Love Leaves Memories

To me, he was the fun loving drummer boy with the giant laugh and the colossal heart. Joe Huddleston was so much to so many; son, brother, cousin, and loyal friend to numerous and we all had to say good-bye a lot sooner than any of us would have liked. Twelve years have now past us bye since that sober day in October and yet the joy, the love, and the lasting friendships that Joe shared with so many lives on. We all have so many memories that have stayed with us over the years. Joe Huddleston is remembered today on his birthday, November 28th by his family and friends, as they share memories, stories, poems, lyrics and photographs. Today, we celebrate Joe! You are loved, you are missed, and you are remembered!

I loved Joe from the moment I met him. He never failed to make us all laugh sometimes until we cried. He had this way of making his friends feel special. It was a gift. One of my favorite memories of Joe took place one summer when the band, The Everlasting, was playing for a group of campers at 4-H camp. It was a humid night, and Joe was drumming away, working up a sweat doing all that drumming. The band finished playing their first set and decided to take a little intermission. After signing a few autographs for a few of the kids, Joe nonchalantly went and jumped in the pool(Cloths and all)! We all laughed and laughed when we saw him walk back in, dripping wet, he sat back down at the drums and began to play again like nothing had happened. Although he was grinning from ear to ear, I guess he just needed a bit of a cool down. I miss your laugh Joe, I miss all the fun we all had together. –Jaime Garrett, friend

I first came to know of Joe when he was drumming in the band at our high school. Joe made drumming cool. He held nothing back when he played. Sticks would shred, sweat would fly and sometimes drumheads and cymbals would crack. He played hard, he played fast, and it was cool! He lived life in a similar fashion. He lived freely, loved freely and gave freely...holding nothing back. Sure that meant driving all over the county tracking him down for band practice and always crossing your fingers that he'd actually remember that we had a gig, but there was something refreshing about his approach to life. And you could never be upset with Joe.... it was Joe! Yeah, I remember his great ability to dynamically make songs better and single handedly make a show more entertaining, but more importantly, I remember his approach to loving and giving to those around him... Something I'm still learning from him! - Stephen Garrett, bandmate

When I think about Joe, so many funny and good memories flood my mind. One particularly stands out and warms my heart. It happened one morning when he was at work at WLIV. I had worked all night at the hospital and had gone to the radio station to visit. I shared with him some stresses and anxieties I was going through (including some financial difficulties). He listened like such a good brother and in typical Joe Lee style began making jokes. In no time at all I was feeling better. When I started to leave, Joe walked me to my car, gave me a big bear hug and suddenly looking at me shocked said "I just remembered, Mom gave me this to give to you." He reached in his pocket and gave me $50. Now I know you are all thinking "She had to have known he was giving her his money." But honestly, I truly didn't know it was from him until I mentioned something to Mother about it. (She had no idea what I was talking about) He told me it was from Mom because he knew I wouldn't have taken money from him when I knew he was as poor as a church mouse too! I'm not sure how I found out, I don't remember but, I did find out later that he had given me all of the money he had to his name that day. That is the kind of loving, giving brother that he is. He is the kind of guy that will give you his last penny just so you won't be without. He looks for no recognition or reward. What a wonderful example he is for me and everyone that had the privilege of knowing his sweet spirit here on earth.

I happen to highly value a good sense of humor. Fortunately, Joe and I have a very similar sense of humor and find the same things funny. This has been the source of endless entertainment. I am very grateful to have shared that with him. –Holly, sister



I have so many memories of my brother that choosing one or two is hard, but one memory that stands out is the very last time I saw Joe. It was in early Sept 1998, so about a month before he died. I lived in Knoxville and came home to visit one weekend. Mom and I had attended a clogging event and stopped by Moogie’s Restaurant, where he worked, to see Joe on our way back home. I was getting married in a couple of weeks and remember him joking around about that. He was laughing with co-workers and acting like usual, having fun doing whatever he was doing. I told him that I’d see him in a couple of weeks at my reception. As we walked into the parking lot, we heard a knocking at the window and looked up to see Joe pressing his bare belly against the window and laughing as hard as he could. He was having fun and made me laugh—very much like the rest of his life. He didn’t come to my reception a few weeks later, so that night at Moogie’s was the last time I saw my brother alive.

