Miss Glenda, I am so sorry to hear about Larry. It is obvious how much he meant to you, and I know the loss is a really big one for your entire family and community. You are all in my prayers. I certainly do remember Larry, and particularly his warmth and concern in making sure I got some of this and some of that when I arrived a bit late to the very large cookout in Benndale that you mentioned. I remember the exact moment. He had finished with all of that cooking, and hundreds of people whose healthy appetites and good manners had gotten them there on time had all been served. I, on the other hand, had just arrived from Louisiana pulling the KatrinaRitaVille Express FEMA trailer (aka Haleys Comet, after Mississippis former hurricane-looter-in-chief, Haley Barbour). Larry was exceptionally friendly and delighted to see us, even though we had never met. When he added that he was the cook, it was immediatly clear that he had done his part quite well. It was pretty muggy, but cooling down outside, and everywhere I looked, folks young and old were stretched back on lawn chairs, car hoods and pickup tailgates, fighting off the approaching i-tis. I was glad and duly impressed to see so many happy and content, but I had been starving since mile marker 2 in Hancock County, and now every last one of Larrys pots, pans, serving trays and spoons was so empty and picked dry that they almost looked scrubbed - ready to be rinsed, dried and put away. I could also tell that Larry was pretty worn out from cooking all day, and he easily could have just stayed seated on his well-deserved ice chest throne in the back of that tent/shed and said Sorry, bruh. Its all gone, or, You too late man. People need to listen to their mamas and to learn to be on time. But instead, he made it his business - his top priority - to see that Miss Glendas friend Derrick Evans received a royal welcome and some substantial Benndale calories for digestion and reflection. Like Jesus with those fishes and loaves - Larry reached back somewhere and came up with two styrafoam plates dripping with barbequed ribs, collard greens and all that ought to go with them. He instantly became my brother too, and I was definitely right at home. A few hours later, as the sun was setting, I was among the last guests to leave. Having said my goodbyes, I was pulling the trailer out towards the road when the family meeting that you also described broke out. I never knew who or what it was all about, but I vividly remember watching Larry sprint like a rocket across that long open field to tackle a man that had gone to his car to grab a tire iron or something to escalate with. When Larry reached him at the open trunk, he scooped and slammed the dude just once. The vibration and small dust cloud that resulted from this one single move honestly made me picture my mama using a pile-driver to stamp a rug clean instead of beating it against a post or a tree repeatedly. One solid slam. There. Done. My friend Mike Roberts from Louisiana saw this too and said, Man, folks sure dont mess around in Mississippi! Pondering what we had just seen, I responded, I dont know about all the folks in Mississippi, but Id want that cat right there (Larry) on my side in any scrap, any time, anywhere. Mike chuckled and fully agreed, and ever since we pulled off to let Larry finish his business, we have frequently and fondly recalled that moment and the afternoon we spent with you all in Benndale. In closing, as you and your family and friends lay Larrys body to rest, please count our thoughts and prayers among those lifting you up and honoring his memory and spirit. Like you, Larry was a reliable servant to others, which means a Faithful Servant to God. I am sure he has taken his place in Heaven with our Creator. God bless all of you. Peace. Derrick. Derrick Evans, you are more than a friend, a true brother for life. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful memory of Larry. After reading your email, we knew we had to share this with his family and friends. Bobby and myself are still laughing, something we needed after yesterday. You were on time, God is an ONTIME God. We, in Benndale Mississippi will forever love and appreciate you. God bless you from the Perryman Family The Perryman Family would like to take this PRECIOUS moment to say THANK YOU to EVERYONE. We could not have made it through this sudden tragedy without you Love, Calls, Visits, Emails, Text, Love AGAIN and most of all, Your Prayers. To Derrick Evans, we want everyone that DID NOT know Larry, to know that he was a very special person, an Angel sent straight from God. Thank you for sharing your experience with us and giving the family extra memories to add to our collections. Since your story gave us laughter and tears, we hope to print it out, frame it and pass on to other family members, including his Mother (Mrs Everlean Fairley-Perryman) and his Fiancée (Ms Roseene Bradley) so they can experience what we did in reading it. We all LOVED Larry so much and we know that God LOVED him more. To EVERYONE, please continue to pray for our family, pray that God will continue to give us strength, courage and understanding. And lets pray for ALL families because death angels is all around us, NOW MORE THEN EVER, so just be sure, BE VERY SURE, that your business is fixed with God... LOTS OF LOVE from The Perrymans
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 11:23:16 +0000
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