She was a well respected member of her family and community. She was a member of the church of Christ. She owned and operated Cope's Grocery Store on Howard Street in Clearwater, Fl. The store was like an old country store with wooden floors and a great big glass candy counter filled with candy. We were always allowed to pick something from the store we wanted. Some times I would get a candy bar or a bottle of Coke or ice cream. For a little girl in the candy store, picking only one item was the biggest problem. She showed concern for the other person even if they wronged her. A couple of time she had been robbed and she told the thief if he needed anything just ask and she would let him have it and she did just that.

She was known in the community as "Ms Cope". We began to call her Ms Cope so my mother told us we could call her "Grandma Cope" and that is how we began to use that name for her. To this day, I still refer to her as "Grandma Cope"

She was a hard working lady. She loved to prepare meals for her family. During the meals she rarely sat down to eat with everyone else because she was so concerned about making sure every had plenty to eat.

We always loved to visit "Grandma Cope",she was always happy when her children and grandchildren came for a visit. She was especially good at spoiling her grandchildren. My mom would say, "Mama, you never let us get away with things like this." Grandma Cope was answer "Everyone learns from their mistakes. We practice on our children and by the time our grandchildren are here we know better how to handle things."

She always kept busy. Whether it be in the house or working in the garden. She would wear a big straw hat in the garden while she worked. Many times I saw her working in the garden with a brown paper bag rolled up on her head like a hat to keep the sun off her head. Each day when she put on her dress she would also tie an apron around her waist. Hardly a day went by when she didn't have her apron on.

Since she lived across the street from the church building, she would clean the building and prepare the communion for Sunday services. Many times she would cut fresh flowers or greenery and put in a vase for in front of the pulpit. She seldom ever missed a church service until she became ill before her death.

She was sick for quite a while and family members took turns caring for her in her home where she died. She died on my mother's birthday and was buried on Aunt Ann's birthday. When she died I knew she was in a much better place and and felt sadness my lose. I also felt joy to know she was home and felt my grandfather met her at the door with open arms.

I miss her and think of her often. I have always felt it I could be only half the person she was, I would be satisfied. I always looked up to her and respected her and I still do.