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Every Christmas season one of the constants for our Mariah and me is to work hard to appreciate everything we have. In a season marked by excess, focusing on what we have – as opposed to what we want or think we need – can be a full time endeavor.
It is with this backdrop that I heard the news at our church’s Christmas Eve service. Leroy had died.
I am not even sure I know Leroy’s last name, but in a small town, you really don’t need one.
He was a tall black man who was, in today’s parlance, developmentally disabled. I believe Leroy lived with his sister outside of Kilmarnock. I know that he lived across from Good Luck Road because that is where I would often drop him off when he was hitchhiking home.
For Leroy, life was always good. Whenever he’d get in the car he’d tell you where he was going. Tri-Star. Lee’s Barber Shop. Crosby’s Chicken. Mr. Churchill’s house. Willie Chapel Church.
Leroy got around.
Ever since I was a kid, I remember Leroy. I remember him sitting in the Tri-Star Grocery Store. I remember stories about Leroy. I think when I was a kid he hitchhiked up to Baltimore and no one knew where he was. Everyone was worried sick.
The story that I remember best is that, as a young man, I was riding in my Dad’s truck with Joe Wood when we had to stop at a gas station.
Evidently, Leroy was hitchhiking a few days earlier when Joe Wood had driven by him on his way from Kilmarnock to White Stone.
Leroy came up to Joe Wood and raised the devil because Joe hadn’t picked him up. He accused Joe of not being his friend. He said Joe wasn’t nice. He said all kinds of things.
Finally, Joe got a word in edgewise.
“Leroy”, Joe said, “I was going to White Stone. You were hitchhiking to Kilmarnock. I was going the other way.”
“Joe Wood”, Leroy said indignantly, “You know it doesn’t make any difference which way I go!”
At the time, as a young man full of hubris and verve, I thought Leroy was full of foolishness. Now, I know better.
Leroy loved people. He loved to see people. He loved to hitchhike; he loved to visit and sit at Tri-Star and watch the weather. He didn’t care where he went with Joe Wood simply because the journey wasn’t about getting to a place. The journey was about being with people.
Sure, Leroy probably never could have been president of a bank or a college professor. In fact, Leroy probably never had the skills to even live by himself.
But, Leroy brought joy to people’s hearts – as long as we were open to appreciating all who are among us.
Thank you for a wonderful life, Leroy.
Delegate Albert Pollard, Jr., represents the 99th District, which consists of the counties of Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland, King George and a portion of Caroline, in Virginia’s House of Delegates. You may contact his office in Lancaster Courthouse at (804) 462-5940.
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