Beloved Grandmother Franny Dawson with Elizabeth Dawson Shreckhise.
It was bittersweet and touching for me to remember my grandmother, Franny Dawson, through this poem, which I read at her two memorial services:
One of my grandmother’s greatest loves was gardening. She was a member of the Garden Club in Alexandria for many years, and to this day at Camp Alleghany we still plant red geraniums around several places in her honor. This poem reminds me of her.
My Grandmother Kept A Garden
My Grandmother kept a garden.
A garden of the heart;
She planted all the good things,
That gave my life it’s start.
She turned me to the sunshine,
And encouraged me to dream:
Fostering and nurturing
The seeds of self-esteem.
And when the winds and rains came,
She protected me enough;
But not too much, she knew I’d need
To stand up strong and tough.
Her constant good example,
Always taught me right from wrong;
Markers for my pathway
To last my whole life long.
I am my Grandmother’s garden,
I am her legacy.
And I hope today she feels the love,
Reflected back from me.
–Author unknown
I hope this poem resonates with grandchildren everywhere in remembering all that your grandmother means to you.
–Elizabeth Dawson Shreckhise, Assistant Director
What a lovely poem and a wonderful tribute to a great lady. I hadn’t seen that poem before, but it reminds me of my grandmother as well. Thanks for sharing your memories of Franny.
What a lovely tribute to a lovely and proper lady. We all have many fond memories of Franny! And this poem reminds me of my maternal grandmother, a Southern lady — a woman who was tough but gentle, kind but fair, and loyal to her family and friends.
am looking for Marion Dawson, daughter of the former owners of Camp Aleghany…
can anyone give me her contacts? Or giver her mine: corning.susan@gmail.com
although I live abroad, I travel through this area often (WDC) would love to see Marion in person, and chat through “old times.”
thx,
susan
I remember Franny’s passion for flowers, and one day during my JC summer, she lit a spark in me as we chatted about the beautiful wild flowers on the road into camp. I never went in and out much as a camper, so I had never noticed that the old road was littered with such an array. When Franny got her Tinge party invitation, she told me she would make a flower arrangement if I would pick a bouquet for her to work with. I went across the river one day before diner, and picked a rather random bunch of stems, but the end result under her hand, was such a beautiful arrangement. I was fascinated by the work of art she made of the blossoms. She carefully selected the lavenders, pinks and whites, to thoughtfully commemorate the occasion. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of it at the party, and she mentioned that church floral guilds were a great place to learn the art. Her encouragement helped me to develop a life-long passion and hobby which is among the many gifts I received from Alleghany. I am lucky to have known her, and to have spent many glorious summers on the banks of the Greenbrier.
Thank you to all of you for sharing your thoughts about my Grandmother! I’m so grateful that many other people were able to learn from her and receive her love and grace as we grandchildren did.