them out. They instead called to tell you they were sorry for how they acted and thank you for what you have done for them.
Kindness is so much greater when it is done for those who can give nothing in return.
You don’t even know I am writing this, I did not interview you.
When Candi messaged me, I was more than happy to do a story about you.
After all, you have been a mother to me too.
You set a wonderful example of how to love not only your own children, but everyone.
I am sure that behind closed doors, there were many times with tears and prayers and despair.
But on the other side of that wall, three little girls were paying attention.
And that is all that matters in life, when you know that whatever comes your way, you have a Momma that will do whatever it takes…
Thank you Miss Patsy for loving all of us.
