Clarence Towns burial record | The Hart Island Project

Added by Patricia Turner Buford Date 07.18.2023

July 17, 2023. Believing now, the mystery of your birth year has been revealed in a recent search…it appeared in a search with only your name entry, dates of service via the provider in times that I imagine life changes appeared…so clear in my mind. Regardlesss our times spent in other life ventures, that same old feeling revealed it self…matters not the time span…Excitement took over my memory, that day in 1983. Whether we talked by phone or the morning that I walked into the bakery, your hands vigorously stroking the dough, and then our eyes met..Thankful for the moments involving your chore at hand…that ‘same feeling’…recalled when I first looked into his face, 1962, over lunch at the restaurant…looking up from my plate, seeing your wonderful smiling face, had I not already swallowed, I’d have choked!!! That same old feeling…

Added by Patricia Turner Buford Date 04.06.2023

April 6, 2023
Thoughts, on Winston, were forever in my memory and seeing Stephanie put his physical being on the forefront. As I stated previously, she is the epitome of his being-personality and physical features…charismatically evident!!!!

About Calvary: Calvary Hospital is the world leader in providing expert medical care for people living with palliative care needs or requiring end-of-life care. The model and benchmark for hospice in America, Bronx-based Calvary provides unmatched loving, compassionate care that relieves suffering and improves the quality of life of approximately 6000 mostly terminally ill patients (and their families) annually throughout Greater New York, providing a wide range of inpatient and outpatient medical interventions and support services.

My bosom buddy/first cousin, Chick, was the only family member aware of our relationship from the beginning until information on his demise. As online details were revealed, her input was most comforting. Her husband was admitted to the facility upon his near end of life struggles. Of facilities suggested per medical staff, her initial visitation to

Calvary Hospital was most rewarding for the care she appreciated for her husband in his critical stage of health.

Upon knowing Winston’s final stages of life and then to know of Calvary Hospital’s comforting care, really uplifted my spirits, considering the relationship was dissolved long before researching updates of his being.

April 6, 2023
So long ago, conversation about the trip to see the family, amazing to meet your 12 year old brother for the first time.

Added by Patricia Turner Buford Date 06.17.2019

Although with no intentions for an entry, upon opening into Google Chrome, I entered hartis into browser..."WOW!!!!" https://www.hartisland.net/burial_records/27705-clarence-towns?age_category=adult&date_of_death=1999-02-07&last_name=Towns&place_of_death_id=12&referer=search

AMAZING....first entry, June 17 2017...today's date, June 17, 2019!!! Al Jarreau, live in Muich, (1998), "YOUR SONG" (1:06:0 acapello

Added by Patricia Turner Buford Date 06.17.2017

The poem, 'MY DAD' June 17, 2017, AUTHOR UNKNOWN.

Saturday, June 17, 2017, before 'Father's Day

O how I miss you, so much that the memories are frequent and vivid and with our new baby, Jakari, Stephen's 5 month old son, so much like you, Stephanie & Ja'Ana, same mold!!! I could never forget your physical structure, even if I desired-your bone sculpting prominence-broad forehead, chin, collar bone, the broad hands, like a baseball mitt. You should see Stephen's stance on the keys- manipulate the ivories- engulfs the magnifience of music, be it the pipe organ keys/ pedals, piano, keyboard or drums. Oh yes, his proficiency on drums has been evident since he was a toddler, so much so, he was presented the electric set-up by the time of his second grade show-and-tell. He's curbing engagements to have regular quality time with the children- prepare and plate their every meal, delights in culinary traits.

This week we joined Juliana for her storytelling session at the main library. By the way, recently, she was awarded first place in the city/county school-wide storytelling competition 2017. Her engaged audience included the executive school board meeting, city commissioners, and 4 sessions for other library events over the summer. Her eyes are expressive in conversation, so much like you, the body language, too!!! They all display your quaulitative physical traits, they have much of my knack for writing, especially prose & fanatic in usage of edifying phrases/clause.

We don't focus on the good looks, etc, however, most are suprised when they learn that we are related, i.e., "I've known both of you for years however, never related you to be mother/daughter, let's me know her father was equally attractive-so handsome.

Though our relationship, be as it was, the following prose exemplify the joy we would have... you as Stephanie's father...

Memories of Dad

I will take this special moment
To turn my thoughts to Dad
Thank him for the home he gave
For all the things we had.

