I cannot thank you enough for taking time to let me know about Charlotte. As you know, I loved your mother very deeply as she showed me in countless ways her love, kindness, and TRUE friendship! For over 30 years we got together one night a week to be "crafty ladies", and I always looked forward to our time together. When I count my blessings, I thank God every night for the gift of your parents as they were an exceptional couple!! I shall cherish forever the gift of your parents as they were the kindest and most down-to-earth people I have ever known! Your parents were like a second set of parents to me, and they will forever hold a special place in my heart and mind. Very few people come into your life you can call a "true friend" but both of your parents fit that term perfectly!!!!
Love, Diane Ledford
Thank you so much for letting us know about your Mom. While our hearts are broken we remember fondly her trips
to Tennessee. She had so many things she wanted to do while she was here. She always wanted to visit the grave sites of family members especially
her Father. She always brought crafts with her and would show us how to make them. I'll always remember her laughter and smile. She was so
proud of all her children and talked about how much all of you meant to her. She was a wonderful lady and we will miss her, but memories will always be ours.
God be with you all. Love to all from your Tennessee family. Mother has some stories about Charlotte when she was a young girl I don't know if that's what
you want or not you can let me know.
Cheryl
Charlotte's passion for learning was perhaps the most important gift that she gave to all of us children. As we were growing up we watched her take classes in every field--particularly sewing and needle crafts. But she did everything, from cake decorating to upholstery to an entire course to become a full-fledged beautician. When I was in my teens, I did not want to learn how to sew, but Mom made me learn. Ironically, I got my very first teaching job in Lake Tahoe because I was able to teach English, journalism, yearbook, and sewing! So Mom knew best, and I was always grateful that she passed on that thirst for education.
Linda Hiatt
I came to know Charlotte from the numerous family events of the Hiatt family that I attended with my wife Linda. I found her to be a gracious Southern lady. The kind I grew up with in the South. We shared numerous experiences from growing up in that region. Linda often related to me how an exceptional grandmother Charlotte was to all her grandchildren. She will be in my memories.
Lewis Rubenstein
Mom was a true teacher, and personally taught me so much. Every high school summer, she had Linda and me alternate cooking breakfast and dinner for the family. We couldn’t use mixes or anything prepared, and had to double or triple every recipe to feed nine, so we had to factor in math, too. We both scoured The Joy of Cooking and Betty Crocker cookbooks to find good menus, and then created a shopping list and helped buy the food.
She also showed me how to sew properly, using interface, linings and even bound buttonholes to create a tailored navy wool coat under her tutelage. If I took any shortcuts or sewed sloppy seams, her critical eye would notice and I had to rip out my stitching and do it again. Her lesson was, “Do it right the first time.” She even made a Jackie O. pillbox hat to match my coat! Once I started high school home economics, those cooking and sewing classes were simple by
comparison.
To accompany Poo, she enrolled in beauty school to become a hairdresser. To teach my brothers the lesson of hard work, or just keep them out of trouble, she had them dig out a pantry/root cellar (aka bomb shelter) at every house we occupied. While one would think Dad decided that as punishment or male character-building, we all knew that Mom wore the pants in the family despite a wardrobe of dresses. Most command decisions came from her.
After returning home from my world travels with trays of slides to show the family, Mom fed us all and we settled in to watch my images. After one tray of pictures, everyone was asleep except Mom who peppered me with questions and wanted to hear every story for each slide - perhaps traveling vicariously through my adventures.
She took me with her to a speed-reading class, less for me than to satisfy her own curiosity and to be able to devour books faster. I know if she’d lived a generation later and had the opportunity to go to college, she had the drive and the intelligence to become the president of a business rather than its secretary.
It has been difficult to see her lose her memories, since she was a very sharp person who never forgot anything. I think, and hope, she forgave us our pranks and bickering as children. She did surprise me several times casually mentioning 30 or 40 years later some offense I did growing up. At least throughout her battle with Alzheimer’s she was able to remain a sweet old lady. Despite that cruel illness, it was a dignified way to go out.
Judith Hiatt