My Great Aunt Minnie Ellis, who's name I took as my own middle and last. A humble woman, she had little use for makeup or other things she considered vanities. (I'm absolutely nothing like her in that regard!) She reared her siblings after their mother died, her youngest sister was my grandmother. She was revered in our family, with nieces, nephews, cousins just everyone loving her because she had a hand in helping raise all of them too. She was a wonderful cook, she had a green thumb and could grow anything. (Again, I'm nothing like her in those regards either.) She had no children of her own.

But regardless of my short comings compared to her, I hope she looks on from wherever her spirit resides, and sees me with some favor, though I don't measure up to her. Few women could though - I take comfort in that.