<TriceEdneyWire.com> — Many years ago, ‘That’s What Friends Are For’ was a song written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager. It was first recorded by Rod Stewart in 1982 for the soundtrack of the film Night Shift, but it is best known for the 1985 version by Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder.
The words are so beautiful and so precious. One can’t help but love them and wish for such a friend as the artists sing about. As a little girl, I think I found a cousin/friend for whom the song might have been written.
Oh, I’ve had lots of friends in my life, but many have left this earth. Others have moved away and found other friends. Some I thought were friends, but they’ve sometimes deceived or disappointed me. While I thought some were friends, they were not. I was hurt. I was disappointed, and I was sad for a very long time. I forgave those who deceived me, but never forgot their deception. I was always blessed to find new friends. But there is one who can never be replaced.
The best friend I have ever known was my cousin Bill Williams. He was born on the very day of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. I was born 13 days later after the tragedy, and the bombs had stopped falling. From the time we were babies, the story was that Bill was born to be my protector once he witnessed Pearl Harbor. He preceded me into the world early to be sure it was safe for me to come, and I did. We lived a short distance from each other, and as we became older, we could visit each other often. As a matter of fact, we saw each other every day. As soon as we learned to walk and talk, we became inseparable. When we were old enough to go to school, Mother took us across the river on a boat so I could catch up with Bill so we could walk to school together. Of course, his big brother, my cousin Lee, was there for double protection. Nobody ever bothered us.
We walked to school together in first grade holding hands. Bill became known as my protector—my security. He was always on his job. Everywhere Bill went, I was there beside him and helping him button his shirt, which he never seemed to get right. We went through elementary and high school together. Once we grew up and were in different cities, he rarely failed to celebrate Mother’s Day at my Mom’s place. No surprise to me, he grew up to be a police officer—still protecting me, along with others. He was so special. As adults we stayed in touch. Hardly anyone remembered our December birthdays, but Bill and I remembered the birthday of each other. You see, when you are born in December, you are always upstaged by Jesus’ birthday at about the same time as yours.
A few days ago, Bill left this life after a long illness. I felt so lost. He was the best, most precious cousin/friend I’ve ever had. I will miss him, but I will never forget him. Now, he is in heaven with Aunt Doretha and Uncle Ezra, his parents, with his Uncle Jack and Aunt Frances, my parents; his brother Lee; my brother Sonny and a host of uncles, cousins, grandparents and friends. While I will always miss him, he won’t be lonely in Heaven. Along with our family, I know Jesus is there to greet him.
If you have a true friend in life, maybe even a cousin/friend like Bill, don’t forget to let them know how much you love and appreciate them.
(Dr. E. Faye Williams is president of the Dick Gregory Society).
