The morning my life changed forever...
I woke up to frantic lady beating on my front door then at my master bedroom window. I opened the blinds and she rushed me to come outside... It was a little after 7am. and y'all know I don't do mornings... Kolbey was still asleep, I slipped on some clothes and ran outside. I seen a firetruck, ambulance and a old red truck in the side yard between my Grams house and mine. The lady was screaming, I could barely understand her. She needed to know who my neighbor was. I comforted her and told her not to worry, my gram wouldn't be mad that her truck had tore up our yards. She then went on to tell me that the man driving the red truck had killed my neighbor. I immediately went numb. I told her no, it was a mistake my gram should already be at the Tearoom by then. Then everything was in slow motion. I never confirmed to her who my "neighbor" was. I walked away from the lady toward the truck. I had no idea what to do. The EMT's were standing round and so were the fireman. I was confused as to why they were not hurrying and why was everyone just standing around? Was she in the ambulance? Should I walk to the truck? Should I ask the paramedics why they were not doing anything??? Everything was slow and unraveling in front of me. I was alone. My 1 yr old was all I had and he was inside asleep. I called my dad. No answer. he had jumped in the shower to start his day. I called my dads brother Scott. He answered. I will never forget his voice. He sounded so cheerful at first until I told him what the lady said. He apologized and thought i was a "kelly" that went to his church. When I told him that it was me, his niece, his toned changed. His voice is something I will never get out of my head. I can hear it right now like he's standing in front of me. He said, "MY MOMMA"!!! My dad called me back an immediately cried but tried to be strong and keep me calm. They were all on the way to me. I kept thinking what do i do? I am alone? I called my neighbors and they were at work, then I called my Godmother. She didn't answer, I called her cell and her house. A friend of my dads pulled up on his Harley and he was responding to the call because he is a fireman. I was asking him why they were not working on her? Was it really her? He ran to talk to his guys and come back with tears in his eyes. When I was about to loose it I seen my Godmother running down the hill. It felt like I was seeing a angel. She ran to me, she had to run by the truck to get to me and at the time I didn't realize my gram was still under the truck. When I seen my Godmothers face I knew it was true. My gram was dead.
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| My gram at her tearoom I felt like my entire life just stopped. I couldn't breathe... I screamed and cried and was at a disbelief. The woman who amazed me daily was dead. I have never met a sweeter person or a person with more sincerity in her heart. She loved the Lord with every single bone in her body. Of course I was hardheaded and had to see her, I never seen her all the way but did see some of her body. I just needed to be sure. My parents showed up then my aunt and uncle and my little cousin Alison (she's several years younger than me). Alison was in school that morning, I prayed that they would let her go the day without knowing and she could have a few more hours without heart ache. I felt a overwhelming sense of sadness and guilt for my cousin. My gram had seen me graduate and get married, she got to spend almost 2 years with my sweet baby boy. I was her neighbor for years, I taught her how to swim (she bought a house with a in ground pool and couldn't swim) I worked with her at the tearoom... My cousin didn't get to experience most of those things. My gram always said if she didn't make it to our weddings to put a yellow rose on her seat... I look forward to the day I can watch my cousin walk down the isle and when I add that yellow rose to the row of family. Loosing her was unimaginable. Especially the way she left this world. The aftermath was just as bad. I used to sit on her front porch in the mornings, mid day, the evenings after she died. I watched the man who killed her add flowers to the grass where he ran her over. I had so much hate for this man. My gram was walking to her mailbox and he said he seen her but thought she seen him, then she bent down in a fetal position because he couldn't stop. She was then hit and dragged to her death. Try living with that visual. He not only killed my gram but he took my comfort of home. I wanted to move, get away from that tiny town where everyone knew us. I grew up in the house that I was currently living in, its always been home. I didn't want to throw up when someone knocked on my front door. I didn't want to see her blood and bone on the side of the road after the fd washed it away... My "home" was gone. For months after I looked for houses and apartments, my marriage fell apart (we were already off and on but this made it so much worse), I wouldn't let Kolbey go in the yard at all. I completely shut down. I couldn't sleep, all i would do is stare out my window. Time went on but my hart didn't heal. After months and months I called my best friend who was stationed in NY and said pick me up at the airport on Monday. She thought i was joking because she knows i am terrified to fly. I needed to get away and find me again. I flew for the first time alone from NC to upstate NY. I fell in love with the area. I think it was the people I met and the comforting safe haven I had found away from home. I was def not looking for a boyfriend, i remember even saying I would never date a soldier. I ended up meeting my current husband that trip. We of course didn't date for a long while after, we didnt even speak that trip, but without sorrow and pain I wouldv'e never found my happiness. Trust me, if I wouldn't have hit rock bottom I would never have gotten on a plane. My gram, She inspired me. She made me want to be a better person. Loosing her the way I did changed me. I always imagined we would find her in bed with her Bible peacefully entering heavens gates. I can't honestly say she went peacefully but I can say she went fast. The last step she took in this world was the first one she took in heaven. |
