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And the Heart Remembers Spring
Some will be remembered
For the fortunes of their fame,
And some will be remembered
For the naming of a name.
But you will be remembered
As the heart remembers spring
As the mind remembers beauty
And the soul each lovely thing.
You have been the skies of April
And the fragrant breath of May,
And like the season’s coming,
Warm, spirited and gay.
You have given freely
Of the beauty of your heart,
And you have made of friendship
Not a gesture but an art.
You have
been as selfless
In the gracious things you do
As the sun that shares its kisses,
As the night that shares its dew.
You have planted
roses
In lives that lay so bare;
You have sown encouragement
To those who knew despair.
By spirit’s inner beauty
In every lovely thing,
You will be remembered
As the heart remembers spring. |
-----Betty W. Stoffel |
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A
life member of the American Rose Society, Mr. Whitaker was a past
president of the American Rose Society, 1991‑1994, and was
currently serving as a continuing board member and on national
committee assignments. He was awarded the Gold Honor Medal in 2002,
the highest award given to an individual by the American Rose Society.
He was a member of the Nashville Rose Society for 44 years. He
was currently serving as Editor of The Rose Leaf, a monthly
journal and newsletter for rose enthusiasts throughout Middle Tennessee.
He authored many articles for other national publications, including
the American Rose magazine of the American Rose Society.
He and his wife, Glenda, were co‑editors of the American
Rose Annual in 1998. His rose garden of about 500 rose bushes
of all types was a great pleasure in his life and was often open
for public tours. He was instrumental in establishing rose gardens
on the grounds of the Executive Residence of the Governor of Tennessee
and historic Rippavilla Plantation in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
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