Father's Day Dedication to my Beloved Dad, Edward Gordon Palmer (116 hits)
In light of the fact that this month is Father's Day I would like to take a few moments to salute a real man, my beloved late father, Edward Gordon Palmer. My Dad was everything a man and a father should be to his wife and children. He and my Mom were married 40 years. During that time my mother did not work outside the home but fullfilled her duties as mother and wife. My parents were married in December 1955. My father was a provider, teacher, and a protecter. He imparted to me his wisdom, knowledge, understanding, mercy, compassion, kindness and most of all his love. My Dad was a true example of how a man should treat a woman both in word and deed. I remember all the fun times we had together, the games we used to play, the places he used to take me, the inside jokes we shared. I remember how he encouraged me to read, think, use my mind. He told me not only how pretty I was but how intelligent I was. He was my biggest supporter and cheerleader. Before he died he poured out his heart to me about how much he really loved me and that he was glad I was born to be his daughter.
When my brother Stephen was 2 and he was discovered to be developmentally disabled my Dad and Mom came together and vowed never to instituionalize their son even though the doctors told them to put Stephen away and forget about him. Today my brother, Stephen Palmer lives in a group home for develop. disabled people (over 20 years there), reads and writes a little, takes care of most of his own personal needs and holds down a maintenance job.
Another memory is when as a young girl I enjoyed drawing...to the point I was drawing on the furniture! Of course I was admonished but my Dad bought me all kinds of pens, pencils, crayons, paints, sketching pads and finally a drawing table to not only save the furniture but to encourage my creativity and to give me something constructive to do. He also developed within me a love for animals. We always had dogs as kids and today I have a cat.
I hope that by this little walk down memory lane I have given the young people, gentlemen and ladies a look a what a real Black man is. Now I am 50 and my brother is 48. No, I have never married or had children mostly because I disregarded my Dad's example and advice and went for the "bad boys" but now I have not giving up finding a good Christian man but I am waiting on the Lord to reveal him to me. My love affair now is with Jesus Christ. God Bless All.
Dad I miss you everyday. One day we will all be together in Paradise! I am a better person and Heaven is a better place because of you. I Love you Daddy!
Edward G. Palmer: Feb. 11, 1930 - May 1995 Mable B. Palmer: May 2, 1930 - August 1998
