Dear Editor,

Thank you for publishing the article about my mother, Elizabeth Moody turning 90. You and your paper and our Barnwell friends helped make a huge difference in her last days here on earth.

As you may know, Mama entered heaven Dec. 13, 2009 after a five-week stay in Providence Hospital. She was lucky to have been there on the fourth floor tower with the kindest and most professional nursing staff I've ever seen.

They were quite moved when they saw their walls covered with all the cards and photos and it allowed them to engage with her about her friends and her past. She loved it.

In fact she and I, along with family and friends celebrated her 90th birthday in her hospital room surrounded by each and every card, letter, poem and photograph that she received for her birthday, most of which were a direct result of the newspaper article. The walls were literally full from corner to corner. It made me happy knowing that every time she would wake up, whether or not I was with her, she was reminded by those cards on her walls how much she was loved.

We heard from so very many of our long lost friends and her students from as far away as Florida. Every day when I'd visit, I'd read several of the cards and notes to her. I wish you could have seen her face as she'd smile and say, "They remembered my birthday! I remember them fondly."

Please convey to your readers how very much love and comfort they brought us all during this precious time of life. What a blessing each of them are, as are you.

I want to express my sincerest thank you for making this experience possible. May God bless you on your journey through life.

Sincerely,

Richard B. Moody, Jr.
Columbia