My earliest memories of my Aunt Anne are of her emerging from the car after a 12-hour trip from New York to South Carolina and still looking radiant.   She always traveled chic, no sweats allowed.   When she arrived in Washington, D.C. for my graduate school graduation this past spring those memories came to mind.  More than 20 years later she was still the chicest traveler.

Anne traded South Carolina for NYC in 1968. She dove into city life; always looking fabulous, attending Broadway shows, and dining at hot restaurants.  She was the most glamorous person I’d ever seen. There were many suitors that tried to “Put a ring on it” but she was the original “Miss Independent” and preferred holidaying in the Caribbean to domesticity.  

Although she was living the glamorous life she loved visiting her family in South Carolina and hosting them in New York.  Her siblings provided her with an army of nieces and nephews that she doted on.  When I was little, I’d help her unpack when she came to visit.  I loved her clothing’s fabric, especially the furs!  I’d ask why there was an LV on her brown luggage when her initials were AW.   It was diva training!

During my trips to New York she introduced me to her city.  When I was interning in New York every Sunday she gave me subway tokens, made me dinner, and styled my hair into a chignon or French twist that withstood the summer heat.  Her closet was my “Bag, Borrow or Steal.” I borrowed Louis and Gucci.  Years later I was so proud to introduce Anne and my mom (her older sister) to my then city of Washington.  We shopped, saw a play, and dined at Zola and B. Smith’s.

Anne retired at the age of 52 and returned to South Carolina.  She reconnected with old friends, learned to drive, and bought her first car: a Mercedes. If I had become really busy and didn’t call her, soon I’d receive a voice mail message laced with love and encouragement. I saved her messages and listened to them several times.

When I returned to South Carolina this summer we were both excited that we could now spend more time together.  She quickly corrected anyone that called me a teacher and said “she’s a professor.” All year she had been experiencing mysterious health problems.  She endured test after test with style and grace and in heels.   She was a woman of faith and was confident that she would beat this mystery illness.  Two weeks ago she was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease and the prognosis was bleak.   Anne made all the decisions about her treatment although she could only communicate through written notes now. On Monday night she returned to her home instead of going to a hospice facility. Her siblings rallied around and prepared to care for her. Tuesday morning she made her transition.

I’m devastated.  We wanted to go to California together, holiday shop at the Saks outlet, and one day I’d have a daughter that she would be a great aunt to.  At 62, my original diva exited too soon.

For more information on Lou Gehrig’s disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), please visit http://www.alsa.org/.

Professor Diva Mac