Friday, August 25, 2023
Rex and I were fortunate to be able to spend some time with Ms. Sue, a couple of years ago. We baked her a birthday cake, and enjoyed eating some of it, and visiting. Her late father had been a locomotive engineer with Illinois Central, as had my own late grandfather. And, around the same time. On the same iconic railroad line, from New Orleans to Chicago. And both originally from McComb, Mississippi. Both had lived in Tchula, Mississippi, where Ms. Sue was born, and where my late Daddy was raised until age 10. We were sure they had known each other. Possibly, known each other well. Ms. Sue and I both grew up hearing first-hand, real life railroad stories, many very much like that of the mythic hero Casey Jones. We discovered that we both have family buried in Hollywood Cemetery, McComb. I am sad that Ms. Sue and I won't get another opportunity to visit. But I am glad that she won't endure a long, exhausting, and painful existence before death. As old-time Mississippians say, she "went out like a light". Good night, Ms. Sue. We will miss you!
