Elsie Higgs Woodburn
September 5, 1904 ~ June 7, 2010
Services:
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, June 11th, 2010 at 10:00 AM in St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Leonardtown, MD with Fr. John Dakes officiating.
Visitation:
The Family will receive friends on Thursday, June 10th, 2010 from 5:00PM-8:00PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD where prayers will be recited at 7:00PM
Alice “Elsie” Estelle Higgs Woodburn, 105 of Leonardtown, MD died on June 7, 2010 at St. Mary’s Nursing Center, Leonardtown, MD. Born September 5, 1904 in Leonardtown, MD, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Manley and Florine Lucretia Bowles Higgs. She was the loving wife of the late Wilmer Daniel Woodburn. Elsie is survived by her children Francis B. Woodburn of Mechanicsville, VA, Emily Ann Christie of Lincoln, DE, Mary Jane Wood of Mechanicsville, MD and Rita W. Abell of California, MD as well as her 31 grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings Bernice H. Ferguson of KY, Mary Eva Abell of Leonardtown, MD, and Rebecca Shalis of Rockville, MD. Elsie is preceded in death by her children Alice M. White, William E. Woodburn and her siblings Theresa H. Ford, Helena H. Armstrong, Frances Wiltrout, Thomas M. Higgs and Charlotte Metzger. Elsie was a lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County where she was a homemaker. She enjoyed going to the fair with her lye soap, as well as to the market to get her fish. She enjoyed raising chickens and peacocks and selling eggs and poultry to everyone in Leonardtown, MD. She especially enjoyed feeding her chickens. She always had her feet on the sewing machine making her children clothes and many, many more. Her favorite medication was Vick’s and her favorite drink was dandelion wine. In order get a glass of her dandelion wine you had to be a very special person. The Family will receive friends on Thursday, June 10, 2010 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, MD where prayers will be recited at 7:00PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, June 11th, 2010 at 10:00AM in St. Aloysius Catholic Church with Fr. John Dakes officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Buddy White, Joe White, Bill Wood, Donny Abell, Patrick Woodburn and David Woodburn.
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“Granny there are not enough words to say how much you will be missed by me and all your family. We are truly blessed to have a grandmother like you.There are so many memories and stories we have told to our children and can tell our grandchildren about our grandmother.When we were kids all the times we would go in the barn an make hay forts and get fussed at for moving all the hay bales. Climbing the cherry tree sitting up there for hours picking cherrys for grannys cherry bread, that was so good. After school going to grannys and begging her to make me a egg sandwich she would fuss some but she would always do it after grandpop would say fix that little jackass a sandwich.You would always have a little job after your treat. People would ask me that didn’t know granny,and ask,what was she like. I would say if you have ever seen the granny on the beverly hillbillies that was our grandmother. Watching granny grab a chicken and cut its head off, battle a racoon,foxes,and chicken hawks was truly a experience that I will remember the rest of my life. The on thing see would run away from was a snake, she would run in the house and shut the door. Grannys dandilion wine what can I say how many people can take yellow flower and make a tasty drink out of it. Granny you may be gone from this world but you will live in my heart forever. Love your grandson PAT “
“As kids, we didn’t appreciate what a constant Granny was in out lives; she would feed us when we had nothing to eat, provide happiness when things got tough at home, take care of whatever boo-boo we came running into to her with, sit on the porch with the Sears “wish” book and tell us stories about how cheap things were back in the “old” days; she talk about times when the steamboats would come up St.Clements Bay to deliver goods. When she’d get angry with someone, she would just say “they can kiss my am-biti-butt”. I remember her telling us to climb the cherry tree and bring her a bucket of cherries – she would then make cherry-bread. I remember the back room where she would keep eggs and applesauce cake. I still can’t make applesause cake like she did. Granny hid the dandilion wine recipe behind a painting in the dining room! One day, we found it – Granny was none to happy about that. You never knew what you were getting for Christmas; if it was in a cracker box, it was probably underwear way to big for you, but she always had something for everyone. Let’s don’t forget her stuffed ham. It was the best! I also remember watching her kill a chicken for dinner – what a site that was for a young child; one chicken ran off in the woods with it’s head cut off. Another still had “rubber” eggs inside it. Then there was the butchering of pigs and cows; what an experience that was. We had the best time at Granny’s and yes, she always had Bam-Bam suckers for us. My favorite was chocolate! I keep all the memories of Granny close to my heart because she always made me feel special. I love you Granny. “
“To all the family, we will miss Granny!!!! She was the life of everything we did. She loved and taught us a lot. What memories we have of her and the stories she could tell rocking on the front porch as we watched the traffic going by.”
“To all of Grannies Family, You are in my thoughts and prayers. I think of all the fun times granny and I had when I worked in activities at the nursing center! She sure was a fire cracker, we had lots of fun together and she taught me lots of neat stuff! I will miss her!! Everone please take care!”
