Today Would Have Been My Dad's Birthday

Today (March 4th) would have been our dad's (Joseph O. Waters Sr.) Birthday. He was the best dad that anyone could ever have.

He always liked his Coconut Cake, but he wouldn't complain if another cake was served.

He liked it whenever the family could come home and we could all spend time together.

He loved to get up early in the morning and play his only song that he knew on the piano to let us kids know it was time to, "rise and shine."

As I look back now, I am thankful for all the stories he shared with us of his childhood and his experiences as he grew into a young man. Now whenever I face an obstacle in life, I remember something he would have told us, and it makes the experience easier.

In the evenings after supper you would find him laying on the Living Room floor, he said that he was realigning his back after a day of work.

I remember that every Tuesday he went to Atlanta to buy stock to replenish stock that had been sold the previous week at the store. We would first go to Crosley and later it was Norge, Hotpoint and then Westinghouse to get our appliances. Whenever we needed an appliance he would buy for our home the model of appliance that had been in, inventory the longest because he wanted their customers to get the newest appliance.

I ask my brothers and sisters do they remember some of these appliances. We got the refrigerator with the freezer on the bottom and the shelves were counter lever so that you could crank the shelves up or down according to the size of the item on the shelf. We also had the ironer that looked like a chest freezer with a lid like a file box that covered the ironer roller and the heating press. It was fun to use and we kids wanted to iron everything. (even our underwear) You would sit in front of the Ironer and insert the garment into the back of the Ironer and use the press to iron that part of the garment (much like a Cleaners would) and as it came down the roller it folded the garment. It was pretty neat. I was glad that no one wanted to buy it because we loved it.

We would go to Atlanta Stove Works to purchase Wood Stoves and Wood Heaters as well as gas heaters. They also sold Porch furniture like cast iron yard furniture in the Grape Pattern and Gliders for the yard or front porch as well as yard furniture. These were sold in colors of, red/white, green/white, yellow/white and blue/white. I remember many a Summer day of assembling of these items.

We would go to Lee Products to get cookware, pressure cookers, and other household appliances. Lee Products was owned by a Japenese Couple, that had no children, but loved children very much. I remember our dad telling us we could look at the toys in the showroom but we were not to touch them. This was a paradise for me as a young lad. They had all kinds of toy trucks and cars, bikes, trikes and everything that you could imagine. I remember I got my first bike here. (It wasn't new because my dad said I needed to appreciate it and later when I worked to earn a new bike I would appreciate it more.) And as always he was right, when I got my new bike here, I did appreciate it and it lasted me for many years.

We also went to Woodalls, which was a repair shop for small appliances. We would take toasters, frying pans, pressure cookers, etc.., items in for repair for our customers and pick them up the next week for our customers.

As a child, I loved to rummage in the dumpsters of these companies that we would go to each week and it was like a treasure trove of what they threw away.

When it was time to return home from Atlanta, dad would let us ride on the back of the truck home. We would build us a spot to hide in if it rained on the return or we would climb to the top of the load to feel the wind in our faces as he drove down the road. We knew that if we ever misbehaved we would get punished when we got home.

It's hard to believe that mom and dad have been gone for twelve years. There are days when you want to call and then remember that they are gone.

I guess what I'm trying to say is "Thank-You," for all of the love and care while growing up. "Thank You," for lifting up Christ before us, and being and example by showing us how to live our life for Christ. We are so glad for experiences that molded us in to what we are today.

Love Forever Your Youngest Son,

Palmer

Joseph O. Waters Sr., My Dad

 

This picture was taken out in Banks County close to Edd and Ruth's farm.

After a long day at the store he liked to lay on the floor in the Living Room to relax his back.

This is in the house on Cotton Street across from Grandma Waters house we moved into the new house when I was a year old. Dad is holding us boys, me (Palmer) and Oliver.

My dad and a friend. Sorry I don't recall his name. Both were in the Furniture and Appliance Business.

Wasn't I a little kid, sorry dad I don't remember this.

 Dad standing outside of the place in the country.

I cab see where I favor my dad in this picture all except for the waves in the hair. I am glad that I got his thick hair but my is very straight.

My dad was probably in his forties in this picture.

He would always have his pocket full of notes an phone numbers and information, a pen and pencil and his comb. This was his on personal filing cabinet, like we use our cell phones now.

Dad always met a friend whoever he met. He would talk with the youngest person to the oldest and bring them into the conversation. He was a born salesman, he could sale almost anything. He had to grow up when he was young because his dad died when he was eighteen and they had a lot of people to take care of and he worked to help support them.

He never once complained about it, but I am thankful for the stories that he shared with us from his experiences. 

I remember when he was getting close to the age of when his dad had died that he thought that he could die around that age. You could see the worry, and then it would pass. I'm glad that he lived much longer than his dad, and I'm sadden that I never got to know my Grand Dad, but if he was like my day he would have been a great man.

It was hard to lose him in 2004 and two days later lose our mom but time does make it easier to bear.

I think back of all the fun we had growing up, and the places we went and the people we met and I know that this was made possible because of my dad.

I know that some of our cousins and their friends will remember the games we played at home. They were so much fun. We enjoyed singing around the piano and harmonizing together. 

I know that I have gotten a little sentimental here but you would just have had to be there to know just what I mean. No it wasn't always easy but it was fun growing up together.

 

 

Joseph O. Waters Sr.

Joseph O.(Joe) Waters

Joseph O. Waters Sr, 84, of Commerce, died Monday, February 16, 2004.

