A Cornucopia of Thanks
      for Celia
      in Honor of Her 24th birthday
      November 21, 1998
       
       
       In gratitude for her life and the special ways in which she enriched
      each of ours, we share "The Essence of Celia"
      Antoine Iskandar
      Melissa, Bill, and Maxine Pinson
       
       
      Bouquets of Sunflowers
      for our "Sunflower"
       
       
      who will be with us always...
       
      (Selections from notes received following Celia's passing August 3, 1998.)
       
      Celia was a vibrant young lady who will be missed.
      I know that eternity has welcomed a bright and special soul.
      Celia was truly a gift from God to all the people who knew her.
         Celia was truly a beautiful and brilliant child. I remember her well.
      Celia was so outgoing and strong in her faith. She will be missed by all of us.
       
         Celia was such a sunny child. The Memorial Web Site is a fine tribute to her.
      I think of Celia a lot. I have an old picture of us that I've put on my wall in her memory.
      I have many, many, many good and happy memories of Celia that I will cherish for life.
       
      We remember Celia as a lively and spirited young lady. She was a pleasure to be around.
       
      My memory of Celia will be her smile. A smile is a precious gift, and she gave them to us all.
       Celia was such a wonderful young lady--special in so many
      ways. We will all miss her so very much.
       
      Celia was always such a precious girl. She always has
      and always will remain in our hearts forever.
       
       Know that precious Celia is, at this moment, in the
      best of company. She was loved, and she loved so many.
      The poetry of angels will be much more beautiful with
      Celia's gifts and presence. Her memory will live on in my heart.
      Our family has cried today (Celia's birthday) as we've reminisced and thought
      about all the wonderful memories Celia left for us. Her memory will always be with us.
       
      I was talking about Celia the other day at the sorority house. One of my older sisters
      started talking about how sweet she was--that seems to be what everyone says about her.
       
        I do not know what to say--it is such a devastating loss for
      all who were touched by Celia. I shall never forget her beautiful spirit.
       
      The lovely flowers you sent me from Celia's service are a reminder of that darling little
      girl I knew so many years ago, who is now an angel, with her Savior, in her heavenly home.
       
      During the short time I knew Celia, I found her to be a kind and wonderful
      young lady whom I liked very much. I know she will remain special in the
      hearts of many.
       
      Celia was always one of the sweetest and
      friendliest young ladies from the dorm. I remember her well.
      Shewas one of the most beautiful people I have
      ever met. I will always keep her smile close to my heart.
       
      When I worked with Celia all those years ago, I saw
      great promise. She certainly became a beautiful young woman.
       
      We prayed that Celia's bone marrow transplant would be a
      success. She was such a creative, talented, and pretty young woman.
      Celia was such a blessing to us all, and I will cherish our wonderful
      childhood memories. She was a wonderful person and an amazing writer!
       
      Celia's Memorial Service was beautiful and a moving
      testament to what was clearly an extraordinary life that touched many people.
       
      Celia was a precious little girl. How well I remember her in
      first/second grades! I loved her dearly. This is truly a terrible loss.
       
      Please know you will be foremost in our thoughts and
      prayers as you grieve the loss of such a gentle, precious daughter.
      Celia was such a lovely person, the closest thing to an angel on
      earth I've ever known. She as beautiful, sweet, cheerful, and talented.
      Celia was such an inspiration to us all. We will miss her spirit and beautiful smile.
      The faith and courage Celia displayed has been a source of inspiration to so many.
      We were interested to hear about Celia's request to have her remains
      scattered in Sedona, AZ. We've been there and thought, at the time, what a
      beautiful, spiritual place it is.(See photo at end of page.)
       
      Celia was always the height of cheerfulness whenever I saw
      her. It's comforting to know that she went through her illness
      with great courage because of her faith and rich sense of humor.
      Celia was always such a bright spot in our lives. Even on her last visit to
      Darlington, when she told us of her illness, she was still like a ray of
      sunshine--bright, positive, cheerful. We wll never forget her.
      Celia will certainly be missed by the many lives she touched while here.
      She will be honored at Alumni Weekend '98. I know that Celia was hoping
      to attend her reunion in October. She was an extraordinary person and spirit.
       
      Celia was such a beautiful girl with a beautiful smile--a smile that reached out from a photo (I saw honoring her in your B & B newsletter) to penetrate my being and creep into my soul.
      I was deeply saddened to hear the tragic news about your lovely Celia. She
      will always hold a special place in our hearts. She was a sweet and generous child
      and clearly a gifted writer.
       
      I will never forget what a wonderful day Celia spent with the
      fifth grade students at Kittredge. She was an inspiration to the children
      and to me, as I'm sure she continued to be to so many others.
       
       We know there's rejoicing in heaven over the entrance of
      Celia. The Lord was good to let us have her life for inspiration
      throughout ours. Her faith shone through all circumstances.
       
      Celia was a wonderful person. I happily remember the fun summers we spent
      together as kids. Celia was always highly spirited, and many, besides myself,
      will remember her fondly. I believe she touched everyone who came into her life.
       
