Ms. Arrington’s Grandchildren Have Their Say …Part III of III
My mom, Esther J. Arrington, was blessed to have a life with a loving family that was extended to include her many friends, and enjoyment of her wide-ranging interests. She managed to maintain it all, despite having a responsibility at work that meant she had to periodically be on call 24 hours a day.
Her years working for the Medical Examiner’s office had her working non-traditional hours. When not in the office, and she got a “case”, she had an assigned driver to pick her up and take her to a scene. A “case” was a death that could be natural, suicide, accidental or murder. These deaths could take place in difficult to reach places or dangerous places, murder scenes. When she returned home, she did not bring the drama of the day with her. She was tireless and devoted to her family and a believer in giving advice to her grandchildren … and children.
In 2015, Good Morning America interviewed Mom and my son, Garrett, as part of a collaboration with StoryCorp and ABC News. The team followed Garrett in school and then home. The theme, the importance of family stories, paired high schoolers with grandparents. Mom spoke on her career journey and life choices. Their conversation was aired on Good Morning America.
When I spoke with Garrett about mom last week, he said Mom spoke to him all the time and gave him so much advice it was hard to pick out one thing to follow. What he clearly recalls is her telling him, “hard work pays off, follow what you are good at, and enjoy what you are doing.” She advised him to always look out for others who might need guidance. She told him to always improve himself, make sure he can stand on his own. Pray and look to God at all times.
He is following her advice in different ways: he has strategic mentors and he is a strategic planner: at the moment Garrett is working on the next steps to advance his career in finance and real estate.
It is not as though she was a full-time, omnipresent grandmother or mother. But the time she spent with them was packed with experience, sage advice, laughter and presence. When they were with her, she was always there, in the moment. She gave each one something they could carry with them forever.
“One of my favorite memories of Grandma was how supportive she was with all of her grandchildren. We all had very different dreams and ambitions growing up and she did everything in her power to help us achieve those individual goals.
“She was also present in all of our lives. I love looking back on pictures of her attending all our big events, making each of us feel special.”
Blair Harrell“Sunday mornings at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church holds one of my best memories of ‘Grandma Bunny.’ She would attend the early service at 7:00am and then Sunday School. I wouldn’t get there until the 11:00am service. Grandma would change from her Sunday School seat and come and sit next to me for the later service. She smelled good and was always smiling. She always dressed in her best outfits.
Grandma Bunny always wanted to know when I had a test in school so she could pray for me. Whenever I got anxious about a test I would call her so she could pray.
“Also, I loved how she gave out candy at Halloween to the neighborhood and I remember her TV always being too loud.” -Garrett Collins