The Pinecone
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April 2013 • 7 •
SPOTLIGHT - LILLIAN WILLIFORD
Ah, April, the softest month of the year – April, when the melting winter snow
and the spring rains conspire to make the world mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful,
according to poet E. E. Cummings. As you revel in this Spring, watch for cues that
remind you of the joys of Springs past. Revel in those Springs too. Kirby resident Nita
Heffernan has created a perfect companion piece for the cummings poem. In keeping
with the theme, resident John Malm offers his poem MEMORIES. It is displayed with
pride on the Poets’ Corner bulletin board in the Kirby Post Office. Join us in the Ante
Room at 10 AM on April 1 and enjoy the memory poems presented by the group. You
will have a great time. No foolin’!
-
Val Reed, Coordinator, First Monday Poetry Group
in Just -
by: E.E. Cummings
in Just - spring
when the world is mud - luscious
the little lame balloonman
whistles
far
and wee
and eddieandbill come
running from marbles and
piracies and it’s spring
when the world is puddle-wonderful
the queer
old balloonman whistles
far
and
wee
and bettyandisbel come dancing
from hop-scotch and jump-rope and
it’s spring and the
goat-footed
balloonman
whistles
far
and
wee
MEMORIES
By John Malm
Oh, brave memories of the past,
what did linger in your mind
that you should be able to recall it still?
Was it some momentous thought
or some unpretentious moment
that said “remember and in your
heart fulfill.”
A purpose that was somehow meant to be,
that it should now shine forth
as the sun shines from earth to sea.
Yes, now I remember.
It was a fleeting thought
that passes as swiftly as a
snow flake melts
as it gently touches the earth;
As though it was some precious thing
that we can still recall
in a renewal of its birth.
At the lobby piano, Lillian gives
us welcome music, often at the beginning
of lunch hour, with a medley of gospel
hymns and a sprinkling of New Orleans’
style songs that encourages hand-clapping
or a bit of swaying to the tempo. But a
recent interview tells usmore about Lillian,
her early life, marriage, motherhood, and
losing the love of her life in 1996.
Included in this
story is her love of
dancing, singing,
and a great sense
of humor.
L i l l i a n
will be 98 years
old on March
19, 2013.
A
3 -
p o u n d
preemie, she
was born in
Jackson, MS in 1915 to Mattie and
Benjamin Floyd Russell. A middle child
with an older brother and younger sister.
As a tot, she pretended to play the piano
and at 8 years of age began formal training.
Piano, organ, ukulele, and guitar were her
instruments of choice. Singing was also
among her talents, with her soprano voice
providing gospel solos.
Lillian married William Laine
Williford when she was 25 years old.
Talking about William made her face both
soften and brighten – she thought he was
the handsomest guy around – and she still
gets that faraway look in her eyes when
talking about their happy years together.
They had 2 daughters but neither child
inherited her deep interest and talent in
music. One daughter is a microbiologist;
the other daughter is an artist. She also has
3
grandsons, 1 granddaughter, and a great
grandson who visits her every Tuesday.
Raking leaves in the yard was one
of her chores - one that she didn’t like. So,
she told her children that she would play
the piano for them if they would rake the
leaves - and it worked!
She also laughingly told the
following a story that shows her sense of
humor – her husband, William, worked
with his father in managing a Gulf Service
Station. It was the father’s habit to nap
every afternoon, moving a straight-back
chair out in front of the gas pumps. Lillian
decided to play a prank on him. She
took all of the bottles of beer sold at the
Service Station and put them in a circle
around his chair. Unaware of what was
happening, the father-in-law slept on. As
neighborhood people walked by, or drove
by, many were astonished and aghast
seeing as how Mr.Williford had
publicly drunk his way into a deep
sleep! Fortunately for Lillian,
Mr.Williford had a great sense of
humor.
Kirby Pines-sponsored
dances, and especially line
dancing, were strong motivations
for Lillian and William to become
residents in 1993. She was very
glad to know that here she could
satisfy her love of dancing.
William passed away in 1996.
Lillian continues to minister to
Kirby Pines residents with her
music. Kirby Pines continues to
count her as a treasure.
-
Jacqueline Besteman
Kirby Pines Resident
