A Great-Great Grandmother Gets to Be Matron of Honor for her Great-Great Granddaughter’s Wedding – Opinion

This Feel-Good Friday story touched my heart because of the precious legacy of a woman whom God has graced with the privilege to see, as the Bible says it, “her children’s children.” Juanita Courtney also reminds me of my own grandmother, Annie Belle Simmons Foxx (featured), who I did not have the privilege of knowing, but was regaled with the stories of her fearsomeness, her sass, and that she was the glue that held our family together for a time.

At 97 years old, Juanita Courtney is definitely the glue of her family, and one blessed and fortunate lady, not only because she has lived to see the legacy she built, but that her children’s children, and her senior living facility sought to honor her in such a way.

97-year-old is matron of honor at great-great-granddaughter’s wedding https://t.co/4ZV5E57RMP via @Femail

Juanita Courtney has three children, eight grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren, with a sixth great-great-grandchild on the way.

— ☦️ Twenty-Seven Years, Two Thousand and Two (@RBarbarian2) December 31, 2021

The local WVLT.TV station in Knoxville Tenn.

97-year-old Juanita Courtney got a special Christmas gift this year– she was the matron of honor at her granddaughter’s wedding. This was the first family Christmas gathering since 2005.

Courtney got married in 1947 and hosted Christmas parties for her family from 1989 to 2005. Each year, the extended family would come together for Christmas as a custom. However, that was changed in 2006.

Dec.[sic], 2006, Courtney’s husband Paul died. WVLT News talked to the family about how this affected their tradition.

It is not unusual, though it is very heartbreaking. My Christmas post shared how death of an important family member affects our perceptions and practices around the holiday season. Great-great-granddaughter Ashley never forgot the fond memories, and wanted to see them come alive again.

“When he died, Mother was too sad to host another celebration without him in their home,” family members told WVLT News. The family gatherings were especially important to Courtney’s granddaughter and the bride, Ashley Stewart.

“Ashley still talks about some of her greatest memories were spending time with Daddy and Mother in their home. They were surrounded with love and provided a secure environment. A very humble home…and everyone felt loved with snacks or meal and a place to talk and laugh and just be together as a family!!”

Fox News reports that Courtney’s family has been reunited thanks to The Pointe at Lifespring assisted-living facility. The facility has a program called “Living the Dream,” where every quarter, one resident gets to check an item off their bucket list.

Not only did The Pointe host the wedding on Christmas Eve with 34 family members in attendance, but staff bought Courtney’s dress and arranged to have her hair and makeup done. A bouquet that was modeled after the flowers Courtney used when she married in the 1940s was also created!

Such a story also got the TODAY Show in on the action, and they gave more detail on The Pointe’s assistance:

“Miss Courtney said she wanted all of her family to be together on Christmas Eve because they hadn’t been together on that day in 16 years,” Julie Sharp, director of sales and marketing at The Pointe, told TODAY.

[…]

Also, she wore heels for the very first time since her hip injury in fall which led to her move to senior living.

“She just wept, she was so excited,” Sharp said.

The Pointe also had a replica made of Courtney’s bouquet from her wedding to Paul on Feb. 1, 1947, and used the cake topper from the wedding of Stewart’s grandparents 40 years ago. It also had special programs made and a photo from Courtney’s wedding to Paul framed for all to see.

“Nanny” as she is affectionately called by her lineage, got to stand by her great-great-granddaughter’s side as she started her new family.

Courtney’s daughter Vicki Howard (grandmother to bride Ashley) told Fox News:

“They loved Jesus, loved each other and loved their family,” Howard said.

Juanita Courtney has three children, eight grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren. According to TODAY, there is a sixth great-great-grandchild on the way.

“The fact that we have five generations alive who are active in each other’s lives is just something that’s unheard of,” Stewart said. “It’s a blessing to get to have that. Nanny and Papaw, they set such a great example for all of us in the family and have always been active participants in our lives.”

It was obvious in its honor to the original matriarch that she had a great love for Jesus Christ and family. It is beautiful to see the light in her eyes, and her smile. This is a wonderful Christmas gift.

Juanita Courtney, not only is a living example of a happy life but also a model for the future generations. As we enter 2022, let this woman’s testimony be an inspiration to you as well.

We wish you a happy new year!