We think about the fleeting years
Too quickly, gone for good
It seems like only yesterday
I’d go back if I could.

A time when Dad was always there,
No matter what the weather.
Always strong when things went wrong
He held our lives together.

He strived so hard from day to day
And never once complained.
With steady hands, he worked so hard
And kept the family name.

He taught us that hard work pays off,
You reap just what you sow.
He said that if you tend your crops,
Your field will overflow.

My life has been bountiful
He taught me how to give
In his firm and steadfast way
He taught me how to live.

Dad dwells among the angels now
He left us much too soon
He glides across a golden field
Above the harvest moon.

I see him in the summer rain,
He rides upon the wind
And when my path is beaten down
He picks me up again.

"According to the WRITTEN WORD, Titus 2:1, teach the things which are in agreement with sound doctrine [which produces men and women of good character... Praises to God for His love, mercy grace & forgiveness, In the Name of Jesus. Amen."

Added by Patricia Turner Buford Date 01.22.2017

Sunday, January 21, 2017 6:22 P. M. Rain with thunder storms 56° F Wind Westerly 12 Miles Per Hour Precipitation 95% Humidity 93%

"Insanity"
Gregory Porter
Produced By Kamau Kenyatta & Gregory Porter
Album Take Me to the Alley

How did we ever lose our minds?
And fall apart, knowing we're the only ones
To heal each others hearts
Bring your love back to me
Stop this insanity
Before we go too far

How did we ever lose our way?
And try to say love is a losing game
Should've never tried to play
Bring your love back to me
Stop this insanity
Before we go too far

We were lovers
And the best of friends
And I hope, I hope that we can be that
Until the end
Sometimes the lover
Can be angry 'till the end
But it's always the friend inside
That will make amends

How did we ever lose our way?
And try to say love is a losing game
Should've never tried to play
Bring your love back to me
Stop this insanity
Before we go too far

We were lovers
And the best of friends
And I know that we can be that
Be that 'till the end
Sometimes the lover
Can be angry 'till the end
But it's always the friend inside
That will make amends

How did we ever lose our way?
And start to say love is a losing game
We will never feel the same
Bring your love on back to me
Stop this insanity
Before we go too far
Before we go too far
Before we go too far
Before we go too far.

Added by Patricia Turner Buford Date 01.08.2017

"Seemingly, it was just yesterday, that I alerted you of our discharge from the hospital- 52 years ago(Today, January 7, 2017). Stephanie is as precious now as then, her smile is yours, her eyes, her hairline, the cheek bone, every bit your same chisel, skin like the fuzz of a summer ripened Georgia Peach, rosy red to a sun tanned hue. Since resuming her exercise routine, her scapula bone so evident in her muscle tone, like yours, the prominence seemingly with a difference only as to her femininity. Her brother adores her now, just as he did when we first evidenced her first movement in utero! Their communication is precious, in the event of today's snow storm alert, they communicated from distant locations, that each others family travel details were of safety and in the greatest wellbeing.

How long the until you first saw her face, no longer do I recall. However, you touched her face, caressed her hairline, her fingers, her toes. And then, your eyes glimmered, your smile widened, as your observed the birthmark, your same location and likely the same markings, along her (L) lateral body line, just inches below the armpit. It was no mistaking the exact same design, that, I never knew then, like yours. "To God I give the Glory, and unto His only Begotten Son, do I praise, for the sake of forgiveness of my sin." THANKFULNESS FOR THE opportunity to be awarded the opportunity of providing her care and guidance!!! 'HALLELUJAH!!!"

Added by Patricia Turner Buford Date 11.09.2016

Wednesday, November 9, 2016, 12:41 A. M. At this moment, I neither remember the day, the month, nor the hour, however we visited. Standing in the dining room, looking out over the rolling meadow, grasses brown, the tall straw grass, leaning to- and- fro, as swaying to the acoustic sounds of Frederic Yonnet's harmonic rendition, 'LITTLE WING!! The yield to tune in to youtube is overwhelming!!! Yonnet's, 'AMAZING GRACE' ...takes my thoughts to God's mercy and grace, forgiveness for our sins. As I push my thoughts back to your 'presence', the glistening sun rays bounced so radiantly, your voice swayed my glimpse, to see you seated, as you reached, touching my hand, gently, as I imagined the day's breezes be, upon the feathery wisps of summer grasses.

