Edna Kelley, The Original Gangsta 3/21/1938 - 1/2/2008
Update 1/2/08 2:43AM: Wow my grandmother just died. I'm going to go to the hospital to sign her release. To everybody that knows me personally I'm gonna be in seclusion for the next couple of days. My phone will most likely be powered off until further notice. Please respect my privacy.
Update 1/2/08 4:30AM: I just visited the hospital at North Western Memorial Hospital. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING could of prepared me for this.
Naturally my mother isn't emotionally able or even willing to bury her mother, so I've accepted full responsibility on taking care of the funeral & burial arrangements. If possible, I'm going to make the visitation for Thursday, and Friday will be the funeral (A.R Leaks Funeral Home - 7800 Cottage Grove).
I'm in the process of meeting with the funeral director in 20 minutes, as well as contacting Red Cross to gather information on getting my cousin Jermaine from Iraq for the funeral.
Update 1/2/08 9:27PM: Today I made arrangements for the funeral to take place at A&R Leak Funeral home, Wednesday at 11:00. I wanted to set the date for this weekend, but unfortunately a lot of my family can't make it in town until after Sunday.
I'm don't plan on sleeping tonight, I got so much to do. Eulogy design, Red Cross phone meeting, travel inquiries, etc.
Update 1/4/08 7:28PM: The place of the funeral has changed. The new place will be at Apostolic, Church of God located on 63rd and Dorchester/Woodlawn at 11:00 AM on Wednesday. The service will still be hosted by A&R Leak Funeral Home.
Update 1/10/08 11:28PM: The funeral was nice. I end up speaking for several minutes, and kinda broke down. I explained how my grandmother took care of me 10 years ago, and 10 years later I ironically took care of her. It's amazing how life is, and how things turn around. I even gave a story of me and my grandmothers last joy ride in my car, and how she was dancing to a hip hop song while I was laughing. At the recession many of my family, friends, and associates of my grandmother told me that the speech "touched" or "connected" with them.
Thank you to everyone who came to my grandmothers funeral. My family and I appreciate the love, support, and gifts.