If I could talk to my brother, I’d say “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for the birthday dinner the day you died—it’s one of my greatest regrets, not seeing you one last time. I wish I could have known you as an adult. I wish I could have seen your musical talent progress and see you share it with more of the world. I wish you could have interacted with your nieces—they would have loved fun Uncle Joe. I miss you, I love you and I know that I’ll see you again someday.” -Vickie , sister

this pain i hold
deep down inside
it always seems
to make me cry
tears of joy
pain n grief
they never seem
to take relief
my parents n friends
don't seem to know
my brothers loss
will always grow
one day i hope
to see him again
laughing n playing
with his new friends.
Patrick , brother

There are so many good memories I have trouble choosing one to send you. One that always makes me laugh though: We would go swimming at our friend's pool and it never failed Joe would find the smallest float tube and demonstrate how it barely fit around one thigh, then toss it out in the water and dive right through it. It was his own magic trick that never ceased to amaze us all. -Eric, brother



The movie Tommy Boy will forever make me think of my brother, Joe. He would recite parts from the movie and would put on a small jacket and sing "Fat guy in a little coat" :o) He had a way of winning almost anyone over regardless of what "group" they were in and he loved making people laugh. –Leslie, sister



A Song For Joe

Your One HugV1

Your nineteen and I am two

Here's my memory of you:

I remember how it was that day

Granny and I, sweeping away

The blaring sirens pierce the air

As we're running, I feel scared

This hill seems far too big for me

Fighthing against reality

I promise you, I really tried

Though you may think I only cried

But my heart was broken when you died.

*chorus*

Your one hug meant the world to me

Gave me peace of mind.

Somehow you heard my plea

Though i once felt left behind

Your love surrounds me now

and though I don't know how

Your one hug made all the difference in my life


V2

Since you left I felt afraid

Hurt, abanndoned, and betrayed

Confused and desprate to know why

Why we had to say goodbye.

I need you to be here with me.

I need you oh, so desperately.


*chorus*


bridge

I feel electricity

is this how it's s'posed to be?

Then you're there, and I'm free of care

I feel you comfort me

Chorus x2
-Rachel, sister

A Mighty Stone in the Little Family

Today March 17th 2010 at around 3am James Leo Little passed away at 89 years old. He was my Great Uncle by title, but in truth he was so very much more. If I had to choose one word to describe my Uncle it would be presence. He was always there for us. As a child I didn't realize how valuable just being around truly was. James Leo or Uncle Leo to me had no children or grandchildren of his own, and my grandfathers had passed on before my time. So you could say we sort of adopted each other without realizing. He lived a stones throw away from my childhood home, and his yard and home where often time playgrounds for my brother and me. I can remember begging my Mom to let us ride our bikes down the old gravel road to his house. She finally said yes! He never once told us we couldn't be there. He was a stable, strong presence in our lives. He let me bang on his piano, or sift through boxes of old photographs. He taught my brother to play cards. They formed a relationship over those cards that I believe will surpass time. Our dear Uncle would get this huge smile on his face then he would proceed to remind us of how spoiled we where, and he was right! He called my husband Steve"O" and my middle son Wes"O" we would joke that because his name ended in an "O" that every one's name should end that way. His face would light up when he found out we where visiting for the weekend. I think he liked watching my three boys run around him, or little roosters as he called them. Uncle Leo was a one of a kind character, he was a loyal friend to many. Uncle Leo cherished his friendships. The late Pete Peterman and Uncle Leo double trouble those two gadabouts where. You could usually find the two of them at church, senior citizen's center or hanging out with the rest of their veteran buddies. He always looked forward to weekend breakfast with E.B. Gray, and the two of them would argue over who got to pay the bill. He also enjoyed so much being up in the air in Greg Booher's airplane flying over Overton County. Uncle Leo had many adventures with many dear friends that he thought of more like family. He loved pancakes and chocolate cake, he was a war veteran, a piano player, a collector of everything, a storyteller, and a believer in Jesus. He was the kind of man to feed stray dogs. Then of course lie about it because he didn't want to be to much of an old softy. He is in almost every major memory that my heart treasures: graduations, birthday parties, Christmas, family vacations, my wedding, family dinners, summer afternoons just hanging out on the farm. He was a strong, beautiful presences in our lives, and I loved him! He was a secure, mighty stone in my families structure, and I loved him for just being there and being my Uncle Leo! I will forever miss him, and my heart is heavy in saying goodbye, but we shall meet again!


