I first met Ms Ellen Louise Antley, known by most everyone in her family and throughout Orangeburg, South Carolina, as Miss Louise, on Mother’s Day in 1964, just a short time before she became my mother-in-law.
Yes, she was Marjorie’s mom and she was always gracious, welcoming and friendly to this somewhat self righteous yankee from New York.
I mentioned in a prior post that Marjorie brought me to Orangeburg for Sunday dinner while we were dating. I was struck by the quantity and variety of meats and veggies. Typically my meals in New York were onesies. One meat, one starch (usually mashed taters) and one veggie, often peas. Three meats 4-5 veggies and rice were not common.
Also people didn’t just drop in for dinner up north. Unexpected guests were unusual. Miss Louise and Margie’s dad, known as Buddy throughout the Orangeburg area, always welcomed guests with a smile and great food.

After I proposed on June 9, 1964, and Marjorie said yes, she needed to soon tell her folks. She appeared nervous. I was no local boy. I was certainly no minister, but from her first words I could tell that the news and me were welcomed with open hearts and arms.
After Marjorie and me were married on August 29, we stayed in Charleston with the Air Force until August, 1967.
Miss Louise, now willing to be called Mom by me, was always available, supportive and loving to both of us. I think I successfully wormed my way into this beautiful family in spite of my still present New York influence.

The next three years, 1964-1967, were a whirlwind of our married life and my Air Force career. I flew all over the world as a C-130 and C-141 navigator. Marjorie stayed in our Charleston home and worked as a nurse at least part of that time. Typically, I’d be gone a week or 10 days; then home for 3-4 days and back out again. Every homecoming was like Christmas. It also frequently included a visit to Mom and Dad in Orangeburg only an hour and a half away.
Oh, by the way, March 15, 1966 and March 6, 1967 marked two highlights of our lives. Our daughter, Christine and our son, Jim were born on those days.
OMG, we were parents. Mom (AKA Miss Louise), played a vitally supportive and helpful role during that extremely busy time.
I especially recall, with great admiration and love, her being a rock of support to me while I was almost a basket case, in the parent waiting room when son, Jim was being born two months early. I was in a really dark place, thinking we may lose him. Her calm, totally positive presence helped me immensely.
Of course, she was also a giant help to Marjorie during her recoup time after Jim was, thank Heaven, successfully brought into this world.

After a very short year and a half in Columbus, Ohio earning my MBA, I had the dubious honor of paying my dues with a year in sunny Viet Nam. 1969-70 We moved Marjorie and the kids back to Charleston in the same apartment complex we lived at before.
I spent a relatively safe year in a combat zone. Marjorie had a real challenge trying to stay ahead of a crafty 3 and 2 year old. Other than flushing her contacts down the toilet, they found lots of other ways to keep her on her toes. Mom was a big help to her during that year.

I was forever grateful to mom and dad for taking care of the kids while Marjorie met me in Hawaii for R and R. This was especially tough for them, since Marjorie’s dad had recently suffered a heart attack, and was still recovering.

The relationship between Marjorie and her mom remained super strong During our next assignment in Denver, Colorado, Marjorie traveled to Orangeburg to help when her Dad was very ill. I do recall one time in mid winter, she had been gone several days. The kids were with me. Neighbors were helping with the kids while I was fighting for democracy at the Air Force Accounting and Finance Center. I did get a paper cut once but no purple heart. Oh, by the way, it was about 70 degrees and sunny in South Carolina. Averaging about 17 degrees with snow in darling Denver.
In a phone conversation, Margie asked to stay a bit longer. Allegedly, I said something like, “ No just get back here. I need you “. I would Never say anything so desperate.
She did come back to 17 Degrees from 70 and sunny. Was it true love or insanity?
After her dad, unfortunately, succumbed to his long battle with emphysema, we brought mom to Denver for a while by way of a long, adventurous journey from Orangeburg, through New Orleans through Vicksburg, MS, north and west to Dallas,TX then north to Denver.
Two stand-out memories of that trip were our visit to Tujagues Restaurant in New Orleans and a small elevator in Dallas.
At Tujagues I introduced her to very strong coffee. The espresso was sooo strong, it appeared that my spoon stood straight up in it. Mom and I got the giggles so bad, I thought we would be thrown out of the restaurant.

Then there was our time in Dallas, Texas. We got stuck between floors on the elevator with a couple other folks.
There had recently been an hilarious episode of the famous Archie Bunker TV show, where he was stuck on an elevator and a woman went into labor.
Mom and I invoked that episode snd started laughing on the stalled elevator I think we laughed until they rescued us Sure made the time pass fast.

Marjorie and I continued a very loving, close relationship with Miss Louise AKA Mom, for the next several years. She was the only mom I had in most of my adult life. I will always cherish my time with her and be so grateful that our kids had such fond memories of her as their grand mommy. Enuf.