“Mary Jane & Garland (Mom & Dad), Rita, Wanda, Bill, Mark, Tim, & Patrick: I am sorry to hear of Granny’s passing. But what a life she lived. I too have memories of going to her farm with Rita. It was the first time I had carrot cake and boy was it good. I am thinking of you all during this difficult time. “
“We are so sorry to hear of grandmoma’s passing. What an amazing life she has led. We have so many memories they are too numerous to list. We all loved her dearly and know this is hard for you all. But think, now she is in heaven telling God how to raise his chickens and make dandelion wine.”
“There sure are lots of fond memories over at the farm. Climbing the cherry trees, eating pears and apples and being chased out of the barns for making hay forts. Everytime I smell a lilac I think of the good life over there. Matter of fact evertime I smell manure I think of the same thing. But Granny’s applesauce cakes and garden vegetables and rocking on the porch talking about her home remedies will always be remembered. I guess you really do have to eat a peck of dirt before you die!”
“To all of Mrs. Woodburn’s Family: I am sorry to hear of your Grannies passing. God bless and be with each and everyone of you.”
“Granny: You have had a very long and respected life. You have always been the constance in all of our lives. You will be greatly missed! I will always remember the farm, the families, and most of all , the dandelion wine!!! Sherry”
“Granny will be missed by all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I have so many memories of running through the path to see Granny and Grandpop. Helping Granny feed her chickens, peacocks…gather eggs and ride the tractor on the farm with Daddy. Granny always had something ready for us to eat and drink..cake or dandilion wine. When you got ready to leave…she had her bag of Bam-Bam suckers, you only got one..and she would say “that’s all she wrote”..now get! We all will miss you and keep our memories close to our hearts.. “
“Mama Woodburn was the most amazing mother and person we have ever known. By the power of a nature honed by hard work and honesty, she was unique in a character possessing not one iota of care for accumulating money. She lived to sacrifice and care for those she loved. Her visage reminded me of the ancient wrinkled face of Mother Theresa. Truly this petite, hardworking, inventive, marvelous cook, generous with all she had was a modern saint. she was inspiring when times were tough; God knows she lived through enough of hard times but her spirit could inspire you to “spit in your hand and grab a fresh hold” ,(as he told me once). We will miss her so but do want to now how much our large Woodburn clan thanks the staff of St. Mary’s Nursing Center for the good care and affection that they showed to our mother for so many years when she could no longer care for herself.”
“How blessed our family was to have Elsie Woodburn as our mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother! She was an inspiration; teaching each and every one of us that hard work, clean living, dandelion wine and the use of Vicks VapoRub can lead to a long and happy life. Vacations spent on Small Hope Farm with Granny, Grandpop, my aunts, uncles and cousins have been, and always will be, fondly remembered. Thanks Granny for the love and devotion you so freely gave us throughout your life. You will always be loved and never forgotten. Cindy”
“Granny how lucky we all were to have you in our lives. I always looked so forward to the 2 weeks in August that we spent with you and Grandpa. I will never forget watching you jump the 7 foot fence when the animals got into your vegetable garden. Every morning when I open my medicine cabinet and see the jar of Vicks VapoRub, I think of you with much love and admiration.”
“Folks, to many of us “Miss Elsie” was an icon and to all of us a Treasure and to a priviledged few…”Granny”. Condolences”
“To the family of Mrs. Woodburn, how lucky you all were to have your grandmother on this earth for 105 years. The memories you have of Granny will stay with you forever. We will pray and ask God to bring you comfort. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you. “
“Thinking of you in your time of sorrow, your granny was the only roomate my grandmother ever had, thank you to your family for your friendship over those years, may both of our grandmas rest in peace now. “
“Mary Janet and Garland and Children., So sorry to hear about your Mothers passing. Our heartfelt sympathy and condolences. My best to Garland, Mark and Rita. Louis”
“To all the Woodburn family: Sorry to hear of your Granny’s passing. Grandmothers are very special people in our lives and reading your stories bring back memories of living beside my Grandmother. We were truely blessed to have such special memories of our Grandmothers. Too bad we can’t keep them with us forever. You are in my heart and prayers. God bless you all.”