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| My cousin and Gram Up until we moved to Hawaii I stayed in my house. I remember thinking that it would be the best thing for me. To get away from all the hurt and memory. haha God has a sense of humor. At her funeral I bent over backwards to have live, beautiful monarch butterflies to release. Finally I had found a company that would let me buy them. We released them at her graveside for the symbolic meaning of a new beginning. It was beautiful... Now, I sit on this beautiful island and I see butterflies all the time and i get cracked up. We make jokes that she followed us here (no we do not believe in reincarnation lol its just a little humor we have). I mean really, how do butterflies get to a island in the middle of the pacific ocean? :) i thought I could get away but instead everything I see reminds me of her. The mountains here are like something you've never seen, they are amazing. She loved the beauty of mountains. Then there is the beautiful coast line, the roar of the waves. The simple lifestyle. She would have adored this place. There is not one day that goes by that I don't think about her. I actually think about her more here than living beside her house. We have beautiful mountains behind our house and when the sun sets it shines the most beautiful sun rays over the mountains. When I was a little girl my mom told me that when you see sun rays in the sky, it's people going to heaven. I see those rays daily. Even though I know my gram is already in heaven I can't help but to think of her. If I am a tenth of the woman and leader that she was, I will be content. |
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| My gram bought me this in 1989, I gave it to Kolbey last night |
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| Her message to me in 1989, I was 1yr old |
:) My thoughts are that there is a little of her in all of us. I see her in my daddy so much. He loves and prays just like her. He is a goofball but will cry at the drop of a hat. We were blessed to have her as our role model for as long as we did and as I get my life back on track I feel her even more. During this fertility journey i have had a million feelings. I have cried and been mad and disappointed that I couldn't conceive... But now I am almost thankful for it. It has opened my eyes and heart to so many new things. And I am not afraid. I am not afraid to live. This journey has made me have peace with a lot. I can now say that after all of these years I forgive Mr. Burgess, the man who killed my gram. I know love and I know peace. I was so mad when my dad and his brothers prayed for this man after they knew he killed their mom? My daddy told me then that when my relationship with God gets stronger and i really learn what it feels like to trust in him I will be able to understand why he prayed with that man. That man has to live with the fate every single day. He has to remember her face and the way it felt and the sound. I have played it a million times in my head and it makes me sick to think of what this man has to live with. I pray for peace for him. I don't even know if he is still alive but I feel sorry for him knowing that he had to see my face, he originally thought I was just a neighbor but in fact I was her first born grand baby girl. he has to live with that. I have actually started praying for him, and although my schedules are crazy and I'm always giving and doing something, lately I have finally found my happiness and peace.
I am still praying for our rainbow baby but i have more of a peace now. Today I read a message. 1 Peter 5:10 says, After your season of suffering, God in all his Grace will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you... And I believe that...
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| When my daddy got ordained and he wore a pin with his moms picture on his suit. She was so proud of him, she died a few months prior to his ordination... |
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| My Uncle, Gram and Daddy at my wedding |
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| The 3 piece mural the town painted in memory of my Gram. There was a Cup & Saucer to represent her Cup & Saucer Tearoom she owned as well as the monarch butterflies |
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| We added butterflies and the quote "It's in the dash that matters" Meaning the date on a headstone is your birthdate, then there is a dash, then the year you died... What matters is what you done in between those years... |
Popular Kings Mountain Restaurant Closing Doors After Owner's Tragic Death
Updated:
KINGS MOUNTAIN, N.C.,None - Mary Alice Armstrong spent 11 years serving customers, reaching out to people and touching lives through her business, the Cup and Saucer Tea Room.
