Ainsley and Larissa,
I am thinking of you and praying for you as you cope with the heart-breaking loss of your mother. I am so sorry that I am unable to come today to tell you in person what she meant to me. I taught with your mom at Alexander Stirling P.S., and whenever I remember that school, she is the first person I think of. She had an enormous influence on the culture and the atmosphere at Stirling. Her heart belonged to the students; she could recall every child she’d ever taught, including his/her life story, their siblings and their parents. All of the students knew that your mom had their back, and they adored and respected her.
Your mother taught me so much about what it meant to be a good teacher. She was so knowledgeable, and she shared that knowledge cheerfully and generously. She was also an expert at working with parents—who could forget the “invisible roller skates” she seemed to wear on parent-teacher interview days as she hustled from classroom to classroom to join in with the homeroom teachers as they discussed students’ progress?
The late Maya Angelou once said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Your mom made all of us, teachers, administrators, and students alike, feel that we were valuable; that we could meet the challenges we faced; and that we could realize our goals. You will never know the profound impact your mom had on so many people’s lives.
And yet, even though your mother gave so much to so many at school, the two of YOU were the most important priority in her life. She always had photos of you prominently displayed on her desk or her wall. She celebrated your successes, loved you through the rough patches, and always spoke of you with pride and joy in her voice. I know you must miss her very much. I pray that God would bless you with strength, comfort and peace at this time.
With love, Joanne Williams
Joanne Williams - Saturday April 14, 2018 via Condolence Message