Remembrance

This post is dedicated to my grandfather Roger Gant Jr., one of the last honorable men to walk this earth. Born May 6 1924, died July 26, 2010.



The Sun set on July 26 in a fiery blaze of summer heat with the perfect hint of Carolina blue, a fitting end to a day when the world spun a little slower and time seemed to stop. This was a day to remember life, to honor the past, and reflect on the lessons we have been taught. This was the day that I lost my idol, my mentor, but most of all, my grandfather.
My mother, my cousin Chris, and I rerouted our trip home from Greensboro to the family plot at Pine Hill Cemetery, to walk among our patriarchs, matriarchs, and memories that still seem so fresh. It wasn’t too long ago that I stood on that ground in different company; my sister and I listening to Granddaddy tell us our family’s greatest stories. But this time, we were here to honor his story and retrace the steps that made him the great man he was. I realized that probably the most important thing in Granddaddy’s life was his family and the love he gave and received in turn helped lead to his many accomplishments. His kindness was unmatched, his generosity was borderline excessive. This was a man whose sense of duty to others transcended anything most of us could imagine. He could solve virtually any problem and I’m sure I speak for many here when I say my grandfather was always there to lend advice, a helping hand, or that joke he just heard. He was one of those people who would rather be out in his community than sit at home and watch TV. That is a rare breed of person, the likes of which I have not seen elsewhere.
My name carries a legacy that seems hard to live up to but thanks to the kindness and wisdom of my grandfather, I know what I must do. He remains to me a pillar of hope, a staggering example of how far being NICE to other people will get you. By cultivating trust and friendship everywhere he went by respecting his fellow man, no matter the color, faith, or a troubled past. His goal in life was to make the world a little better but I doubt he knew the impact he had on so many. We have all witnessed the passing of greatness. It is our duty to his memory to remember the values he embodied. Kindness, duty, and a sharp mind are the most important things we have, and Roger Gant Jr. showed the world what happens when they are put to proper use. With love eternal, gratitude inexpressible, and respect unbridled, I will miss him greatly.


Roger Gant IV
July 2010