After being struck and killed by a truck less than two weeks ago, the Kings Mountain tea room will be closing its doors for good.
People who call the restaurant will get a voice recorded message from her son, Scott Mann, who identifies himself as Armstrong's "baby boy."
"She went to be with the Lord this morning so the Cup & Saucer Tea Room will not be open anymore," he said. "My mom loved each one of you dearly."
Mann requested prayers for the family and for the man, George Burgess, 56, who was driving the truck.
N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Scott Meade said Burgess will not be charged.
Burgess was driving his Chevrolet truck down Kiser Road on his way to a relative's house the morning of the incident. He told Meade that he saw Armstrong and he thought she saw him. When the woman stepped into the street, he swerved to miss her, but the left rear side of the truck slammed into Armstrong.
She was killed immediately.
Armstrong, 74, was described as a person who was full of life, someone who reached out to the community to help those in need.
According to the Cup and Saucer's Facebook page, a celebration of life service was held Wednesday
Many people left comments on the page expressing their condolences and what she meant to them.
"You will be remembered for so many good things, not the least of which is your wonderful cooking and friendly ways and smiling face," wrote Jenny Clapp.
"Alice was so special to us," wrote Emily Eaker Beam. "I'm thankful we were able to make it by and visit with her, I will hold that last memory in my heart forever."
The messages continued.
"Alice will be terribly missed in our community, town, and our lives," wrote Jada McDaniel on Facebook. "I can't help think about how excited it must have been to enter those pearly gates. We lost a wonderful warrior of Christ, but heaven gained a faithful daughter."
Armstrong had opened the restaurant in 2001 after retiring from John Deere.
According to her family, sitting at home wasn't enough activity for her.
"She worked every day at 74 years old," said Armstrong's neighbor, Michelle Brockman.
The tea room, located in a historic building in Kings Mountain, offered sandwiches, soups, tea, coffee as well as evening parties and bridal luncheons.
Mann ended his voice message with a thank you.
"God bless you," he said. "Thank you for letting my mama serve you."
Restaurant owner fatally hit by pickup truck while getting mail
Posted: May 26, 2011 3:45 AM HSTUpdated: Jun 25, 2011 3:45 AM HST
GASTON COUNTY, NC (WBTV) - A woman who ran a very popular Kings Mountain tea room was struck and killed by a pickup truck in Gaston County Thursday morning.
The wreck happened at 7:45 a.m. in the 200 block of Kiser Road outside Bessemer City.
According to the North Carolina Highway Patrol, 74-year-old Mary "Alice" Armstrong was in her driveway about to walk across the road to retrieve her mail when she was hit by a pickup truck driven by 56-year-old George Burgess of Kings Mountain.
According to Trooper Scott Meade, Burgess said he first saw Armstrong at the edge of her driveway and that she even glanced his way.
Burgess told Meade he thought Armstrong saw him, but she continued to step into the roadway and then crouched down in a fetal position before she was hit by the pickup.
The highway patrol say Burgess was not at fault and he will not be charged.
Trooper Meade said Armstrong has three sons. Two are ordained ministers, and the third is about to be ordained.
The trooper said following the accident, two of the sons gathered around Burgess and shared a prayed together.
The sons said they did not have any ill will against Burgess over what happened to their mother, the trooper said.
Armstrong ran the Cup & Saucer Tea Room in Kings Mountain. She opened the business in 2001 in a restored historic home.
She got the idea to open the restaurant after some friends repeatedly told her they loved her food, according to an article in the Cleveland County Chamber of Commerce newsletter in 2005.
"The rest is history! I cannot begin to tell you how our business has grown," Armstrong told the Chamber of Commerce. "In my wildest dreams, I never imagined how God would bless us!"
She was known to help the community by providing gifts or gift certificates to be used in fund-raising events by schools and other local non-profit organizations.
There were some comments on the restaurant's Facebook page Thursday as people learned of her death.
"Rest in Peace Alice! You will truly be missed!" one person wrote on the Facebook page.
Copyright 2011 WBTV. All rights reserved.
