Last week was a very sad time for me and my family, as my mother passed away. A long time ago, she moved from the Andalusia area to be closer to me and my family, since her health had been deteriorating for some time. She had requested that when the time came for her to pass, she wanted to be back in Andalusia and now I know why.

It has been more than 30 years since I’ve spent any time in the area and I must say I was tremendously impressed with all the people and how nice everyone was. The employees at Foreman-Brown Funeral Services, Alan Cotton Florist and the Econo Lodge were all not only very professional but also seemed to care about what was going in our lives as well. They were all there when we needed anything and not once did anyone act like we were asking for too much, or say, “we can’t.” I almost forgot the policemen that escorted us from the chapel to the church. Thank you.

As for the people in general, there was one thing I hope never leaves the small towns across Alabama. As we were on our trip from the funeral home chapel to the cemetery in Carolina, I don’t think I saw a single vehicle that did not stop or pull off the side of the road. I think this small gesture shows a lot about the character of most people and how wonderful they are.

I know the time of day, about 10:30 a.m., there were a lot of people trying to rush to doctors’ appointments, work, and probably a thousand other things, but they took the extra few seconds to show their respect by pulling off the side of the road or stopping on the road until we had passed.

Special thanks goes out to the ladies at Carolina Baptist Church. These ladies were something else, making everyone feel as comfortable as possible after the funeral services were complete.

Everyone in the Andalusia area has a lot to be proud of. When I was in my teens and early 20s, I could not wait to leave the small town I was in. But now in my 40s, I can barely wait for retirement so I can get back to a small town, Andalusia is now right at the top of my list.

Perry Strehle

Shelby, Ala.