Seymour Jacob Seidman
April 30, 1925 – March 23, 2024
Do guardian angels exist? Have you ever asked yourself this question?
Well, Seymour had an angel and her name was Mrs. Gray.
Seymour enlisted in the United States Army and served as a Private in the Medical Detachment of the 133rd A.A.A. Gun Battalion at Camp Edwards; Barnstable, Massachusetts in 1943 during World War II. His assignment was a special one; in fact created just for him. Seymour was assigned to Stars and Stripes and he filled a unique role.
Seymour had a small dorm type room off the larger area of the hospital wards at Camp Edwards. Here soldiers returning from overseas came for rehabilitation for injuries incurred while away at war. Some eventually went home and some died.
Seymour was assigned to write handwritten letters, hundreds if not thousands of letters, from these soldiers to their families. As many of these “southern boy” soldiers as he called them could not read or write, he also read the replies of their families when mail was received. He read letters from mothers and fathers, wives and sweethearts. Countless times various soldiers called out to him in the middle of the night to read them a letter to soothe them to sleep; or to write a letter home for them as it might be their last.
Across the hall from Seymour’s small room was another tiny room just like his. Here sat Mrs. Gray. Always dressed the same. She was always sitting. At a tiny little desk. Reading and notating in her Bible.
Seymour had gathered from the nurses that Mrs. Gray was a nun from a nearby convent. He never saw her outside her room and they never “spoke” to one another. The day he was discharged from service, Mrs. Gray handed Seymour a handwritten letter in the most beautiful cursive handwriting along with her Bible.
Many years later, Seymour wrote to the government wanting to locate and find information about where Mrs. Gray was currently.
Their reply always haunted him.
There was no record of a Mrs. Gray stationed or serving in a volunteer capacity during the time Seymour was stationed at Camp Edwards.
How could this be? He had her Bible and letter…to this day…
Could Mrs. Gray have been his guardian angel sent from heaven to earth to watch over him as he watched over and served others? Her letter to Seymour follows: for us to ponder…
Friday –
We have not met by chance and will meet again – as they say in
the East it is “Recognition.”
There is a motto hung in class rooms there “may He enjoy us
both!”
Meaning “He cannot” unless harmony radiates between us.
The Prophet said “let there be spaces in your To-getherness”
but I say to our new-old friendship let there be To-getherness in
space!
Let your eyes, write, often and I will eagerly receive your
thoughts shared in silence.
You are one “chosen” let the flame burn clear!
Sincerely, her protection!
A farewell my fairest friend, I have no song to sing to give you.
No lark could pipe to skies so dull and gray.
Yet ere we part one lesson I can leave you
For everyday.
Be “good”, dear lad, and let who will be clever:
Do noble things not dream them all day long:
And so make life, death, and that vast forever
One grand sweet song!
Seymour died on a Friday. The Bible Mrs. Gray gave Seymour was dated 1925, the year he was born.
Throughout his life, Seymour was deeply affected by Mrs. Gray – be she a guardian angel or not.
Seymour also had many “earth angels”. Those that walk amongst us. These are the people who show up in our lives at just the right time.
Seymour died enveloped in compassion through the services provided by Waterman Village Home Health Services of Mount Dora, Florida; Angels Care Home Health of Clermont, Florida; Embrace End of Life Services, Mount Dora, Florida and Compassionate Care Hospice of Clermont, Florida.
The people employed by these organizations, who provided loving care for Seymour in our home, will always hold a very special place in our hearts.
For this reason, we ask that any donations in Seymour’s memory/honor be made to Compassionate Care Hospice of Clermont, Florida through
their Amedisys Foundation in lieu of flowers or other type gifts. Donations/checks should be made out to: Amedisys Foundation – 3854 American Way, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70816 in memory of Seymour Seidman and restricted to their Clermont, Florida location.
As Seymour disliked gatherings, (as well as most people), he preferred no service or ceremony be held for him. Instead, once you read this, please light a candle in his memory and say a prayer for him on his journey home.
May his memory be a blessing.
