Friday, January 26, 2018
I was blessed to call Della one of my very best friends. We spent many wonderful
hours together. She was one of the happiest, most upbeat, positive ladies I have
ever known. Della loved her family and they were a big part of her life.
When I came to Troy High School during my sophomore year, I was rather shy and
she was the first to welcome me. Since her Dad was a teacher, everyone knew
Della, so that helped me to fit in. After high school, our favorite pass time was roller
skating. We went everytime the skating rink was open. That is where I met my
husband and Della was my maid of honor.
We stayed in touch off and on through the years and my most precious memory is a
weekend I spent with her in Indianapolis in 2007. Della and Retta picked me up at
the airport. Retta fixed a wonderful dinner for us and served us like we were in a
fancy restaurant, while Della and I spent hours catching up on the years that had
passed. Della took me to the RCA Dome Stadium In Indianapolis to see My
Grandson Trey who was on tour with Drum Corps International. Trey played the
trumpet and marched with Spirit of America Drum Corp from Jacksonville,
Alabama. It was the first time I had seen him all summer. The three of us went to dinner after the show and Della let Trey drive her car in downtown Indianapolis. That was a real special treat for a young teen who was on a bus tour all summer.
Needless to say, Life gets in the way and sometimes we are so busy doing life that
we allow friendships drift by the wayside. Della was the kind of friend that no
matter how long since we last talked, we could pick right up and go on.
Della was a better friend to me than I was to her. She never forgot my birthday.
I could count on getting a card from her every year.
My heart is broken that her life has been cut short. We will not have the gift of
friendship here on earth, but because of her faith in God, I know I will see her
In heaven someday. If anyone reading this memory does not have the assurance
of seeing Della again one day, it is my prayer that you will trust God as your Savior
so you will have eternal life and the assurance of heaven. I know beyond a shadow
of a doubt that your Angel Della would be smiling down on you and rejoicing with
Jesus and all of the other Angels in heaven.
Sandy Powell Bayster
