There aren’t enough words that
can summarize the life of Mrs. Imogene Vickery. I could mention a few fond
memories but that would be inadequate to bear witness to her life. Although it has
been some years since living in Barnwell, time and distance does little to
diminish true friendship.
Know that what I am about to
mention is only a fraction of who Mrs. Vickery was but this is my witness
account of her life.
First of all, I have to say, I
never called her Mrs. Imogene, Mrs. Vickery or any other variation of her
name…to me and the countless firefighters and families across Barnwell County
she was Mrs. Chief. And she right
deserves every image that that title conjures up in your mind.
Mrs. Chief encompassed what it
means to be a woman from the South. She meant much too many people in this
community. If anybody knew her, they would know that she was a woman full of
life, compassion and love. A mender to the broken, a friend to the friendless,
a healer to the sick, a sage to the unwise, a faithful wife to her husband,
mother to her children and MeMe to her grandchildren.
She was many things to many
people…she was a love of Lake Murray, lover of birds and animals, and a
customer services representative for many years. But her fame was really
centered on family, firefighters, church and the Eastern Star. Many who were
graced by her presence always knew when at her house ask for some sweet tea!
Her love not only applied too
people but her love extended to animals. Shortly after Donna, my wife, and I
got married we were roaming around in Columbia Mall and found a Pet Store.
Needless to say, the sales people did their job and we adopted a little
Pekinese pup and named him Sparky.
Growing up in the country, I
never had any inside pets. It didn’t take long to realize that an inside pet
took animal care to a whole new level! They do not operate on your time, it’s
their time…matter of fact EVERYTHING is on their time! But once Mrs. Chief saw
Sparky for the first time she said, I
want that dog! Donna and I laughed and though she was just kidding
but after three weeks of hearing I want
that dog! and Donna and I getting up at all hours of the night and in all
weather conditions to walk and let Sparky do his thing…we relented and let Mrs.
Chief adopt Sparky. From then on, wherever Mrs. Chief went, Sparky went. When he was sick or not feeling
well he went to the doctor. Before the end of his life he had more surgeries
and medicine than most humans! Mrs. Chief loved her Sparky and she always gave
us updates, even after we left Barnwell.
Mrs. Chief also had an affinity
for birds. She loved Sparrows. Just this morning the family text me that a blue
Sparrow came to her bird feeder and they have never seen one of this type until
this morning…just a reminder that God’s eye is still on the Sparrow.
The part of her that I want to
focus on this morning is the part of the role Mrs. Chief played within the Tribes
of her biological and firefighter families. To know Mrs. Chief was to know Chief, her husband of 65 years. Out of
respect she called him Chief because everyone else did but if she needed to
make a point, correction or get his attention she called for Lloyd Jr.! To know Mrs. Chief was to
know Charles and Carla Ann…later it was to know Mark, Sharon, Jonathan, Stephen
and Ashley. Her stories were always filled with her family. From family days at
Lake Murray, to holidays in Barnwell and her many road trips…there was always a
story to be told. She loved her Tribe Vickery.
She also love her Tribe BFD
(Barnwell Fire Department). That’s where I enter the story. In those days the
fire department was filled with young men and some old, like Jimmy Baxley, that
had high levels of testosterone and very low levels of common sense. It was
through Tribe BFD that she was like a second mother to many. Her home always
felt like our home. When she visited the first station we felt like we were in her home again! She spent a lot of hour
with us and there was never a dull moment. She knew, like any mother, any time
we got into mischief and all the details as well. But like a good mother she
gave us time to grow and be part of her Tribe and yet, she felt comfortable
correcting us or giving Chief the mandate to correct us on her behalf. Any time
we were in her presence and she started a sentence that began with Now Lloyd Jr…. we knew we were gonna be
held accountable for something!
There are stories from these
Tribal days that would fill volumes and in order to be told we would have to be
in a location other than a church. But the stories are reflections of her
grace, wisdom and motherly love for us to do right the things of life.
But I do however have several I
venture to share…I remember one time when celebrating an event in Riley Grubbs
life. I planned this outing which involved the Vickery Farm, a corn field, a
bottle, some singing and a ticking clock…all I can say about that is it didn’t
end to well and I got a good talking to from Mrs. Chief once she found out. There was another incident that
involved me and Neal Morris, First Baptist Church, a cooler, a wedding and a
trip to Columbia. All I can say is that I took another session of time to learn from Mrs. Chief. One can
only imagine the conversations Mrs. Chief and Chief had about the Tribe BFD.
There were times when she would
fear for our lives. Like the time we were involved in a three alarm fire in
Blackville and the Chief led the way in the burning house with the nozzle end
of the hose followed by me and Captain Harry Bennett. Chief was a skilled man
and as the second story of the house collapsed, Chief shoved Captain Bennett
and me out of the home only for the Chief to get nicked in the by falling
debris. When Mrs. Chief heard of this she called for Lloyd Jr. and wanted to know why he made us follow him into the house!
Because of her and Chief many
lives were changed and many found the right path in life to journey.
Barnwell County has lost a
grand lady. Tribes Vickery and BFD has lost a matriarch and all have lost a
friend. She knew the love of Tribe Vickery and it is hoped that she knew the
love we all had for her. Tribe Vickery was our tribe and no matter how far we
had to drive or how long we had between visits, we always felt at home with
her.
She may have moved on but her
life lessons, faith and family values will live on forever in all of us who
crossed paths with Mrs. Chief. She
has left a warm place in our hearts and a smile on our faces knowing that all
those that are waiting on her on the other side will be a welcomed sight.
In celebrating the life of Mrs.
Chief, we celebrate the hereafter. By accepting Christ she died with Him so she
could share in his resurrection. And what illness and aging did to her body,
Christ has restored to health and beauty.
We have a special code and bond
in the first service like no other. We have special traditions, memorials and a
culture of being. While Mrs. Chief was never on the end of a nozzle, she was
always on the end of our hearts.
This is our final farewell to
our sister in the faith, our mother, grandmother, colleague, friend and
community leader so at this time will every present and former firefighter
please rise to attention as we salute Mrs. Chief and the Tribe Vickery for all
that they have done to make our lives and community better.
Mrs. Chief, we know that your journey was long and filled with much
happiness, love, family and friends. We were privileged to have been on that
journey with you offering our love and support. We were honored and privileged
to share in your life and we thank you for all that you have given back to us.
We love you and say, “Farewell until we meet again.” AMEN
***From the Eulogy I delivered at First Baptist Church, Barnwell, SC on April 18, 2015.
