My Aunt Kate Gladney Reed Dempsey
Just recently, my Aunt Kate met Jesus Christ. Jesus took her into his arms, and he led her into eternity. Without a doubt, she will be missed, but I know that she is in a better place now, than ever before. I struggled with what to say about this tragic loss for the past two weeks.
I eventually came to the conclusion that I really would not be the best person to speak about Kate Dempsey. Although I knew her, there are so many in the family that knew her better. I do remember having chicken wings in the backyard with Aunt Kate and Uncle John. That is a time, that for some reason, has always stuck in my mind. Yes, the wings were good, but it was something else. Regardless, my Aunt Dot Healy wrote a short biography just after Aunt Kate passed away. That is what I will use today. Aunt Dot also printed out a short poem for us about the tragedy, and I thought it was excellent, and made alot of sense for me personally. I will put both of those on here, for those that didnt see it, lost it, or just want to read it from time to time.
Aunt Kate, We Love You, and you will forever be in our hearts.
" Miss Me, But Let Me Go "
"When I come to the end of the road
and the sun has set for me,
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room,
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little... but not for long
and not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that was once shared;
Miss me... but let me go.
For this is a journey we all must take,
and each must go alone.
It's all part of the Master's Plan,
a step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart,
go to the friends we know.
And bury your sorrows in good deeds;
Miss me... but let me go. "
~Author Unknown~
Now the short biography about Kate Dempsey, written by her sister, Dot Healy.
Kate Gladney Reed Dempsey - By Sister: Dot Reed Healy
Sister ours was an unbroken love and bond which has survived the joys, sorrows, good times and bad, always returning to one another unchanged.
As this area, Loyd and Lura Reed our Mom and Dad, brothers and sisters, the church and campground, she always returned back here, to see our beginnings. She was born here, at the " Ole Home Place" June 15, 1929. She left here for her first adventure to go to school at Chester, MS and later to Ackerman, where she graduated in 1946. She left for Jackson, MS for Draughon's Business School and worked for several businesses until she married John Marion Dempsey from McCool on May 7, 1950, at the " Ole Home Place ". There next home of many was in Avon Park, FL, then later to the West - Montana and North Dakota, where their first born daughter, Carol, was born. Then back to the Jackson area where their second daughter, Nancy, was born. Later their son Patrick came along. Kate worked again in Jackson. She worked for the then " Governor J.P. Coleman " also a Choctaw County resident. Through all of the travels, work, births and come what may, we (the family), always returned to the " Ole Home Place " , South Union, Camp meeting memorials, for reunions, hugs, and renewed love for each other and to enlarge our circle of loved ones. It had all started from Mom and Dad, our three brothers and two sisters to many times over that, to husbands, wives and children and grandchildren. Our Tree of life's branches and roots have now spread to many states. Kate and John's family to Memphis, TN. Mine (Les and Dot's) to Michigan for fifty years, brother Bob's to North Carolina, brother W.L.'s to Tylertown, MS and New Orleans, LA and last, brother Paul's to Vidalia, LA.
Our first tragedy and loss hit December 9th, 1960 when Daddy was taken from us by a fall from the building he was working on, for rooms for Sunday School, here at South Union.
Then on March 2nd, 1979 our mother left our circle. Followed by our oldest brother W.L., later his son W.L. Jr. ("Mickey" to us) in April 1996.
Kate and John made one more state home, Texas, before settling once again in Memphis, TN and back to the " Ole Home Place " and area.
In Memphis, Kate worked and became #1 in real estate sales in her area. A crippling illness took this from her in 1985. She fought and triumphed over this until this past Tuesday, when she gave up the fight.
Kate always said she felt calm and safe when she came back here... " Home ". She was a strong, loving, devoted wife, mother, grandmother and sister. As her tree of life has spread its branches, thoughts have broken and its leaves blown in many directions. Kate's have blown full circle and back to its roots.
~Sister Dot~