Tuesday, February 3, 2009

She outshines Betty Davis upon the Silver Screen

This I my mom, Dorothy "Dot" Beam Moody born 7-11-1948. She was birthed at home by a midwife and Dr. Tubb . In this photo she was about 14. She met my dad soon after and had 3 children by the time she was 20 and another by the time she was 27. She cooked 3 meals a day.(real country cooking), raised a garden, made our clothes, spread gravel for my dad, brought in the wood for the fire place, milked the cows, fed the hogs and chickens, and played doctor, to name just a few hats she wore. She has competed with the big businessmen in her ownership of restaurants and country stores. And for the record she won every battle. But I can say even though she worked tirelessly all her life, she never lost her smile or her huge loving heart. I found out lately that she came by her morals honestly, her family is unbelievable. Once I came in from my travels to visit and could not find her in the house. I decided I would help her by washing her dishes. About that time her pastor called and, as I began looking for her, I took the opportunity to brag on myself for washing moms dishes for her. When I found mom it was kinda embarassing to tell the preacher that she was changing the oil in the car while I was doing dishes. But don't get me wrong in a crowd of classy women, she outshines the most elegant of Stars. Through all the hard times in my life, as well as my siblings, she remains the rock that we all lean on. I want to compete just a second with my good friend Mona Mills. She has lately posted stories on her blog "Itawamba Connections" about Beck's fried chicken and cornbread. I am sure the women in her family are awesome cooks, but NO, NO! My mom Makes the VERY VERY best fried chicken in the world. And her cornbread recipe was past down from Jesus Christ himself. So I would like to challenge Ms. Mona or Mr. Mike to a fried chicken contest with an unbiased panel of judges. Anyway back to mom. Dot is married to Larry Leon Moody of Belmont, and is the daughter of Samual Carl Beam and Lemer Cleveland Beam of the Salem Community. She has 5 children, Kenny Ray Dulaney, Lowell Glenn Dulaney, Donald Carl Dulaney, Jennifer Lynn Moody and Crystal Dawn Dulaney Parker. She has 10 grandchildren. She is a dedicated member of the Gospel Lighthouse Pentecostal Church, where she is loved by every member.

5 comments:

Mona Robinson Mills said...

Don, you have a beautiful mother, both inside and out, and I wouldn't dare put my chicken up against hers! (But I wouldn't mind sampling hers, just for comparative purposes you know!) You got yourself into a pickle, didn't you, with the dishwashing-oil changing situation. Uh huh. Foot in mouth. Ha!

Ken Dulaney said...

For these divine gifts let us be truly thankful. For the mothers who cared for us in the dark corners at night when we were all in bed dreaming sweet dreams. Let us be thankful for the prayers she prayed and for the callouses on her hands that she seldom allowed to be seen but MOST of all for that divine buttermilk and Crisco battered chicken of which you speak. As some know, one of the most touching memories of my childhood came one night as this lady bowed literally on her knees and cried to Jesus Christ Himself on our behalf. I must believe that must be why her chicken is so good. We absolutely must get her to cook it that way every time... diet or no diet.

Great piece Don. Brought tears to my wrinkled old eyes.

Don Dulaney said...

Kenny, Thanks for the wonderful comment.

Kara online said...

do need that song that you wrote, you the one i really liked. if u do i can proboly git it.

Janice Tracy said...

This was such a lovely story about your mother. I barely could see by the time I finished reading it.