      Celia lived life to the fullest. Even as a young teen, she loved helping and
      working with the children of our church at Vacation Bible School and summer church
      camp. I'll pray for understanding or acceptance, as well as thankfulness, for a precious life.
      I can't tell you how touched I was at the lovely Memorial Service for your
      Celia. It was such a tribute to her. There was so much love in that church.
      You must be so proud of Celia, the life she lived, and all she gave to others.
       
       Celia dealt with her illness with such grace and dignity. Her obvious
      deep faith will continue to be an inspiration to all of us. We will remember her
      lovely, happy smile, and her many talents that she so lovingly and willingly shared
      with everyone.
       
      The little poet, who was my friend, has been with me here for
      a week with the yellow roses you bestowed upon me. Her lovely face,
      caught smiling in the great golden sunflower, let me see the woman she
      had grown into. Remembering your poet and her gifted sister.
      There are many ways in which I am sure Celia will be
      remembered: happy, spirited, imaginative, and strong are just a few
      of the adjectives that spring to my mind. The greatest gift I feel bound to thank
      her for is the fact that just thinking about Celia brings a warm smile to my face.
      Celia was always obedient as a child, and she continued showing
      me respect after becoming an adult. Going to a place where she'll no
      longer have to suffer leaves a void in our hearts that no one can fill.
      There are so many happy and precious memories of herthat will make
      us smile even when we want to shed tears.
       
       Everyone's words at Celia's Memorial Service captured some
      of Celia's essence--her warmth, caring, sense of fun, beauty, and talent.
      I remember how Celia graced the stage (as Ms. Halligan) and shared her spirit
      in The Savannah Theater's production of Annie" during the summer of 1994.
      I hope you can take comfort in knowing how much Celia was cared for by
      others. I didn't know Celia for very long; we only went to school together
      for a few months in the eighth grade. I was a new student there, intimidated
      by everyone and everything. Celia is the person I remember as always
      friendly, always smiling, always kind.
       
        I was watching T.V. tonight and an old song came on that I'd forgotten about.
      It reminded me of Celia and how much I miss her. I started crying because I
      miss her so deeply. I know she's in a much better place, no longer suffering,
      and probably dancing up a storm.:o) The Cancer Support group went to
      Washington D.C. for the "March for a Cure." Included was a "wall of courage."
      I had a picture of Celia, Melissa and myself blown up, and I put it on the wall
      with a note in her memory.
       
      I thought about Celia all day today (the day she would've become 24)
      remembering the fun times we had, how much I learned from her about life,
      and the joy I felt inside when I was near her.  She always told me about
      those magical birthday parties you gave for her. They were so creative.
      When she shared those memories with me, I could always tell how special
      they were to her and how much they expressed your love to her.I remember
      one, in particular, she told me about. She said you made binoculars out of toilet
      paper rolls to search for Captain Hook, from a boat, during a "Peter Pan" party.
      And how, at another party, the children took a carriage ride around Savannah as
      the climax to a "Cinderella" party. I remember listening to those stories and
      thinking how lucky Celia was to have such a creative and fun-filled childhood. I
      miss her terribly, but I thank God, all the time, for the time I knew her. Celia filled
      a gap in my life that no other human ever could, and I'm not sure anyone will ever be
      able to again the way she did. You are so fortunate to have had a daughter like Celia.
      God definitely had a special plan for you when he gave you her as a child.  The world
      was truly blessed by her.
      (**The above e-mail message was received right before I went to bed November 21, Celia's 24th birthday.
      Early that morning, I prayed that, before going to bed that night, I'd receive some sort of tangible "affirmation"
      that Celia knew how much I loved her and how special she was to me.This touching note, from someone very close to Celia's heart, was an answer to my prayer.)
       
      OPEN LETTER of GRATITUDE
      from Celia's mother
       
       


       

      NOTE: Even though Celia was an extraordinary individual, who had a positive impact on more lives during her short life than many do who live decades longer, the last thing she would want would be "glorification" or placement upon a pedestal. Like all of us, Celia dealt with frailities and inner struggles. Yet, it was the way she tried to conquer these that contributed to her specialness.
       
      Celia was one week old Thanksgiving Day 1974. After six years of earnestly praying for a child, we always considered her a "Thanksgiving Child"--a cornucopia of special traits and gifts. Thanksgiving 1998 will be
      our first Thanksgiving without her. However, tomorrow, as well as for the remainder of my life, I shall continue
      giving thanks to God for blessing me the honor of being the mother of such a precious child for the time he entrusted her to my care.

      Tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day1998, I shall remember, as I do each day, all of the special "angels" God sent to comfort us during Celia's long illness and the difficult time since her passing. During this time, I plan to write an "Open Expression of Gratitude" which will appear on Celia's Memorial Web Site.

                                                                                                                           --Maxine Pinson
      .
       
       
       Antoine scattering Celia's remains in Sedona, AZ
       
      At Celia's request, her ashes were scattered in Sedona, AZ
      by her husband, Antoine. Looking at the photograph,
      Antoine said it looked as though Celia were trying to come back to him
      once last time (because of the way the wind blew her remains back as he scattered them).
      Note how the sky needs a beautiful, fluffy white cloud--that's what "she" looks likes
      in this picture. Now, whenever I see such a cloud, I see Celia in the midst of it with a
      radiant smile of peace and contentment upon her face. And that enables me to smile,
      as well, with the same feelings.