Letter to the editor: What we can learn from Locklear is to be kind to everyone

A number of individuals have told me that Grady Locklear was a Sumter treasure. I agree! He was brilliant, talented, an excellent teacher, a master gardener and a very kind person. He was my Google about plants, people in Sumter or about what was happening in Sumter or around the world.

Years ago I photographed gardens for the Sumter Garden Club tour. Grady saw the photographs that I took of one of his friends' garden. Apparently he liked the pictures, and he asked me if I would take pictures of his garden.

He sent me a message on Facebook and said, "Would you please photograph my garden?" OK???? I then became his garden photographer. Often I would get a message early in the morning telling me how beautiful his Plumbago was or some other flower. That was his way of asking me to come that day to take pictures. I would go that day, take the pictures, and often we would sit on his back porch, enjoying his garden and just talking. It was peaceful there, and I always enjoyed our conversations. I never charged Grady anything for photographing his garden, but I was rewarded with pies, pound cakes and most of all his friendship.

Grady lived alone in a large house on Calhoun Street, but he had so many friends, and former students, who visited him. I remember one year he received 200 birthday cards! Several weeks before he passed away, I asked him what was his secret that caused so many people to love him. He shook his shoulders, smiled and said he didn't know. Later I told his friend Susan Hilton what I had asked him. She said it was because he was kind to everyone. She said that every Christmas he gave a pie to every secretary at Sumter High, that he had made. When he made pies or his famous pound cakes, from his mother's recipe, he would make 20 at the time and deliver them around town to his friends. About dark, last March, on my birthday, Grady called me and said he makd me two coconut pies for my birthday and he wanted to bring them over while they were still warm. He did not usually drive at night, but he came over with those two delicious pies. Three of the things we can learn from Grady. The first is to BE KIND, the second is to BE KIND, and the third is to BE KIND to everyone.

In late March ,he had a stroke. His mind was sharp, but he was never again able to take care of himself. My husband and I visited him often and sometimes took him his favorite flounder dinners from Liberty Seafood.

Several times I questioned him about if he had asked Jesus to save him and if he was going to Heaven. He said yes he was saved and going to Heaven. I told him that God's flowers would be much prettier with him there to look after them. He was so tired, and he was praying that God would soon choose to let him go to Heaven. Sept. 30, 2023, God answered his prayer. I wouldn't be surprised if God didn't let Grady stop by Simpson Hardware and pick up a few bags of Blooming EZ to use around God's flowers. He loved Blooming EZ! We will all miss Grady Locklear, but we can take comfort in knowing that he is now in God's beautiful garden.

SANDY TOMLINSON

Sumter