My Grandfather's Legacy
On July 2, 2017, my last living grandparent Elmore Bell, Sr. passed away at the age of 94. Born in 1923 his eyes were filled with wisdom. During his later years as his voice began to dim the wisdom of his words increased in value. At his funeral, my cousin and I had a conversation detailing what being a man in our family meant and what it will mean moving forward. During our conversation, the weight of his legacy rested on my shoulders. He made sure we know who we are, where we come from, and where we are expected to go. We also know the road ahead won't be easy but the expectation is for us to get to the destination regardless. My grandfather set the standard for men in our lineage high. He was married to the same woman for 52 years, managed to put all his children through college, and lived long enough to see 10 of his great-grandchildren! The family was a priority for him. He left his hometown and decided to settle in Jacksonville, FL. Once he settled a few of h