In early January, Cliff Sims got a call that his grandmother had passed away. Billie Breland, who Cliff affectionately called Mimi, experienced declining short-term memory, but was in good health for the most part. However, during a hospital stay after a hip surgery, her health began to deteriorate, until she finally passed away at 83.
Her husband, Jimmy Breland (Sims’ “Grandaddy”), stayed by her side the whole time. Sims says that he had done so for the 60 years of their marriage.
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Naturally, Billie’s death caused much sadness with the family and community alike. Sims describes friends and relatives coming by the hundreds to pay their respects. He remembers people telling their stories about Billie’s kindness and generosity. While Sims was glad they held such good memories of his Mimi, he felt at a loss as to how to help his Grandaddy, now a widower after six decades.
He didn’t have to worry all that much. Before she died, Billie had tucked a note inside her checkbook. She was, Sims says, “Always…one to consider everyone else before herself.”
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(via Yellow Hammer News)
According to Sims, Billie was an avid note-writer. Something like this is made even more touching because it’s so in character. It’s a perfect reminder for her family not only to keep living, but of the generous and thoughtful note-writer she had been in life.
