Roll On, Sweet Meg
The Huntsville and University of Alabama communities are saddened this morning at the passing of Meg Ingram. Meg was a nursing major and former Bama cheerleader who fought valiantly and mirthfully against a rare form of brain-stem cancer over the last 2 years. She was an inspiration to her family and legion of friends, among them Number One Son who knew her and her sister Madalyn well.
Before she died she asked two things. First, that everyone ditch the traditional black at her funeral and instead wear her favorite color–pink–or, of course, crimson. I know that that her many friends, even those from Auburn, will gladly oblige.
Secondly, she asked that the University of Alabama recognize in an official way that she had been a part of that community. President Robert Witt did just that, and this past week a member of the Board of Trustees presented an honorary degree to her at Huntsville Hospital. By that time, Meg had slipped into a coma, but her parents, Lance and Hannajon (“H.J.”) felt that she knew it was there.
Meg, thank you for teaching us to “number our days aright.” And I’ll say this, because I know you would want it to be said shouted, loudly and clearly for all the world to hear:
Roll Tide, Roll!
And Roll On, Sweet Meg. It seems like you were always leading. Wait for us there.
5 Comments
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That Girl
My prayers are with her family.
…and for Meg – Roll Tide!
ME
That’s really sad but a nice tribute.
Prayers and good thoughts to Meg’s friends and family.
mmlace
That makes me sad.
Her friends and family are in my prayers.
Hope your Number One son is okay, as well. It can be hard to deal with losing a close friend like this at a young age.
Mike the Eyeguy
When Number One was 10-years-old, he and 5 other young men dressed in suits and tennis shoes were honorary pall bearers at his 11-year-old cousin’s funeral. He is no stranger to grief.
He followed us home from Tuscaloosa after the game yesterday in order to attend Meg’s funeral today. I encouraged him to get there early since I knew it would be packed. He wore a pink striped shirt with a solid pink tie. I texted him shortly before the funeral:
Me: “Crowded?”
Number One: “Yep–and very, very pink.”
As the Bama cheerleaders and the sisters of Pi Beta Phi filed in, Number One gave up his seat and stood in the back, Bama gentleman that he is.
The service was beautiful, he said, and many stood tall and strong and delivered comforting and uplifting words.
It is rained hard in Huntsville today; even the heavens are crying.
Roll Tide, Roll.
mmlace
Wow. That comment strikes several cords with me. The first time I dealt w/grief was when my grandfather passed away…I was 10.
I’ve handled it a few times since then, but most recently was a little over a year ago. I saw all my male cousins (ranging in age from 8-24) serve as pall bearers for my 12-year-old cousin’s funeral.
It didn’t rain during the day, during her funeral. But it did rain on me later that evening, when I was by myself, as I made the 2 hour drive back home.