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Adopt A Diamond™
Gladys and Dude
 Gladys Patterson awoke early on the morning of June 6, 1931, unsure if it
would be her wedding day. A wedding was dependent of the arrival of a
mail-order marriage license ordered the week before. Her parents were
sharecroppers; however, she did t go to the fields as usual that day, but
rather worked in the kitchen with her mother. Later in the day when she saw
her fiancé, Luther (Dude to his friends) Hensley, walking toward her house
in dress clothes, she knew the license had arrived. With her best friend,
Camilla, in tow, she went to her room to dress for the big event. Camilla
hurriedly collected the something old, new, borrowed, and blue, while Gladys
put on the new dress she had made herself. The wedding party then set out
to walk the 2 miles to the preacher s house. The ceremony was brief and to
the point, with no pomp, circumstance, or ring. The newlyweds made a secret
get away (to avoid a shivaree) and walked the two miles back to the home of
her parents where they spend their wedding night.
Thirteen years and 3 children later, a small gold wedding band was purchased
for the king s ransom of $3.98, a gift from Dude for her birthday. The
years passed quickly. They lived their small but valuable lives, working hard, raising children, scrimping to make ends meet, but sharing with any in
need. Gladys was 90 when the beloved wedding ring somehow unknowingly
slipped from her finger and was lost forever. She grieves for it still.
On June 6, 2006, Gladys and Dude, my parents, will celebrate their 75th
wedding anniversary. It would be wonderful if she could receive a diamond
ring for this Diamond Anniversary. It would be beyond her wildest dreams.
Please consider her for your Adopt A Diamond program.
March 13, 2006
 Dear Mr. and Mrs Cuellar:
The most wonderful thing happend this week. My daughter paid a surprise
visit and presented us with a beautiful diamond ring on your behalf. For
one of the few times in my life I was speechless. When you are 95 years
old and housebound, exciting surprises don't come along very often. I am
so grateful to you for this one. I never dreamed I would have a diamond
ring of my very own. Dude and I both thank you for this most generous
gift.
Sincerely,
Dude and Gladys Hensley
March 13, 2006
 Dear Mr. and Mrs. Cuellar:
Our entire family is overjoyed with the news that Mom and Dad’s story has
been chosen. Thank you so much, not only for the diamond ring, which is
incredibly generous and kind of you, but also for this opportunity to
recognize wonderful lives well lived. Kudos to you for providing this
forum.
We look forward to sending you updates when we surprise them with the ring,
and from their 75th celebration in June.
Thanks again to you personally and to your Adopt a Diamond program for
making this precious event and memory possible for our family.
Sincerely,
Pat Farm
March 19, 2008
This is not an entry but the remarkable ending to the story of a previous winner. 75th anniversary recipient, Gladys Hensley passed away last Friday morning, the 22nd. That evening Dad, who at 97, was by all accounts in good health, except for bad knees, started having
trouble catching his breath. My brother called 911 and Dad was taken to the hospital. A chest x-ray revealed pneumonia in one lung. Treatment was started. By the next day the pneumonia had engulfed his body and we were told that Dad was not going to make it. He was moved to the Hospice wing and kept comfortable and free of pain until his passing Monday afternoon. A joint funeral was held on Wednesday, the 27th. What a wonderful testament and storybook ending to their 77 years of devotion.
In loving memory to Gladys and “Dude” Hensley, 2006 Adopt-A-Diamond Winners
Everyone at Diamond Cutters International would like to extend our deepest condolensces to the Hensley Family and would like to also extend our appreciation to Patricia Farm for letting us know that Gladys and Dude Hensley have passed on. May they both rest in peace.
Their obituaries can be viewed at the Meador Funeral Home website: www.meadorfuneralhome.com
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