Two icons of past popular culture have gone to their eternal rewards.

Farrah Fawcett lost her battle with cancer at the age of 62. One of the original Charlie's Angels, she was an icon of physical beauty and charm, known especially for her big hair. She died with her lifetime partner, Ryan O'Neal by her side. Her only son, Redmond, is in jail and could not be with her. So ends a sex-icon of the 70's.

Michael Jackson died unexpectedly of what doctors suspect was cardiac arrest at the age of 50. He started out really looking black, with a typical 70's 'fro do. Over the years we watched his hips transfix young ladies and his skin transform to whiter than my own. The droopy hair, the droopy shoulders. the droopy hips, the droopy reputation with folks older than he, so droops the pop icon of the 80's.

In the last two weeks we at St. Christopher's have laid to rest two of our own. Bernice Kilpatrick died of cardiac arrest--her only similarity to Michael Jackson. She was deeply loved by her husband, her children, and her friends. She had spunk and a light in her eyes that even just shy of her 80th birthday caught one's attention. Her husband of almost 60 years feels lost without her.

Jane Graham lost her battle with cancer, one of her few similarities to Farrah Fawcett. She, too, leaves behind children and friends who treasure her memory. Her indominable spirit drew people from across the community to remember her at her services. Perhaps the one who will miss her as much as the rest of us is her dog, Magic.

Whereas I grieve with the generations for those who died with fame or infamy, I would much rather mourn my own whom I have grown to love and respect.