I was asked by Jim Kimmons and Abbie Donald Evans to say a few words about my Daddy. How do you say anything briefly about your Daddy?  God rest his soul. 

You never forget the times that you shared together with your Daddy and especially the time of his death, above all.  When I was summoned to Eastman, I found out that some of daddy's friends had taken him to the small hospital in Glenwood, Georgia.  After locking dad's store,  I returned to Glenwood and found my wife and daughter waiting for me to tell me the sad news, that daddy had had a massive heart attack.  The man whom I idolized was going to die.  I was devastated, because he was my backbone throughout my whole life.  The one person that I could always go to. 

I had to get some kind of composure for myself.  At a time like that you always turn to God.  I called my preacher who came immediately to the hospital.  I told him the situation.  

Now daddy was a man who always wanted to know his business.  The preacher agreed that I should tell him that there was very little time left and that we should pray.  I remember putting my face next to daddy's face on the pillow and the preacher put his face down on the other side .  We prayed for sometime until I could no longer stand it.  I then turned to my wife and asked her to stay, because I couldn't watch him die.

After going into the hall and crying,  I knew that I had to call Jim.  I called John B. Williams, my uncle and my daddy's brother-in-law, to get in touch with Jim if he wanted to see Daddy alive.  I was waiting for Jim and John B. on the emergency ramp of the hospital when the doctor came out and told me the sad news.  Oh what a loss.  I could feel my heart trying to burst.  I had never felt that way before, except when Mama died, but at that time I had my daddy left with me.

Jim and John B. arrived and we embraced and cried together, after I had told them the sad news.  I have never  felt so sorry for someone as I did for Jim and myself that night, for Jim also lost a backbone.

Albert Genavy McGlohon was born in Vidalia, Toombs County, Georgia on August 4, 1904 and died in Glenwood, Wheeler County Georgia, on April 14, 1976.  He was the son of a sawmill worker.  His mother was owner of a small grocery store.  At the age of 13 his father died and he dropped out of school to help support the family.  

Daddy's mother, Leila, decided to move back to Eastman.  There, she had the opportunity to purchase the little wooden store building which would become McGlohon's Grocery many years later. 

After an unsuccessful store business she decided to move the family (5 children) to Akron, Ohio in 1921.  Jobs were plentiful so Daddy racked balls at a pool room and delivered newspapers.  Then he got a job at Goodyear Tire Rubber Co.  After a few years there, he got gassed, and that destroyed part of his right lung.

During the depression, times were hard, so in the mid 1930's he decided to go back down South to Eastman.  He opened a store at English Crossing for a short time.  Then he got a job at the Eastman Ice Plant delivering ice.  

On one of his daily routes, he met a lovely young lady named Maggie Mariah McCranie - that didn't work but he met her younger sister, another pretty McCranie girl, Mollie Idena McCranie.  After a short romance they decided to get married.  On January 1, 1939.  The
ceremony was performed by Rev. Alf Burnham.

Somewhere along the way Daddy, Mollie and Maggie all worked at the Fuse Plant in Macon.  Mollie and Maggie worked during the day and he worked at night.  Times were very hard.  (This was during World War II).

I have heard it said that he bought $75.00 worth of black pepper to open the store with.  I don't know that to be true, but I do know that we were never short of black pepper.

My Aunt Erlene Williams told me that, at one point, Daddy sold crackers and candy and other items out of the trunk of his car.  Determined man, wouldn't you say?

Daddy trusted me to a point.  I can now see why, but I always knew that he loved me.  He tried on one occasion to tell me he loved me.  He never could, but I already knew it anyway.  He loved Jim Kimmons and truly trusted him.  I regret so much that Mama and Daddy never got to see me straighten up and try to always do the right thing.  I know within my heart, they would have been so proud and happy.

He was a good father and he loved his family.  He was a hard worker and he never complained.  He was good to his customers and they were faithful to him.  He enjoyed playing jokes.  He was a quiet natured man, and I loved him dearly.

Reverend Donald Evans, my cousin, summed it up at daddy's funeral, some 23 years ago, very eloquently - "Gentle, Gentle." Daddy was a gentle man.  Donald quoted Titus 3 : 2  "...to speak evil of no man, to be no brawler, but gentle.  Showing all meekness unto all men."  That was Albert Genavy McGlohon.

Donald.... I will always will love you and Barbara so very, very much.

Recently, my cousin, Donald Evans sent me and Jim [Kimmons] a copy of an audio tape of my father's funeral that Donald preached.  I understand why they made him a Doctor of Philosophy now.  The sermon was beautiful and refreshed my memories.  I want Donald to know how grateful I am that he would have so much thought for preserving the tape. He is a kind- hearted man.  Thanks again.  

It is also ironic that  Donald mailed the tape to me August 4, 1999.  That just happened to be my Daddy's birthday on August 4, 1999 he would have been 95.

Addendum

In September, 1999 I  had the opportunity to visit with some of Daddy's old customers, both black and white and they all expressed to me a great love for "Mr. Albert" and "Mrs. Mollie."  Most of them said that without his support during some very hard times, they would not have been able to make it.  

Some twenty-three years after Daddy's death, for someone to remember him and his kindness,  that says something wonderful to me about my Dad's character.  In those September days I left each household I visited filled with pride and joy in my heart.

Don McGlohon
 

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Page last updated on 10/15/99 by the Site Master Abbie Donald Evans

Don McGlohon