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To the editor:

Most agree that our time on earth has a purpose.

Annette Sherden, our neighbor, was a beautiful model of a well lived purposeful life. Plain spoken and always smiling, she was an outward expression of an inward peace. Her reverence for the wonders of nature along with a deep knowledge and appreciation of literature and music are unrivaled. With an infectious love for life, she cheered all who crossed her path.

Annette stories, and there are many, will continue to enrich our lives. In mid-May, during an early morning walk, she took pleasure explaining how the laurel bloom changes after bees extract the nectar. As the walk ended, she tearfully quoted “Loveliest of Trees,” a famous poem published in the 1880s. A few days later when asked for a copy, she immediately wrote it longhand, a gift we will cherish and frame.

Rare is the person with such deep respect for the natural world. Annette cared for her horses, cats, and dog as though they were her children. The pesky mouse, the annoying horse fly, and even the wasps on a nest in her carport were God’s creatures deserving respect and the right to live fully.

Through the children she taught, her medical patients, and the numerous friends she touched, Annette’s model for living fully will continue to enrich mankind. Her life is mirrored in Bernard Shaw’s quote, “I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.”

While we sorely miss her physical presence, Annette Sherden has an unforgettable immorality in our extended family.

Susan and Sherrill Brinkley

Mocksville