Wednesday, June 26, 2024
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Today we are honoring, celebrating and remembering my Grandfather Donald Eugene Little. He was a man of courage and well respected. He was a force of nature with a stubborn streak that would appear when he set his mind on something. He knew exactly what he wanted in life. Although he was a man of a few words, he touched the lives of everyone he had encountered with his humor, sarcasm, kindness and unwavering dedication to his loved ones. As my father stated, he was a provider. He was a firm believer in “work hard, play harder.”
Growing up, My mother would always remind me how my Grandfather was so excited when I was given my birth name and would refer to me as his “warrior princess”. She also reminded me when she was pregnant with me and was struggling with an eating disorder my Grandfather would always remind her to eat and fed her chili cheese coney’s and would say, “she needed to eat because she has his first born grand- daughter in there.” I was practically raised in that cabin and my Grandfather was always there for me, he was there when I took my first steps.
I remember when he bought me my first Red Jeep, of course, at the age of 2 years old. I remember riding around the log cabin over in Adairsville GA when we were neighbors with Bobby Cox, the coach of the Atlanta Braves. I remember that his son is how my Grandma Stephanie and my mother came up with the name of my brother Jakob Dylan. I remember as a young child spending time together every Christmas growing up. And man of man did he spoil us. I remember at the age of 12 and Jake was 10 we would always look forward to staying the night at Grandpa’s. It was like my safe haven being there and spending time with them any chance we could get. He would allow us to stay up late with him and watch Sci-Fi movies and when we woke up we would have birthday cake ice cream and cake for breakfast. He always had a full stock of Little Debbies cakes and fresh sweet tea cooling down in the fridge. I remember all the shopping trips with my Grandma Stephanie when middle-school started and when we would shop at Kohl's and Rue 21 and hide the shopping bags before my Grandfather woke up from third shift. He always ensured me and my brother had what we needed after the divorce and my dad raising us as a single father, at that time we were really financially struggling and he was the backbone of our family.
The memories I have of my Grandfather was he had the biggest Levi’s collection you’d ever seen and if you were meeting him for the first time you’d see his favorite outfit was denim on denim with a black cowboy hat and cowboy boots where he wouldn’t wear socks because that’s just who he was. He was a big fan of Patsy Cline and Lynyrd Skynyrd. I remember the drives we would make to Dunlap and always hearing “Picture” by Kid Rock because that was my Grandma Stephanie’s favorite song that played on the radio along with many songs by Kenny Chesney. I always enjoyed my visits to Dunlap.
I remember gathering at Granny’s and her and Nana Sue throwing it down in the kitchen on Sundays after church and Papa, Uncle David and Grandpa Don gathered around the tv watching the Tennesee Volunteers game with Stephanie head rested on Papa’s shoulder. I remember when Jakob would pester Nana when the food was gonna be ready and when the food was ready I remember Grandpa Don would always ask me for the fatty pieces cause he just loved to chew on ‘em. Those are the memories I will always keep in my heart.
As we leave today I hope our stories and fond memories of my Grandfather will give an idea who my Grandfather was and how he has impacted our lives. I would like to leave this eulogy with God’s word that had stuck with me “Isaiah 40:28-verse 31, but those who hope in the Lord, will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Thank you.
