Lindsey Marsh
My great-grandma Clemmons was everything I aspired to be—the embodiment of strength and perseverance. She cared for me and the grandkids nearly every day, and those childhood moments remain some of my most cherished memories.
I’ll never forget how she fussed over my thick hair, braiding it in two to match my hero, Willie Nelson. Whenever I winced, she’d say, “Stop being so tender-headed and get ready to watch Sit and Be Fit—you need to do your exercises.”
Her chicken and dumplings were legendary. Whether I was sick or not, I longed for them constantly—no dumplings could ever compare to Grandma’s.
Her voice was unforgettable, usually high-pitched and sweet, but it could drop to a commanding baritone in a heartbeat. She never needed to yell to get everyone back in line. I find myself doing the same thing at times, though no one could ever command like her.
I think of her daily, grateful for the strength, humor, and love she instilled in me, helping me weather life’s storms as her tender-headed but toughened-up great-granddaughter: Lindsey Marsh