Death, when I was growing up, was dealt with in a different manner than it is today. When a relative or friend of the family passed away, everyone that so much as gave the deceased a passing glance during their living years would go to that person's nearest relative's house to pay respect. Upon entering the house, everyone in the group would be holding a homemade dish of some sort, and hug the necks of everyone else in the room. Someone, usually an older person, would take photographs of the gathering. Later, at the viewing someone would take pictures of family standing next to the coffin. I don't know what they did with those photographs because you never saw them in any of the photo albums. There were even occasions when a funeral home delivered the coffin to a home, so relatives and other mourners could have the viewing at the house. I have a photograph of myself standing at the head of my Grandmother's coffin. This was set up 10 feet from the area that had a hospital bed where I, as a teenager, spoon fed, doctored and took care of her in her ailing years. Nowadays there are drive-thru funeral homes. You drive through to a window display of the deceased, as if you were making a bank deposit. I consider it disrespectful, but as long as there is respect given it shouldn't matter how it is received. The wakes I've been to over the last couple decades seem to be more of a family reunion. It is the only time people find the time to get together and reminisce. The food brought to wakes has changed since I was a child. Now, it consists of meat trays from Wal-Mart, KFC boxes and boxed cakes from a grocery deli. McBride Funeral Home has provided services for so many of my family members over the years and they know us all on a personal level. When they greet us and offer sympathy, it truly comes from their hearts, as they are grieving a loss as well. McBride Funeral Home, founded in 1933 is the oldest family owned and operated funeral home in Tippah County. They obviously offer a very personable contribution, as my family members continue to use them, for such sad and unwanted services. read more