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arts school in Orlando. She finished at the top of her class and has moved back to Tallapoosa and is working her magic at Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton. If cake decorators were artists, then she'd be Vincent Van Gogh. Last Tuesday, the 9th, my mother would have been 86. She died in January of 1989 and I miss her everyday. Mama was born on Freeman Street in 1924 and was the baby of the family. Her father Frank Meunier was a rural mail carrier and worked for George Sheffield at his hardware store on Head Avenue. He also was a justice of the peace here in Tallapoosa. Mother's mother, Mary Etta Meunier also known as "Mamanier" or "Maw Meunier"by many, was a homemaker and for a few years ran a cafe on the city's main street called "Jack's Place". It was during the Great Depression and I was told she gave more food away than she sold. Mama told me that my Mamanier never allowed anyone who came in the door to go hungry regardless of their ability to pay. She especially had a tender spot when it came to children. Mother's oldest sister Agnes Martin was a character. She'd say whatever was on her mind and you always knew where you stood with her. My Aunt Leslie E'Dalgo is the lone survivor of my mother's brothers and sisters. She is in her early 90's and lives in Forsyth in Monroe County. She still drives her Mercury and is sharp as a Bud Jones filleting knife. My mother's middle brother was Jack Meunier. He worked with my father at Eastern Airlines in Miami. He bought me my first bicycle when I was in the first grade and taught me how to ride it. My daughter Presley learned in the past couple of weeks how to ride a two-wheeler after being told how to by next door neighbor Meghann Glaze. It is amazing that kids will take instruction from other kids before they will listen to dad sometimes. My Uncle Jack was a fine man who died from emphysema and told me when I was a school kid to never take up smoking. I took his advice. My mother's youngest brother was named for the "Georgia Peach" Ty Cobb. My Uncle Ty also known as "Fat" Meunier was a kind man who adored his wife and his children. His oldest son Dr. Jim Meunier was our family's first college graduate. He was a professor at UGA and served as a pharmacist in the Classic City. Jim lives just outside of Athens and will get bowed up you if you said anything bad about the Georgia Bulldogs. My cousins include Diane Smith that is with the Flower's Baking folks in Villa Rica. She also was the first and only trombone player in our family. Her baby sister Beth Warner lives in Cedartown with her husband David who is retired from decades of teaching and school administration in Polk County. Beth is now helping a support group for parents that have children that have passed away. She lost her youngest daughter Andrea to a tragic accident almost four years ago and has turned her positive energy to help others. Andrea was married to my youngest adopted son McCoie and they produced two fine boys. I am proud to be "Pop" to Jeremiah and Dylan. I do know they love Beth also known as Mimi to them. That brings me to the youngest son of Uncle Ty, Thomas Hershel Meunier. Tommy Meunier endured several football seasons as a starting guard for the Red Devils being nicknamed "Horse" Meunier. Tommy's resolve is perhaps the strongest of anyone I've ever known. He lived through brutal winters in Korea serving in the U.S. Army. He has been married to the former Patsy Rogers since the late 60's and their union produced two wonderful girls and a son that recently got married. Tommy and Patsy have two grandsons serving in the military in Afghanistan. I promised them a steak at Crossroads if they can find Osama bin Laden. My cousin Tommy worked for a quarter century for the Atlanta Falcons. I remember going into the locker room with Tommy when Deion Sanders was the star of the team. Deion got up and hugged Tommy and thanked him for taking care of his ticket situation for his family. Every Falcon in that room came up and spoke to Tommy. Tommy is someone that I want my girls to emulate for his heart and generosity of spirit. Tommy has had a battle the past several months with lymphoma and has finished his treatments. He faced the challenge with courage and resolve. That is why he has won this battle with this sometimes fatal illness. My mother's oldest brother Henry Meunier taught me how to fish. He gave me my first shot gun. He pretty much was my father figure growing up. He was a truly a funny fellow and Lord did he love picking at my Aunt Freddie. He once bought her a coffee percolator for an anniversary present. Aunt Freddie didn't drink coffee. Uncle Henry could fix a power saw or a Briggs and Stratton lawn mower engine with his eyes shut. His daughter Joyce Owen lives just down the street from us in Tallapoosa. She and her husband of about 50 years Fred can be seen in a fire engine red Ford truck tooling around town. Fred once told me that I had the ability to tear up an anvil after doing an adjustment on the lawn mower that I had nearly destroyed. I reflected on my mother's birthday this year about her family and how much they loved Tallapoosa. My mother would tell me stories of growing up in Tallapoosa. She taught me to not waste anything. She made me clean my plate and you all can tell I listened to her by seeing my girth. She taught me to respect authority especially law enforcement. She had a deep love for her country, for Georgia and her hometown. She taught me to respect everyone and not judge a person by skin color or where they went to church or how much money a person had or didn't have. My mother was disgusted by the fire hoses of Bull Connor in Birmingham. My mother's regret of dropping out of high school made her ride herd on me to go to college and to graduate. I remember when mother was in her late 30's when she got her GED. I was in the fourth grade and that memory of her is one of my favorites. Friends, I hope you are lucky enough to have your mother still with you. Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, legendary coach of the Crimson Tide once did a commercial for South Central Bell for long distance service. He said at the end of the television spot urging people to "call your mama, 'cause I sure wish I could call mine." Folks, Coach Bryant was so right because I sure wish I could talk to my mother. When is the last time you talked to yours? A week ago I was stopped in Wal Mart and asked if I ever plan to return to radio broadcasting? I will this Friday the 19th for one show filling in for Moby in the Morning on South 107.1 out of Rome and WNGC 106.1 in Athens. It gives me a chance to see if my alarm can still go off at 3:45 a.m.