Another Life Transitioned: Valentine Matriarch Best Remembered As Loving Mother
Posted by David Adams on July 12th, 2012
One of the fondest images I’ve ever held of the Valentines is a picture with Cousin Veronica and her four pretty little girls standing on the stoop of their Atlantic City, New Jersey home in the late 1970’s. Ronnie as she was affectionately known to all that knew her, extended her arms covering her offspring in a classic expression of love as if she was presenting her babies to the world. That photo isn’t just an icon family portrait, but for the most part it epitomized the very legacy of love, togetherness, and family that most people will certainly frame in their minds as the fashion in which she developed her kids, while remembering this caring, kind, and fun-loving person. My memory of Veronica Valentine isn’t predicated on allegiance to family or relative bias, but rather it’s my practical experience of having been counseled, advised, disciplined, and impacted by the spirit of true motherly love she displayed while I interacted with her. Ronnie was an extremely nice person who I personally have never observed being upset about anything or even raising her voice. Her persona projected positiveness, and she made it a distinct point to disassociated herself from negativity of any kind. Like most people who possess unique characters that’s distinct from the norm, Ronnie wasn’t void of ridicule from people who perceived her as arrogant, self-righteous, and better than others. Those opinions from others, even family members, were just that (their opinion), and she never allowed such animosity to deter her from anything. Cousin Ronnie was a woman of Faith. God reigned in her life, and she made that abundantly clear to all. You knew where to find Ronnie on Sunday, as the Lord’s House was her sanctuary, a life practice mirrored by her children to this very day. My reflection of my cousin isn’t filled with hot air and distortions of the true. All anyone has to know about her to determine the kind of person she was, can easily be measured by simply talking to the four beautiful, distinct, and sweet woman that she raised. My cousins are not being portrayed as perfect people, no one is perfect or without sin. They are very good people, that’s the truth, and interacting with any one of them will reveal that they were raised in an environment that derived from love, wisdom, values, and a home that knew the Lord. In fact their characters have always been so alluring that they were considered the envy of their peers. Ronnie was a strong Christian Woman who doubled as a full-time single parent and that obstacle was a mere bump in the road. Ronnie’s personal strength surpassed every obstacle that life brought to her. She was an enormously strong person that I have always admired, respected, and sought advise from. Her ability to raise her girls in the face of adversity is simply an incredible story, and embodies how woman of color have been the backbone of their families for centuries.These are facts that I know because I lived it and is also the reason that her passing hurts so very deeply. I have never been angry with her, because I had no cause to be. I can’t speak for my siblings or other family members, but Ronnie treated me as if I was her own child. I don’t know if such affection originated from the closeness that she shared with my late mother, but she always treated me as family in ever since of the word. Veronica Valentine was an iconic family figure and her having passed is one of the most difficult days of my life. I will miss our talks, her loving personality, and most importantly I’ll miss how kind she was to me. Cousin Ronnie has gone on to be with the Lord now, but she has left this earth having completed her work. Though I will never see her in the flesh again, those four beautiful girls will be a constant reminder to me that we are still family, and they are the gift she gave to this world. I pay homage to Veronica Valentine today and thank her for the loving spirit she shared with me. I am grateful to have such a blissful woman touch my life. I love you Ronnie and I’ll think of you every day the rest of my life. God speed.
The early days: Cousin Veronica Valentine with her four pretty little girls dressed in their Sunday’s Best circa 1970’s in Atlantic City, New Jersey!
(I can’t help but laugh while fighting back tears looking at this picture. Kim (all white) has the biggest smile), Lynn (baby blue) looks as if she is the star and should be the only one in the picture, Danita (green plaid) looks like she is watching the ice cream truck go by, and Donna’s plaid coat and matching hat is simply a classic family portrait. I love each and everyone of ya’ll)
Your Cousin
David
One of the fondest images I’ve ever held of the Valentines is a picture with Cousin Veronica and her four pretty little girls standing on the stoop of their Atlantic City, New Jersey home in the late 1970’s. Ronnie as she was affectionately known to all that knew her, extended her arms covering her offspring in a classic expression of love as if she was presenting her babies to the world. That photo isn’t just an icon family portrait, but for the most part it epitomized the very legacy of love, togetherness, and family that most people will certainly frame in their minds as the fashion in which she developed her kids, while remembering this caring, kind, and fun-loving person. My memory of Veronica Valentine isn’t predicated on allegiance to family or relative bias, but rather it’s my practical experience of having been counseled, advised, disciplined, and impacted by the spirit of true motherly love she displayed while I interacted with her. Ronnie was an extremely nice person who I personally have never observed being upset about anything or even raising her voice. Her persona projected positiveness, and she made it a distinct point to disassociated herself from negativity of any kind. Like most people who possess unique characters that’s distinct from the norm, Ronnie wasn’t void of ridicule from people who perceived her as arrogant, self-righteous, and better than others. Those opinions from others, even family members, were just that (their opinion), and she never allowed such animosity to deter her from anything. Cousin Ronnie was a woman of Faith. God reigned in her life, and she made that abundantly clear to all. You knew where to find Ronnie on Sunday, as the Lord’s House was her sanctuary, a life practice mirrored by her children to this very day. My reflection of my cousin isn’t filled with hot air and distortions of the true. All anyone has to know about her to determine the kind of person she was, can easily be measured by simply talking to the four beautiful, distinct, and sweet woman that she raised. My cousins are not being portrayed as perfect people, no one is perfect or without sin. They are very good people, that’s the truth, and interacting with any one of them will reveal that they were raised in an environment that derived from love, wisdom, values, and a home that knew the Lord. In fact their characters have always been so alluring that they were considered the envy of their peers. Ronnie was a strong Christian Woman who doubled as a full-time single parent and that obstacle was a mere bump in the road. Ronnie’s personal strength surpassed every obstacle that life brought to her. She was an enormously strong person that I have always admired, respected, and sought advise from. Her ability to raise her girls in the face of adversity is simply an incredible story, and embodies how woman of color have been the backbone of their families for centuries.These are facts that I know because I lived it and is also the reason that her passing hurts so very deeply. I have never been angry with her, because I had no cause to be. I can’t speak for my siblings or other family members, but Ronnie treated me as if I was her own child. I don’t know if such affection originated from the closeness that she shared with my late mother, but she always treated me as family in ever since of the word. Veronica Valentine was an iconic family figure and her having passed is one of the most difficult days of my life. I will miss our talks, her loving personality, and most importantly I’ll miss how kind she was to me. Cousin Ronnie has gone on to be with the Lord now, but she has left this earth having completed her work. Though I will never see her in the flesh again, those four beautiful girls will be a constant reminder to me that we are still family, and they are the gift she gave to this world. I pay homage to Veronica Valentine today and thank her for the loving spirit she shared with me. I am grateful to have such a blissful woman touch my life. I love you Ronnie and I’ll think of you every day the rest of my life. God speed.
The early days: Cousin Veronica Valentine with her four pretty little girls dressed in their Sunday’s Best circa 1970’s in Atlantic City, New Jersey!
(I can’t help but laugh while fighting back tears looking at this picture. Kim (all white) has the biggest smile), Lynn (baby blue) looks as if she is the star and should be the only one in the picture, Danita (green plaid) looks like she is watching the ice cream truck go by, and Donna’s plaid coat and matching hat is simply a classic family portrait. I love each and everyone of ya’ll)
Your Cousin
David
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