Savannah

Born in the Southern state of Georgia, the place that would be
forever etched in her heart with unabiding love, the state that
would always be her home no matter where she went. The city of Savannah her home and home it stayed even in her final resting place upon the Savannah River.

Of the many people that have crossed my path in this life there
has been very few whom I that were the eptiomy of a philanthropist,
and one of those people was my dear friend I came to fondly know
as Savannah. A woman of a great deal of modesty, down to earth,
witty and equal tenacity with a mind of her own. A woman who
slowed down for nothing and was always putting others first before
herself, an uncanny to make others who crossed her path feel like
they were the only person in her life and that they were important
to her.

Although we met online there is no doubt in my mind that a strong
bond grew in such a short space of time. She took me under her
wing and made me feel like I was a part of her family. A feeling
that has not diminished with her passing or the passing of time. She
came to affectionately call me "Little One" after I told her about a
great Aunt who use to call me the same nickname.

One of the things she taught me and helped me to see when we were
chatting with each other, during the time she was in my life, was that I had an inner strength I hadn't really recongized much less
would admit.

Her loyality, generosity and love were boundless. Although there
was much I came to learn about who Savannah was there was indeed much more learned after she passed away. One of the things
we had in common was our love for the water. Hers being a love
for sailing and mine being to sit by the water and relax. She once told me, "...water is my special thinking place."

One of the most memorable occasions we spent online together was
she took me on a tour of the city of her beloved Savannah. With
the older computer I had at the time it took a while for that tour to
be complete. Savannah said to me, "This is fun.... I am having a
blast, I am glad I came online to talk to you."

A few days after the tour we spoke on the phone, it was the last time
I spoke with her and she said, "I have a soft spot in my heart for you because you never ask anything of me." We accepted each other completely for who we were as human beings with no strings
attached. A genuine love and that is why I think we never asked
anything of each other.

I came to learn alot about my dear friend following her passing, learned of her love for John Denver's music. One of her law partners quipped to me that Savannah had John Denver up there
serenading her in heaven which neither of us had any doubt.

However the one thing I learned from Savannah in her death was that it taught me that I had the capacity to have an impact on another person's life. It was brought to my attention that she felt of
me as though I were another daughter to her. She reared a daughter and yet it is my sense that she adopted a couple of other
daughters into her kind, generous heart.

She adored her family, from her partner to her daughter and her grandhchildren. And I was deeply honored that she took me into the folds of her family as if I were one of her own.

Savannah, you are greatly missed by all those who loved you, keep
watch over your loved ones here on earth.

So many things we can't control
   so many hurts that won't ever go away
So many heartaches that pierce the soul
   so much pain the won't ever go away

How do we make it better
   how do we make it through
What can we do when there's nothing we can do

We can be kind
   we can take care of each other
We can remember that deep down inside
   we all need the same thing

And maybe we'll find
   if we're there for each other
That together we'll weather
   whatever tomorrow may bring

Nobody really wants to fight
   Nobody really wants to go to war
If every one wants to make things right
   Then what are we always fighting for

Does nobody want to see it
does nobody understand
The power to heal is right here in our hand

And it's not enough to talk about it
   not enough to sing a song
We must walk the walk about it
   You and I, do or die
We've got to try and get along

And maybe we'll find
   true piece of mind
If we only remember
   We can Be Kind