Women of the Night?
I
spent thirty-nine years of my life as an educator. First as
a teacher and later as a school administrator. While
principal of an elementary school during the 1960’s I was
fortunate to hire a retired ex-principal from Fulton
County. She was a delightful person and an excellent
teacher. Everyone loved her, children, parents, and fellow
teachers. She taught in our system for about ten years and
retired again. Some years later she passed away. Jean and
Sara, two teachers who had taught with her in Fayette
County, thought it appropriate to attend her funeral. Not
knowing where the funeral would be, they called a principal
at one of the schools who seemed to always keep up with the
obituaries.
When Jean and Sara arrived at the funeral, they were
surprised to find very few in attendance and only a few
flowers. They were sure that someone so loving and with the
broad experience in education as their friend should have
more people at her funeral. However, the service had
already begun and they were ushered to seats near the front
of the sanctuary.
They soon realized that this was the funeral of a man who
had not been faithful to his wife and who according to the
preacher had not earned the right to heaven. Although they
found themselves in a very solemn atmosphere, they were
overcome with the humor of the situation. Trying to keep
from laughing, they found it difficult not to shake the pew
where they were seated.
Finally the service was over and as they left the church,
they overheard someone ask, “Who were the ladies up front
taking it so hard?” Wiping tears of laughter from their
faces, Jean and Sara hurried to their car before meeting
any of the family.