Written in love by Leo Little's Great Niece

From the Hearts of Billie Ruth Buccigrossi's Grandchildren

I joined my family this past weekend in Akron Ohio to celebrate the life of my Grandmother Billie Ruth Buccigrossi who passed away on October 14, 2009. As I sat there with my family feeling almost helpless, as her daughters scattered making arrangements, answering phone calls, and filtering pictures. It was weird standing in her home, and not hearing her laughter fill the rooms around me. I let myself get lost in the memories of my 8 year old self when elephants filled the house, the carpet in the breeze way was blue, and babies where gave their baths in the big sink in the laundry room, kickball was played in the empty lot, and rolling down what at the time seem like such a big hill in the backyard. I can almost hear my Grandfather calling me bug-a-boo, but those years of innocents, and child's play have long been washed away. I am left here with the understanding of how very real it is to say goodbye. So in this weekend her family and friends have come together to celebrate the life of Billie R. Buccigrossi mother, wife, sister, friend, and to us 15 she was Grandma. She loved us all in her own special way. The love was unique to us as our own individual colorful personalities. We have so many memories of her that dance in our hearts. Today I would like to share with some of those very personal thoughts and memories from the hearts of her grandchildren, and give you a glimpse into the incredibly lucky world of being born one of Billie Ruth's grandchildren!

My own memories of my Grandmother start with her hugs for such a petite woman her hugs where strong. Sometimes I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to breathe again, but for some reason I just couldn't get enough of those hugs. My grandmother also taught me to write letters that came from my heart. I was even lucky enough to receive the a letter from her with the story of her falling in love with Grandpa. A story I am so glad she shared with me. Even being miles away from her she still found a way to connect with me, and love on me!

Breanna
I remember Grandma Billie as the sweetest thing that would always tell you how pretty you were even if you just rolled out of the bed. She was the first person to give a compliment and stick up the grand-kids when we were in in trouble because we were "good kids" I remember go-cart Sundays when one of us would wreck and Papa would get mad she would say "Frankie leave them, alone they aren't hurting anything."

Grandma had a love for life and children she never cared to sit and listen to a story she had heard a hundred times. She will be truly missed by all.

Mandy
Would also like everyone to know that no one will ever be able to make red potato salad the way grandma did.

Jessie
I have so many great memories. Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays were my favorite days. I would bring movies to Grandmas and we would sit together and watch movies and I would make her lunch. We spent so much time together and I enjoyed every minute. Her favorite movie was Happy Feet.... We watched it so many times, and it never got old. I brought over The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants and she loved it. I was sitting at home and the phone rang. It was grandma calling to tell me Sisterhood 2 was coming out and she wanted to go see it. So I got to her house one Friday and said okay lets go! We drove over to Lake cinemas and got some popcorn and sat through the movie. She was sobbing, and when girls where looking at her she said " I am old, I'm allowed to cry". We had some truly great times, and I'll cherish all of them for the rest of my life.

Valerie
There is not one fond memory of my grandmother and I, but an entire lifetime of memories that fill my heart. She was a person who never judged me despite the many mistakes I made. She always supported the decisions I made for myself. I remember playing hooky during the school year when I was little just so I could stay home with grandma all day. We would eat wonderful food like chicken livers and fried potatoes while we watched our channel five soap operas. To this day we could tell each other what was happening on those daily shows even if we had missed a few here and there. Grandma was part of my everyday life and it is going to be hard to knowing that piece of my day will be altered now that she is resting in heaven. I feel grandma was very proud of the person I have become, including the mother I am to her great granddaughter Lucielle. I am heartbroken to no longer have her in my life but I am thankful to now have such a wonderful angel watch over my family and I. With all my love to grandma; forever and always

Kirsten
I'm sure that no one has ever had better steaks than the $17 steaks we had from Giant Eagle, the ones that remind me of one of my fondest memories of Grandma Billie.

To celebrate one of our first meals official meals in the new house that dad and papa built, my dad gave me his debit card and told me to go to Giant Eagle and buy some steak for everyone so would could cook them on the grill. I did what I was told, but my parents weren't to happy when I returned and saw the receipt for the $17 dollar steaks. "Oh take it easy!" is probably what Papa said followed by Grandma Billie of course reminding my dad they like their steaks well, well, well, well, done....."NO PINK!" We all sat down for dinner and everyone took their first bite of steak... Well that bite began a running joke that has continued for the past 12 years. Both Papa and Grandma could not stop raving about the best steaks they have ever had. Every single bite, Grandma would say that she couldn't believe the steaks were from Giant Eagle....She's never had a better steak. She didn't care how much they cost....I heard about the steaks all night. After that night every dinner Grandma had involving a steak was automatically compared to my Giant Eagle Steaks. She would say we went to so-and-so for dinner last night they had steaks, but they were nothing compared to those ones.... "We had steak at Lonestar last week and I almost sent it back and went to Giant Eagle!" There has not been a steak since that night worth mentioning

