I remember Geneva's spunkiness and her clarity of mind and sense of humor.  She was a larger than life person and i imagine will leave an empty space in the Bourne house.  Geneva was lucky to be loved by and live with Jack and Ida--truly her good health and liveliness were enhanced by the loving, caring environment.  I know you must miss her but know that you did a great job of making her last years wonderful.

Mrs. Bourne's Eulogy

 
 Pulling down our driveway gave our family more to look forward to than it does most. As we would unload the car and work our way inside, we'd hear an enthusiastic greeting from next door - â€œHey, neighbor!â€. Mrs Bourne's sweet southern drawl made its way into our yard from her screened in porch and welcomed us home. Often, she would share that she had a chicken pot pie, chicken and dumplings, or a chocolate pie in the oven for us, and that my brother Jack and I had to come pick it up before dinner. News like this traveled fast and soon the existing family dinner plans were rescheduled because whatever we were doing just wouldn't beat Mrs. Bourne's famous home cooking. 

 Every time we went over to Mrs. Bourne's house, whether it be to pick up a fresh pot pie or drop off some cookies, we somehow ended up eating jelly beans. On her coffee table was a big glass jelly bean jar that became a legend in the neighborhood among the kids. Mrs. Bourne would play her organ and let us pick out our favorite flavors from the jar. Sometimes we'd be invited to slide onto the bench next to her for a quick music lesson. This sparked an interest for some children in the neighborhood and now they can play the piano beautifully. In my case, Ms. Bourne taught me three songs and I still only know how to play three songs. We would also play games together like Chinese checkers, go fish, and old maid. After a while, Mrs. Bourne decided to give herself a special title and would sign our birthday cards â€œLove, Mrs. Bourne (Your fake grandma).â€ 

 Mrs. Bourne started a tradition that was very special to the girls in the neighborhood. Every so often she would invite Catherine Shook, Catherine Ellis, Mary Martin, Alex, Emma, and me over to her house on a Sunday afternoon for a tea party. Other than going to church, the outfits we wore to these tea parties were the nicest we'd dress all year. Surrounded by trays of finger sandwiches, cookies, and tea, Mrs. Bourne taught us her ways of southern grace and charm- how to dress, sit, and act like a lady, proper finger food etiquette, and how to handle fine china. From her we learned good manners and, as young girls, we looked up to her kind and gentle demeanor. 

 A few days ago Jack Bourne showed us the video of the ultimate tea party, Mrs. Bourne's 90th birthday party at the Swan House. In her gracious manner she highlighted the loving care that her son and daughter in-law provide her everyday. She said, with genuine appreciation and enthusiasm, â€œI wish everyone could have a Jack and Ida.â€ Thank you, Jack, for sharing your mother with us for so many years. 

 As a neighborhood, we have a lovely reminder of Mrs. Bourne in the beautiful camellia and hydrangea bushes continuing to grow in her yard. There's no doubt that Mrs. Bourne's warm smile and sweet way will have a lifelong impact on the children of Ridgedale Park and all of those who have known her.

I'm Howard Shook, a neighbor.
To the family I'd like to say thank you for allowing us to be here.  It is an honor.  
I think that only a person of Geneva Bourne's character could live for a century, and yet somehow leave us thinking that's too short.
If you start with the ratification of the US Constitution in 1789, her life spanned over 44% of our nation's life.
Two things happened in 1914 that I find particularly worth contemplating.  In terms of providing a living link to what now seems so distant, in 1914 Jacksonville held a reunion for Civil War veterans, and 48,000 attended.  The second  was the birth of Mother's Day, an event that can't have been entirely coincidental.
With her charm, intellect, grace, spirit, devotion, and generosity, she was the embodiment of southern charm.
She brought so much light into our community--literally.  The record shows that she was our neighborhood's first official community activist, working with Georgia Power to bring streetlights into our neighborhood.
The English writer & thinker Gilbert Chesterton knew that "We make our friends; we make our enemies; but God makes our next door neighbor."
We've been truly blessed.

God gave me the gift of being neighbors, but more importantly friends. Forever blessed, forever grateful, forever I will hold sweet memories of our times spent together. Love and prayers.

I knew Geneva at Morningside Presbyterian Church.  She was always a pleasure to be around and I know your family will miss her.

I was blessed to have known Geneva.  I know you will all miss her greatly.

Our thoughts are with you all. A true lady full of grace.  We will miss her greatly.

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Geneva Blackwell Bourne

24 novembre 1914 – 20 décembre 2014

H.M. Patterson & Son-Oglethorpe Hill Chapel

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