To all the people past that have touched my life in some special way, I dedicate this page.

The very first person that ever touched my life in a big way was my father, Charles Edward McClure. My dad was a simple man--not simple in the mind, but he didn't fancy much and didn't put on airs for his friends because he had money. My father was a quiet and gentle man who never raised his voice. I never saw him yell at my mother or give her grief over all her spending. My dad was the greatest, but unfortunately, my father and I didn't get to spend much time together as he was called home June 18, 1981 when I was just 14 years old.

The next person to touch my life in a big way was my daughter, Lorrene Vanaughn Walker. Lorrie was my first born and the light of my life. She had a special way about her that brightened everyone she met or came in contact with. Lorrie was a gift from God and God decided that he was only loaning me that gift for a little while because on July 5, 1988 God called my little angel home. The death of my daughter changed my life forever. I don't take life for granted and I value each and every one of my friends as if this will be last that I see them. In case you are wondering how my little angel died--she was in a drowning accident. Although my little angel is no longer here with me--I carry her spirit in my heart, her memory in my mind and her light in my eyes. God speed Lorrie because I know you are singing with the heavenly angels.

Next, my mother, Lawrence Mae Mabane. Okay, so her parents thought she was going to be a boy. My mother and I were the best of friends. We talked, we laughed, we cried and we prayed together. My mother never smoke, never drank, never swore and had the heart of gold. She used to open our doors to perfect strangers and I often times thought she would one day be offed by one of her charitable actions. Thank God, that thought never materialized, but a fate far worse did. At age 75 my mother was diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer. None of us wanted to believe it to be true--but yes, my mother, who led a full and active life was stricken with a horrible disease. In the stage my mother was diagnosed, she was terminal so all the family could do was pray that she did not suffer and would pass peacefully in her sleep. My mother was my pillar--I leaned on her for everything. On May 23, 1992, my mother earned her wings and passed from this life onto the next.

The last person that touched my life in a special way was my aunt, Lula Josephine Mabane, my mother's sister. My aunt lived with us all our lives as she was widowed at a young age and some strange things had happened to her along the way, but Aunt Josie was a card. She lectured you on the way you sat, the way you looked at boys and all sorts of other 'unchaste' things as she referred to them. Looking back, my aunt wasn't too far off the mark. My aunt played the piano and I used to sit and listen to her play for hours--but she never once taught me how--she said I was bullheaded and she didn't have the patience to debate with me, so I never learned the finer points of piano playing. My aunt did, however, teach me the finer points of English grammar as she was an English major in college until she had to drop out to take care of her younger sister, my mother. You would never believe they were sisters by the way they fought all the time. My mother was a spend thrift and on the opposite end of the spectrum, my aunt was a tight wad. If left up to my mother, she'd spend every last dime on fine clothes, furniture, you name it--she bought it. My aunt, on the other hand, lived practical. Never daring to pay a high price for anything she could wait for a sale to hit...smart woman as I look back now.

Well, as you can see, four people made a great impact on my life and a little of each of them I carry with me everyday.

God Speed to you all as you travel with the angels.

And to all of you who still have their loved ones, make sure they know you love them before it becomes too late.