ON LOSING A LEGEND

There are a few famous people who really stick out in our personal memories on each mention of them. One of those, for me, has just passed on further into memory. I had always admired her good humor, laughter, devotion to family and a famous country music legend husband. I really enjoyed reading or seeing tidbits in the news about her long-lived romance. I knew for sure that these were never advertising hype.

I'd admired the way the entire family of girls had followed their even more famous music icon mother. Mama Maybelle, a lady kind enough to stop and fix my hair for an eighth grade banquet. Making me feel special that she cared, treating me like another one of her girls at the time. The kindness prevailed in her girls.

Although I hadn't been around the songbird Anita as much, I got to see the loving devotion with another daughter of Maybelle's in that between Helen and Glen. As a neighbor, there were times I kept one or more of their children until someone else was available. Needing to tell them when they'd lost a son while on the road, I deeply felt their pain.

I'd briefly kept her girls when Maybelle's daughter June was still with a former husband and there was a need to fill-in until someone else showed up. To me they were neighbors, just another of the very famous in the neighborhood and community. The area was so rich in talent that they were not beseiged with fans there. That came much later, and with gated estates and moving out to more remote farms.

Other neighbors or friends did very well, like Ferlin Husky, Billy Walker, Brenda Lee, Leslie Gore, George S. Clinton, in reaping music awards. Even after she garnered her own praise, I was just often reminded that June's best recognition was for her devotion. I believe that she was happiest in anyone knowing her best for this.

She lived surrounded by other stars who made more fortune and fame: The Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, Porkchop Markham and his brother Conway Twitty with wife Dee Henry. But none gathered as much attention as a couple like Johnny and June did.

The last I saw her, before I moved too far away, was when I took her nephew to buy shoes for his grandfather's funeral. The kindest thing I could ever do for these old family friends was to just fill-in when needed.

I once more salute her for the romance she always shared from getting married in a fever down in Jackson, to the last news clip I saw of her when she said it would be better for Johnny's health if they went far south during the rough winters here. Always thinking about the man she loved, she was devoted, but then so were all the girls and their sweet singing mother.

May we not forget, that in a music world where folks belted out "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and other songs of failing love, or love gone wrong, there were some country gals who stayed deeply devoted and in love with their men. June Carter Cash. I salute you and your family once again.

(c) 2003 Rennie Lorca