To my God Father, Jerry Townes

I here him in his room coughing. It’s a deep cough. That kind of cough that has cold in it and can reach back as far as your lungs allow. His lungs are giving out on him. Along with his kidneys and his golden prodigious heart. The heart of gold that could only belong to a man of high calibre. He is a defender, heart protector, joy bringer, and love giver. 

My uncle Jerry and Aunt Fay effortlessly embody, exactly what a god parent should be. I can recall challenges my mom would face to get me and my brother back and forth to school with her work load, after unreliable junk cars repeatedly broke down. But the struggle never lasted long because my fairy god father Jerry Townes would step in and swoop us away in his navy blue ford hatchback. Sometimes we’d pretend we were in a NASCAR race as he drove us safely and swiftly and other times we’d throw a concert in the front seat. No matter what the occasion, i knew without a single doubt this man loved and cared for me and my brother as if we were his. The same way he cared and loved my mother and grandmother and made sure we were ALWAYS taken care of. I learned at an early age what a man and father should embody because of my godfather. I never once had to question if I was loved because of his effortless ability to look after my brother and I when my mother was trying to make ends meet. Their were times I would feel scared because of unfortunate circumstances but I always felt safe with my Uncle Jerry. I didn’t have a single worry when I was with him and my Aunt Fay.

It hurts my soul and breaks my heart having to imagine life without his physical presence but I have to be thankful for the time I did have with him. I have to find the light in this darkness and remind myself of how extremely blessed I was to have a godfather go to end ends of the earth for me and my brother. I have to remind myself that I came into this world with this Angel in my corner and that he will leave this world some day and remain in my corner. I have to give GOD thanks for allowing me to experience this lifetime with a man that had so much of his heart to give, that he gave and gave until he couldn’t anymore. 

Theirs a quote that comes to mind that perfectly explains my Uncle Jerry’s circumstances to a T : When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.

I hope I give birth to boys that will become men and lead by my god Fathers example through his spirit and I never have to ever actually go a day without my godfathers love, guidance and security. Jerry Townes you are and will forever be the greatest man to ever happen to my family and I will love you for the rest of my life.