This is a story that Hugh Edward Sanderfur –a long time radio and newspaper reporter in Henderson KY wrote about the lady who gave me the name Nibby. He wrote the story upon her death in 1971. It was very unusual for him to write about people on their death. Granny Mable was very special to him.
(A reprint from Gleaner December, 1971)
This is the story of the Christmas card that will not be delivered. Not this year.
But it had been every Christmas for the past 45 years because of the constant thoughtfulness of one of the truly grand ladies of my life–Miss Mabel Nisbet McLaughlin.
“Miss Mabel,” as she was known by her many friends and admirers, died last week (December 7, 1971).
But she will never really be gone as long as there are those to remember her role in their lives.
A group of men, no longer young, will always be proud to be identified as “Miss Mabel’s boys.”
They were fortunate enough, when in their early teens, to have the influence of this woman as a Sunday School teacher at First Methodist Church for a longer period than usual. This was simply because they would not be promoted.
But the Sunday did come when it had to be done. True to her strength of character. Miss Mabel insisted that she be the one to break the news to us. She explained that it was the orderly thing to do, for the good of the total church program. She expressed regret in losing us but encouraged us to move on to another teacher.
But our resistance was so strong that we walked out of the church, which broke up the group. Some did not return.
I did. The next Sunday, because of the strong encouragement of another stabilizing force in my life–my mother. But this left a void that could only be eased by the annual Christmas card, along with notes of encouragement at many points along the way when she knew her encouragement was needed.
This same feeling is shared by at least a dozen of my age group scattered across the nation. This is a living and loving monument to a lady who did so much without realizing how significant and meaningful was her contribution.
Miss Mabel was a skilled office worker before her retirement and was employed at Imperial Tobacco Co., where the Imperial Building is now located at Third and Water streets.
Aside from her dedication to the affairs of her church, she was one of the charter members of the Henderson Business and Professional Women’s Club, and contributed to its growth and success in past years.
Her “bread on the waters” came in the form of a young couple, Mr. and Mrs. Norris Priest who, several years ago, “adopted” Miss Mabel and brought much happiness and security into her life in her closing years.
They even brought her “grandchildren,” (Nibby and Neal) who helped to fill her heart with love and interest in living.
The devotion of this fine young family to this lady, who had outlived all of her own family, would make a great story of life and its compensations for those who entertain the proper values.
Gone is the flash of pleasant recollection when a letter would bear her familiar handwriting. But that is not needed for my mind to recall the pleasant relationship that we shared. Those memories will be re-lived always.
By Hugh E. Sanderfur (1912 to 1973)
The Gleaner Henderson Kentucky December 1971
It has been 39 years since Granny Mable died. She would be so proud to know that the family is working and living in downtown Henderson KY and that her home at 324 N Main is still being used as a private residence.
Who is someone who made a difference in you and or your families life?
What can you do this 2010 Christmas for someone who has outlived their own family?