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digg itSuch a lovely story about a lovely lady. I do not know Ms Anderson but I wish her the very best.
Posted by bishoffd from on 05/10 at 12:08 PM
David Paul Mooore/Cosby Mae Anderson in her Marion home.
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A life with no regrets
Smyth County News: Living >
Sat May 10, 2008 - 10:09 AM
By DAVID PAUL MOORE/Correspondent
Cosby Mae Anderson declares that there’s nothing she would change about her life. Faith in God and her family’s love, she says, supplied grace sufficient for a happy existence.
A midwife helped bring Anderson into the world on March 1, 1921 in the kitchen of her family’s Rich Valley home. With three sisters and four brothers, she grew up surrounded by family. Today, only her youngest sister, Corrie Young, is living.
Their father did farm work, while their mother was a homemaker.
Anderson, who’s lived in Marion for the last 23 years, described growing up in Rich Valley. “It was like a natural garden that provided all the main necessities of life,” she said.
Anderson contracted polio at the age of 5. Despite lasting disabilities, the necessity of farm life taught her to adapt so that she could fulfill her responsibilities. She said, “I cut wood, made my own clothes, cooked, cleaned, tended the garden, and helped take care of my family.”
Her commitment to family is a theme that runs through her entire life.
She never married and chose to stay with her mother, tending to her needs until the day she died.
Though she’s lived in town for more than two decades, she does miss her Rich Valley life. She expressed a longing for simpler days, the beauty of the river and well-worn foot paths and horse trails, and times when people trusted one another enough to leave their door unlocked and when help was just a holler away.
Anderson’s quick smile reflects her faith and the wisdom brought by life experience.
“I like the preacher Mike Sage and that he really got to the heart of the matter of what’s important,” she said.
Later, while looking through photo albums, Anderson noted that macular degeneration is claiming her eyesight. But then, she quickly retorted, “But my hearing is very good, so I can listen to the preacher when he comes on.”
Simple comforts and memorabilia adorn Anderson’s Marion home. She’s surrounded by a doll collection, which has mostly been created by gifts from family and friends. Needlework and family photos all build the loving atmosphere. A framed passage of scripture rests in an easy-to-see location.
These treasures of a lifetime and a priceless collection of memories help sustain Anderson’s contentment with a life well lived.
Reader Reaction:
I just spoke with my Aunt Cosby Mae Anderson
on the telephone. She was so happy and thrilled
about the wonderfully well written article about
her where David Moore had wrote about her life.
I personally know about most all of the hardships and illnesses this one special lady has experienced in
her lifetime. Although she has been partially handicapped most all of her life she has never
let any of that get her down. She knew her family
relied on her heavily during her life and
Aunt Cosby always came across with her love and devotion towards not only her family but to
everyone else as well. She has not only touched
my life in a very special way that I’ll always
remember down on the river in Chatham Hill, Virginia but every day when I call her up and
talk with her she always tells me “I Love You.”
She also let me know that this year she had her
very best Birthday of all. She received three
birthday cakes already and expecting a forth
one any day now. This remarkable lady touches the hearts of all who comes to know her.
“Happy 87th Birthday Aunt Cosby. From:
The Salt Mountain Girl and her husband Charlie”
We Love You Too!
Posted by Brenda Croan from on 05/10 at 02:10 PM
My Aunt Cosby has always been a great blessing to me in my life. She is truly a remarkable lady. She always provide a warm welcome with each time I visited her though out my years of growing up. She worked very hard and was always cheerful and uplifting to all her visitors. She always prepared her visitors three delicous meals a day.
As a young child, she “curled” my hair and walked with me on a long walk to the grocery store to treat me with a pepsi and a candy bar. She helped me through bee stings and poison oak. She let me sleep in her beautiful fluffed up bed with the feather mattress. She worked very hard and kept a very clean house and ironed clothes with an iron heated on the cook stove. A book or movie could have been made on her amazing life with her body crippled from polio and the way she overcome her illness. Cosby honored her mother “my Grandmother” by taking care of all her needs up until she passed away.I am sure she has no regrets in the way she treated her mother by showing her love the way she did. I have so many beautiful memories from my time with Aunt Cosby.
I want to give honor where honor is due and Aunt Cosby is the greatest hero I know. Thank you Stephanie for helping make this “The best birthday ever for Aunt Cosby”
Love Stella Brown
Posted by hristc from on 05/12 at 01:22 AM
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