I will never forget the dinner with Papa and Grandma in which we ate "The World's Best Steaks"

Lindsey
So many years that we have spent making memories. Spending summers in Ohio, going to get ice cream, going to the park chasing squirrels. Today is a day you never want to imagine would come, but knowing the strong Christian woman my Grandmother was. I know that today she wouldn't want us crying tears of sadness, but tears of joy. No matter how much older I got she always called me Grandma's Baby, and that I will forever be. Though we were miles apart she was only a phone call away. I hope that one day I can say I was half the woman she was!

Samantha
As I remember my Grandma Billie today I remember a sweet caring woman, and even miles apart I was felt so close. Running to the phone on Monday mornings to get to it first so I could talk before mom did.

Summer trips to stay with grandma where my favorite. Baseball games, painting each others finger nails, and going to the produce store. Is what I will remember. The trouble me and Allen would get into never mattered to her. She would yell at us and let us go. One thing through all the trouble we would cause, never did she let anyone think we done anything wrong. She would take up for us even when she knew we were guilty. She was there when I graduated, got married, and had my first baby. There isn't hardly a family memory that I have that she isn't in. Today as I say goodbye to my redhead Grandma I can't help but think about the one thing she would always tell me "Never go to sleep with saying I LOVE YOU". So today I say I love you Grandma Billie!!!


The Ending:

I am going to end our trip down memory lane with and excerpt from her grandson Allen's blog Brillance or Madness. Allen who is in the peace corp in Africa and was unable to join the family in Akron, Ohio, but we all know his heart was with us. Here is what he had to say in loving memory of his beloved Grandmother

For Grandma
I would like to take a moment to remember my grandmother, Billie R. Buccigrossi. She passed away October 14, 2009. I know that she is happy with the life she was given. She lived happily with my grandfather, Frank, and her children, grand children, and great grand children. She lived a good life and always wanted the best for everyone. She loves her family unconditionally and put their health and happiness first.

I have a lot of good memories with my grandma, she'd always make the best apple crisp and no-bake cookies (and not just for anyone...sorry Val, lol), she drove on so many of my class field trips in school. During summer vacations, she'd have to deal with me and Samantha and all the trouble we'd get into, but she was never mad for long (even if we did throw rocks at cars or spray strangers with the water hose and run). She'd give us a dollar to spend at Ritzman's pharmacy, looking back it seems like that dollar bought us a months worth of candy. I think I'll always remember her as my redheaded grandma who we loved to visit.

I can't help but feel that she's gone too soon, too suddenly, and with that the world seems emptier. She'll be missed and will remain in our thoughts everyday. We love you grandma!

Because Spaghetti O's are Important Memories!

Today as my four year old pulled a chair up next to me climb up into the chair to stand at the counter and help me prepare lunch. I am reminded very much of my four year old self happily standing on a chair stirring Spaghetti O's with my Granny standing beside me. I remember the small green pot we cooked in, and her aging hand guiding my little hands with a wooden spoon. Her house was my playground on any and every day she could convince my parents to let her have me for the day or even a couple hours. At the wonderment of her house in the eyes of my curious self, I would be fascinated with the colors and colors of yarn, I would play house with real pots and pans, with my little pink plastic stroller with a baby doll I gave a hair cute not so long ago am I sure ( thought she looked better bald), I would chase the big white cat, whom I thought needed to wear a dress. Most of all on this day I am remembering her. Remembering how much she loved in the short years she had with me. Remembering her curly hair, and her large rimmed glasses. Wishing I had more to remember, and wondering what she would think of me as grown woman Hoping she would be proud of me. Wishing she was still here to spoil my children with push-ups and square pizzas! Here is to remembering the Woman who fell in love with the American Solider, taught me to cook Spaghetti O's, spoiled me with love, and fed me as many push-ups as I could eat! My dear Granny with her German spirit, and lasting impressions on a four year old pigtail wearing tomboy! My Granny the lunch lady....Because memories last a lifetime, and everyone deserves to be remembered, and love last forever!