Grandmomma,

I learned so many things from you, many of which you taught me by way of teaching and others by way of observing. I learned the simple things like how to do my hair and fry an egg over easy, you taught me how to enjoy a good joke and be loyal to my founding principles of self. You still teach me how to be honest and also gracious, how to maintain poise in the midst of making a little noise because no one should silence my voice.

Great Grandmother, the matriarch, Eddie Ree Raleigh, I want to say thank you for being someone I never have to heal from. You never made me cry, you never broke my heart, you never disciplined me out of anger, you always brought light to my darkest days. You kept a vault in your heart for all my secrets and my life in your hands because you were always holding me. Holding my head up, holding my shoulders back, holding my tears, and holding onto all the love in the world for me.

You will always be my “Ol Lady,” although the term is usually spoken by men to their significant others, I embraced it because it was who you have always been to me. Someone I love, respect, and put above all else. You have been there for me in ways I couldn’t be for myself, you have shown me the importance of womanhood and feminity, you walked with an essence of value and never settled, so I never will.

You made black girl magic in your food and fed it to me, like your coffee cake recipe, it’s embedded in me.

Whenever things don’t go as planned or when the world throws me a storm, you taught me how to grab my boots and stand in it. Be rooted in it. So that even when on shaky ground, I remain solid.

I love you more than Sunday’s love God & Football. Because of who you are, I am.

All My Love,

B. Sanders