“Granny was respected and loved by so many. What a long life she lived – I can’t even imagine all that she experienced in her 105 years of life. I’m so honored to be one of her many great grandchildren. I have many memories of the farm! I was so lucky to be able to grow up right next to the farm and spend so much time with her. I remember a few days a week Brittaney and I would walk through the path to the farm and would sit on the porch with Granny and just listen to the stories she would tell…we also always expected a piece of candy! Granny always had candy! It was also exciting when she had baby chickens in the house – she loved her chickens! I will miss Granny so much….her stubborn attitude and all!! “
“To the family of Aunt Elsie my deepest condolences. Although our family never lived in Maryland nor the surrounding area we always knew my mother’s sisters and her brother through my mother’s stories. We grew up in Kentucky and had visits from Aunt Frankie and Uncle Glen and also Charlotte Ann and Bob. Those were wonderful visits making my mother so happy. My mother (Mary Berenice) and I visited Washington when Aunt Frankie was ill and we were able to see “brother”, Aunt Eva and Elsie on that trip. When we went to Aunt Elsie’s home she came out and jumped over a bush looking like Granny on the Beverly Hillbillies. We went inside and took a whole bunch of hats she had and all tried them on. We had a lot of laughs from the sights we were. I still have the pictures of us and those hats. At one point Aunt Elsie grabbed her gun and ran out the front door. I didn’t know who she was going to kill but learned a few minutes later that she thought something was after her peacocks. We had such fun during our visit with the look on my mother and Aunt Elsie’s faces being the best memory. They so enjoyed seeing one another. I have always taken great delight in having been born on my father and Aunt Elsie’s birthday, September 5th and whenever I tell people that my mother is 96 I always add that my Aunt Elsie is 105. It was just nice knowing she was there. I will miss knowing that someone like her is gone but she will not be forgotten. She now joins the other “Higgs girls” and “brother” who have gone before her. They all were and are such unique individuals. They don’t make them like that anymore. I read the other posted items and can see she was loved by many. God Bless all of you in your time of sadness. Rita Ferguson Cottrell, Louisville, Kentucky”
“To Rita and family: I will surely miss seeing you and your mom at the nursing home. she will be missed. The Lord has a new special Angel now to watch over you and your family. She will be in my thoughts and prayers. Take Care.”
“I have such wonderful childhood memories involving Granny. I am so sad that she’s passed away but I don’t think God knew what was in for. I’m sure she’s up there telling him how to run the show. I’m only sorry that my husband and daughter never got the chance to meet Granny. “
“Each day as I view these tributes to our “Granny” “Granmomma” “Elsie”, the tears well in my eyes. I am reminded of so many fond memories of growing up with Granmomma and Granpoppa just past “the big turn”. Walking to get a dozen eggs for momma and returning with an armful of lilacs, making helicopters with a corncob and found feathers, BB Bat suckers, baby chicks in a cardboard box in the kitchen, the kitchen loft,the hillside of daffodils in the spring and sneaking into Rita’s room that was always off limits! (You knew we had been there!) Taking the mail to her and rocking on the front porch just waiting to get a treat from her out of that old fruit cake tin! Yes we will all miss her greatly, but if we try to emulate her in just one small way, we will be a better person because of it. That little woman with her little gray hair bun, four or five sweaters, 2 or 3 aprons tied around her waist and a couple layers of pants is still watching us shaking her finger telling us what is the right thing and the wrong thing to do! Love To All! Susan and Family “
“To the family of Granny Woodburn: Our deepest sympathy, Granny will truly be missed by her extended family at St.Mary’s Nursing Center. The stories, home remedies, and what she would do with a tobacco stick if she had one, will remain in our hearts forever. Deepest sympathy to Rita who for the past 8 years has been like a staff member. Visiting daily, making sure mom was as comfortable as possible. Yes Granny you were a amazing person. We love and will miss you, or as you would say when asked do you love me? “I like you allright..” “
“My condolences to the Family. It will be up to you to carry on some of that “old time” tradition through the memories your Granny. I’m sure she could tell many-a-story! Prayers to you all.”
“Tricia : I’m sorry to hear about the passing of you grandmother, know that you and your family are in my prayers.”
“Granny is a little bit of history gone to rest and never to be forgotten. Her stories are her signature in time and will be told to our children and theirs. I have good memories of running barefoot through the woods to Granny’s and playing in the old tobacco barns. Picking cherries, mulberries, and feeding the chickens, which I must admit, they scared me. Granny would sit in her rocking chair on that old porch and talk about a time when she could hear the steamers early in the morning heading up St. Clement’s Bay to Ms. Abell’s to drop of goods and how she and her mother would take the boat to Washington, DC. That must’ve been an adventure. As time past corn replaced tobacco in the fields and Granny was none to happy about it. She said it was good for nothin old feed corn that cut off the breeze to her house. I hold those stories close to me and will remember my grandmother.”
“Mama: As we were leaving the cemetery a beautiful butterfly landed on a flower, it remained there for sometime and Debbie tried to see if it would move which it didn’t. Debbie said Mom and it is Wilmer(My Father) coming to take Granny home. He had waited for her 31 years. It was time for them to reunite in heaven and perhaps there will be a Roy Rogers or a Gene Autry movie the two of you can enjoy. The memories and love for you will remain forever.”
“Granny, Where do I start to list all of the gifts you have given to all of us through the years? I will never be able to give my children what you and grandpa gave to yours and us grandkids. The countless summer vacations we spent with you on the farm were priceless. No computers, cell-phones, or video games. Just fresh air, home grown food, and family……lots of family!!!! I cannot begin to list the things that I appreciate now because of you and grand pop. Running through a corn or tobacco field, great southern food, corn cob helicopters, chasing turkeys, etc…….Whenever I see a can of corned beef I always think of your supper table. When I see a corn field I always say to myself with a grin that it has to be “knee high by the 4th of July” Thanks for everything Granny! I love you! “