A new beginning and an ending

By: 
Marlys Good

A big shout out to granddaughter Hannah Good Williams.  Since graduating from UW, the busy young woman earned her master’s degree, passed all requirements, served the required hours with a mentor and on Jan. 10, opened Hannah Williams, PPC, LLC, in a beautifully redecorated office on Saratoga’s main street.  It’s a realization of a dream she had when she was in college.  A busy young woman, she manages to balance a personal life that includes her loving and supportive husband, Walker, and their active, almost 9-month-old and very handsome charmer of a son, Jackson. She is proof that dreams can come true.   Good luck in the new venture. You make us very proud of what you have achieved.

I watched Thursday morning, the pomp and circumstance, all the somber fanfare as guests gathered in Washington, D.C. for the funeral of former president Jimmy Carter.

He was a plain and simple man from Plains, Ga., who rose to power, serving as governor of Georgia and president of the United States. A one-term president, he left office, returned to Plains, and continued what he considered his true mission, to serve others. 

A man of deep faith, he never wavered from that faith. He spent his retirement quietly helping others. He helped found Habitat for Humanity, and he and his beloved wife spent 40 years, here and in small, needy countries abroad, building homes and trying to improve the lives of others.

His funeral was a testament to his faith.

There were famous, notable dignitaries speaking of the former president.

However, my favorite was when the late President Ford’s son rose and read the eulogy his father had written for Carter years before.

Carter and Ford formed a deep friendship during his time in office. A friendship that crossed the aisles. The Democrat and Republican were adversaries who respected each other and their friendship deepened over the years. The eulogy was warm, loving, respectful — and yes, even humorous. But it spoke of the deep respect and love that that existed within the family.

Although some narrators said Carter sometimes seemed disappointed that he was given little credit for what he attained in his four years as president, he held no rancor and none existed between the two elder statesmen.

Three of his grandsons also spoke and they were a testament to his love and devotion.

 

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