Gallien girls with mom

Shelby Gallien was a family matriarch; the wife to a successful dentist and businessman and the mother to three beautiful daughters who God saw fit to pass to each the stellar qualities that she so admirably exhibited during her seven decades on earth.

Yet “Miss Shelby” was much more than a wife and mother. In truth, she and a dozen or so other neighborhood moms in our hometown of Savannah, Tennessee, raised at least 100 kids whose lives were touched in over a 20-year period from the late 1960’s through the 1980’s. It was a golden era for those of us lucky to have lived in and around Yeiser subdivision.

The Gallien family is well-known and plays an instrumental role in Savannah to this day. Dr. John Gallien, when he was fresh out of dental school, moved his young bride to this small, sleepy river town in the early 1960’s to establish a practice and began raising his family.

Mary Susan – who was born the same year as me – was soon followed by Jean Anne and Jane Ellen. Although they may not know it, these southern belles are why I insisted that my daughter, Mary Morgan, be called by her first and middle names. I wanted her to be as southern and pretty as the Gallien girls, inside and out.

While she had endured some health issues the past few years, Miss Shelby’s Thanksgiving passing was a surprise to most outside of her immediate family. Time and distance prohibit me from attending many funerals of family friends in Savannah and candidly, I’m not fond of funerals because more times than not, they are sad, gloomy and cold services as opposed to gatherings that celebrate the impact someone had on their family and community. Thankfully, and not to my surprise, Miss Shelby’s service was a wonderful example of how someone should be remembered by those who loved her and would want to show respect for a family and their numerous contributions. What a celebration it was!

Obviously, the girls and Dr. Gallien were heartbroken, as their wife and mother were gone. She and Dr. Gallien were rarely apart outside of his working hours, and the two daughters who lived out of town made extra efforts to return with their families as often as possible. Miss Shelby loved seeing her grandchildren. And seeing the Gallien clan altogether at church services or at a holiday gathering was a sight to behold! While there are no “perfect” families, they’re one of the more ideal ones I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing.

Noticing all three girls were going to speak at the service, I quietly prayed as they approached the white pulpit at First United Methodist Church. Having stood in that same spot, I know how difficult a task it is to speak at funeral of a parent and expected one or all might not be able to complete their remarks as their mother’s body lay in front of them. Thankfully any doubts I had were exceeded by God’s laying His awesome and amazing hands on these three daughters.

One after another, Jane Ellen, Jean Anne and Mary Susan delivered their words with the same grace and elegance Shelby Gallien was known for. I’m not sure “grace and elegance” adequately describe Miss Shelby. Not that either word is not fitting – far from it. You see, I don’t believe the definition of these words encapsulate how she defined them. But I not sure other terms Jean Anne referenced in her remarks such as wise, kind, loving, beautiful, sincere or caring do either. Miss Shelby exceeded each so easily.

Mary Susan recounted some of the more memorable stories of their mom; of how she insisted the girls deliver their favorite toys to needy families on Christmas and how much effort Miss Shelby would spend on a Saturday night getting three little ones prepped for Sunday morning church. She wanted each to look their best for God. I know she looked her best as Jesus met her at Heaven’s gate.

Jane Ellen read a poem that although previously published, had to have been written with Shelby Gallien in mind.

“She tells me we mustn’t be sad

Because finally she’s pain free

She’s found her place in heaven

Underneath a blossom tree

 

“She’ll always be there to guide us

When we feel we’ve lost the way

She’ll always be there to comfort us

And wipe those tears away”

As her body was rolled down the aisle, tears swelled in my eyes as I sat beside two of my lifelong best friends, while the girls and their father sobbed escorting their wife and mother to her final resting place. In time, the tears they shed in earnest will be replaced by knowing their wife and mother is protected by Jesus and is being loved even more there than she was on earth. Yes, it was the celebration Shelby Gallien would have wanted.

I have such fond memories of seeing Miss Shelby and Dr. Gallien each time I attended First Methodist or ran into them at a restaurant or party. I will miss her smile, her gentle hug and her soft voice. I will rejoice knowing there are several other “matriarchs” in Savannah who had a similar impact on the dozens of kids that spent time in and around Yeiser subdivision over those twenty plus years. I am thankful to be one of those raised by these moms whose love and guidance made us what we are today.

Shelby Gallien was a true matriarch. A loving and supportive wife, a mother whose number one priority was to transform three little girls into young ladies, who in turn, were expected to pass those same qualities she deemed so important to their own children. To boot, she cared enough about her friends and her daughter’s closest friends to exhibit that same loving sprit to each and every one of us. May God bless each and every matriarch in your life too.