I am going to Charleston today to pay tribute to Elgin McMikle--our undertaker/friend. For all these years he has been there when I have been called home to say goodbye to one of my family members. I knew I would see his comforting face and deal with his professionalism in the details about the funeral and burial. He would go the second mile in every funeral to try to meet the family needs--no matter how big the family was. I knew that my requests carried the same weight with him as any other sibling.
. And that is important when you are one of six girls and two boys and when some of them knew Elgin better and longer than I did. He was there for me....and I knew it and felt it. "Does this suit you?" he would say each time and I would have to say yes...and mean it.
In a small town, the funeral director is a part of living. Whether he chooses to slop up a service or slap something together to get by is important to a family who is grieving. Elgin knew when to speak up and when to keep silent. He gave you options and choices. But he gave you at best --a sense that the trappings of a death would be better and more bearable because he was there! Thanks, Elgin, for that. I am coming down today so that I can walk into the church and whisper silently, "Thank you, again, Elgin, for being there when I needed you so badly".
Very well said! Elgin will be missed.
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