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When I received the call
Thursday that Drubby’s body was tired, I along with my mom, Uncle Melvin, my
dad, Susan, and Emily rushed to be by his side. We wanted to say goodbye and
provide him with peace and comfort.
While we were there, I
was amazed at how many of the staff of his Woodcrest family came by with
tears. This man – thru his short stay with him – had left his mark on
their lives. It was clear they had fallen in love with this wonderful
man. My reaction was - if you only knew the man I know. I want
to tell you about that man.
You have those people in
your life – the ones that are for you no matter what, and for me, that person
was my Papa. When I remember him, I think of his gentle spirit of love and
protection. He was the one who “had my back”
I remember one TN game I
was acting like a 10 year old little girl screaming for the VOLS and the man
behind me did not like my level of excitement. That fan said something to me
and the next thing I knew Papa was coming from his seat about three rows back to
shake his hand at this man. No reason to make her calm down – she’s at a
football game. I was protected.
I remember my car
breaking down on Hogan road. I called my boyfriend at the time, Wes, he
couldn’t come. My dad, he couldn’t come. But guess who did – My Papa did.
I still remember saying “My papa will do it for me.”
If you knew my Papa, you
knew he had a love for trains, fishing, dogs, chocolate, Franklin, and UT
football. You would know of “eat a snacks”, “You gonna win some, you gonna
loose some. You gonna get wet you gonna get hot” his motto for dessert “You
can’t serve something sweet without serving coffee” (he never did understand
why they served cake and punch at weddings. You have to have coffee – black
coffee – with your treats.) He had countless stripped collared shirts, cardigan
sweaters and ball caps.
He was dependable with a
heart of gold. I don’t remember Papa ever reading the Bible in front of me or
leading a prayer at church yet his example (and really his and Mimi’s) example
of Service is so etched on my heart. He would take me to Disaster Relief. We
served and socialized. I learned both those things from him and I will add we
are both really great at the socializing part! But we served – side by side. He
wouldn’t just take me to do behind the scenes work – he would make me work the
line and find out why I was packing boxes and how it would help. He was a
giver and server. Serving his family, servicing his country, serving those
without.
He wasn’t one to shout
from the roof of his love – he didn’t proclaim his love with words but he was a
who loved and was loved.
Behind every name is a
story. Did your parents name you after a family member? A friend? Is it just a
name they liked? I don’t know the reasoning behind Wilburn Carroll Potts
but I know it wasn’t a name used often. I don’t think I can recall anyone
calling him Wiburn. I remember W.C. We called him Papa, but to the world it was
Drubby.
I sat down last night with my son, Jackson, and said “Drubby was the best man I knew” And that is why you were named after him. I hope you wear that name with pride knowing your daddy and I picked that name because of the man who the name represented.
I remember going to 5239
Stallworth to “ask” permission to name our son, Jackson Drubby. Mimi, oh Mimi,
she did not like it. She said “No. You will not name a child that.” And then we
looked over at Drubby – “I think that will be just fine.”
Yes, Drubby, I do think
that will be just fine.
He was stubborn in his
beliefs
He was confident in his
opinions.
He easily made friends
with all he met.
He was fiercely loyalty
If our son, if our
daughter – if those things could be said about us all at the end of our life,
then yes, I think it would be just fine.
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