This Weekly Reflection is written by the Rev. Adrienne Reedy. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Cornelius Corps and is a gifted artist, musician, speaker, and writer. I am grateful for the many ways she shares her gifts with our ministry including the following reflection:
It was Election Day in the year 2000, I walked into the hospital room in New Jersey to visit my dad. He suffered a stroke that Sunday while my family and I were in Pennsylvania celebrating my husband’s grandmother’s 90th birthday. It was before we had our cell phones, neither of my siblings were able to reach me to share the news. It wasn’t until Monday morning when I realized there were multiple voice messages from my brother. I knew something was wrong. Living in Connecticut with three young boys, as much as I wanted to get in the car right then, I had to make arrangements and weigh my options because I wanted to be able to vote. Although it was difficult, I made the decision to wait to go to New Jersey on Tuesday after I would vote.
Having arrived at the polls as soon as they opened, I cast my vote and was on my way to the hospital. Sadly, my dad was unable to speak or open his eyes. When I grabbed his hand, he knew I was there. We went back and forth, with him squeezing my hand once to mean yes, twice to mean no. Then suddenly, after holding hands for awhile, he tightened his grip as if to muster up all the strength he had and fought very hard to speak and asked me, “Did you vote?” I was so shocked and proud to say, “Yes dad I did vote before I left Connecticut.” Not only did he know I was there but he knew it was Election Day. Those words were the very last words I heard my dad speak. He passed away ten days later. It was important for him to know that I voted. I often think about his last words to me, especially this time of year. Being African American, my paternal grandparents, thankfully, left Bessemer, Alabama during the Great Migration. I can only imagine why they left. I believe dad wanted to remind me that the struggle of having the right to vote would not be in vain. So I share this story whenever I can, in hopes that it will be passed along for many generations to come.
At Cornelius Corps’ last session for The Legacy of 1964 series this week, our scripture reference was Hebrews 11:30 -12:3 which talked about the great cloud of witnesses. I couldn’t help but think about the many witnesses who have gone before us that fought for voter rights. People like King, Lewis, Height and Hamer. I can’t help but add my dad Calvin C. Shafer Sr. to that list cloud of witnesses. He too fought the good fight in doing his part. So don’t be afraid to ask someone this important question, Did you vote?
Adrienne Reedy