A longtime businessman in Commerce, Mr. Waters was the Owner of Waters Brothers Furniture Company.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Juanita W. Shippey.

Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 18, in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, with Robert Flippo officiating. Burial was in Jackson Memorial Park, Commerce.

Mr. Waters is survived by his wife, Pauline Waters, of the home; two sons, Oliver Waters, Commerce, and Palmer Y. Waters, Memphis, Tenn.; a foster son, Bobby Blake, Augusta; two daughters, Mrs. Daniel (Lucy) Hagy, Commerce, and Mrs. Duane (Susan) Mathis, Redlands, Calif.; one brother, Dan Waters, Commerce; one sister, Mrs. Lottie Gary, Commerce; 18 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Ivie Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

The Jackson Herald, February 18, 2004

Joseph O. Waters Sr.

This month on the fifteenth will be the day that my dad died. He had, had an aneurysm and had never been in the hospital overnight until this happened. It is hard to believe that he has been gone for ten years.

When he was in the hospital those last days we were told that he was blinded by the aneurysm and that he would not be able to speak. We were all gathered beside his bed and he spoke one word and he said baby. I told him that mother was across the hall and that she was doing ok. Then he said you're the baby. With tears rolling down my face I knew that he was still there, we had all heard him speak and we were speechless. When the doctor came in I told him that he had talked and he said that there was know way that this could have happened. We were just wanting him to speak and we thought that he had. I told the doctor you stand here and listen. Daddy was always making up rhymes and poems that he had learned, so I started the one about The Purple Cow. I said I never saw a purple cow, and then I waited and waited and waited and as the doctor started to speak, dad said clear as a bell. "I hope I never see one." This is when the doctor said this is just a miracle that he can do this. So I continued to the next line. "But I can tell you anyhow," and I waited and then dad spoke again, I'd rather see than be one.

The Purple Cow

I never saw a Purple Cow,
I hope I never see one.
But I can tell you anyhow,
I'd rather see, than be one.

As a child we were told this story about the Purple Cow poem. When he was in the second grade they had to learn a poem and recite it before the class the next day. He was going to do a Robert Frost Poem, but when he got home he forgot all about it until he was in class the next day. There was a little girl that set in front of him and she was trying to memorize her poem when the alarm went off that he hadn't memorized a poem. So he kept listening to the little girl trying to learn hers when he memorized it he raised his had to let his teacher know that he was ready to do his poem.

As he stood in front of the class and started to recite his poem the little girl shouted out that that was her poem. When he finished the poem she called the little girl up to say the poem and she didn't have it in her memory yet.

Today as it was raining and we couldn't go outside several of his stories came tumbling back in my memory and Chloe said Poppy why do you look so sad. I explained to her about the stories that my day used to tell us and the fun that we had as a child growing up, and how he loved children and how that she would have loved him, and would have loved to listen to him telling his stories. She said, "Poppy, that why I have you as my grandfather so you can tell me those stories as well as your stories growing up."

The day that we were having my dad's funeral we got a call just before the funeral that my mom had passed away at home. It was bad to lose one parent but another thing altogether to lose them both. The Funeral Home said that it was to late not stop Dad's funeral, but we could hold the burial at the graveside until the next day and we would have mom's viewing that evening while people were still there and we would bury them both the next day after mom's funeral.

Joseph O. Waters Sr.

Joseph O. Waters Sr.

Birth:	1919, USA
Death:	Feb. 17, 2004 Commerce Jackson County Georgia, USA
Mr. Waters was a Commerce businessman and was owner of Waters Brothers Furniture in Commerce. Note: Ivie Funeral Home of Commerce was in charge of arrangements.
Burial: Jackson Memorial Gardens Commerce Jackson County Georgia, USA
Created by: William Carson Record added: Dec 23, 2013 Find A Grave Memorial# 122076292

 

Married To: Mary Pauline B. Waters



Daughters:

Lucy Ann Waters Hagy

Married To: Daniel L. Hagy

Sara Juanita Waters Shippey (born: February 28, 1946, died: June 11, 1993) Age:47

Birth:	Feb. 28, 1946 Commerce Jackson County Georgia, USA
Death:	Jun. 11, 1993 Decatur DeKalb County Georgia, USA
Mrs. Shippey was a resident of Cleveland, Georgia. She died in Emory Hospital in Decatur, Georgia. She was the daughter of Joseph O. Waters, Sr. and Mary Pauline Waters. She is survived by two sisters; Lucy W. Hagy, Susan W. Mathis, two brothers; Joseph O. Waters, Jr. and Palmer Y. Waters. She is survived by three children; M. Annette Shippey Whitley (Joel), Mary S. Sadler (Joe), Raymond P. Shippey (Karen) and six grandchildren. Mrs. Shippey was a teacher and an author. Family links:  Parents:   Joseph O. Waters (1919 - 2004)   Mary Pauline Waters Note: Ivie Funeral Home of Commerce was in charge of arrangements.
Burial: Jackson Memorial Gardens Commerce Jackson County Georgia, USA
Created by: William Carson Record added: Jan 12, 2015 Find A Grave Memorial# 141228273

Married To: Stirling C. Shippey

Susan Elizabeth Waters Mathis

Married To: Marvin Duane Mathis Sr.

Sons:

Joseph Oliver Waters Jr.

Married To: Joyce Waters

Palmer Young Waters (P.Y.) Waters

Married To: Debby Waters


Mom and Dad were married May 23, 1941, and they were married for 63 years. They died two days apart in Feburary 2004.