In your most casual tone, with no urgency, your familiar voice caressed my heart, seemingly to sooth the blood flow to a sway matching your every syllable. "How did you come to be here", I asked. For I realized he to be 'dead in his grave', along the waters of Long Island Sound, the shores of Bronx, NY.

His attire was so much of his originality, soft turquoise blue shirt, design and fabric so seeminly his style. The slacks, immaculate, crisply creased, blue-black in color, as the spurting ink of a fleeing squid. His presence had so caressly appeared, I thought, and, like so, the vision flowed away.

On that note, I'll close, as the music, "Father, Can you Hear Me", to Tyler Perry's 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman', lifts my heart to prepare for slumber, and sleep quiet and undisturbed. 'Thank You, Lord, for a healed mind and body, and, the ability to recall these moments of times long since past. I lift my arms to Thee, HALLELUJAH!! In The Name of Jesus, Our Lord and Savior. Amen."

Added by Patricia Turner Buford Date 07.08.2016

Added by Patricia Turner Buford Date 06.09.2016

Thursday, June 9, 2016, 6:59 P. M.

I SAT WITH YOU TODAY

I sat with you today you know,

I sat right in your chair,

I know I could not see you,
But I knew that you where there…

I couldn’t hear your voice at all,
But I heard every word that was spoken,
I sat with you today you know,
Calm, but yet so heart broken…

I know you follow me around,
I have known it from the start,
But sometimes l am afraid to look,
So heavy is my heart…

I often feel you touch my face,
Or think l feel you near,
But when l try to see you,
Its like you just simply disappear…

I love you more and more each day,
And beg for you to know,
I find it harder every day,
Just to let you go…

I sat with you today you know,
I’m sure that was your scent,
I cannot understand it though,
How you just suddenly went…

I’ll sit with you tomorrow,
If that’s ok with you,
Sometimes it feels the only thing
I still know what to do…
I love you ………..

Author: Paula Obrien

Added by Patricia Turner Buford Date 05.19.2016

All hope is gone, to move your remains nearby. Too much time past before I knew...had I'd found you within 8 years of Feb. 7, 1999, we would have 'brought' your remains here nearby, to be nestled upon a hill facing east, nearby my father, resting in peace, where the sun rises, to form dew drops upon the glistening grasses, after the cool breeze of the moonlit night; overlooking and , with its greenish earthen color, from the north, flowing to join the east-west stream of the browish waters of , around the base of the forming the, mixing to become an earthen reddish hue. Then, it gently flows southwesterly via the pathway across the state line, further along the southern cities, on to an eventual mixture to become the Gulf of Mexico.

"You would have loved our city, much smaller than the 'Big Apple', yet considered a metropolitan city population, above the ranks of your hometown, Tuskegee, AL. However, the thought of 'being closer' was food for thought, yet, 'we did not find' one another until the deadline was long past, for an appropriate move. 'How Great Thou Art'!!"

Thursday, May 18, 2016, 11:55 P. M.

You are in my dreams, when I'm awake and 'with' me everytime I'm with Stephanie- her smile is your smile, her gait, same, only difference she has a shapely hour glass, your voice and your embrace. She loves her Mama, she tells me so, frequently, only wish that your relationship had been more embraced in the 60's, however, she understands the reasoning, " Mama, I'm happy that you remember the love, the touch!!" as a comment noted, 'Do you ever look at your child and you can literally feel your heart melting because you loved him so much!!!" I do, I do!!! She says, "I see the love in your eyes, your smile, and when you mention Winston's name, I see the endless love, as if he never went away, though you know his spirit returned, to God!! And you know where his remains are resting, in a grave, on the island off Long Island Sound, Harts Island, Bronx, NY, no longer a wonder. Once you believed that you'd returned to Harlem, stroll along the familiar streets, once a favorite place, you'd meet, living your life together again, joyously, in the embrace of each other. Then a time came when you realized, 'no more' will I ever see his face, nor wrapped up in his warm, loving embrace. No more..." Thankful for God's forgiveness, His love and mercy strengthens me in each new day of mercy and grace. In The Name of Our Lord, Our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. HALLELUJAH!!!!! In peace. In love.

Added by Patricia Turner Buford Date 02.08.2016

In Loving Memory: C. 'Winston' Towns (July 10, 1929-February 7, 1999)

"DEATH IS NOTHING AT ALL" --Canon Henry Scott Holland

"At last, I've 'found' you. Believing that, soon, you can 'be here' nearby-"I believe..."

Added by Patricia Turner Buford Date 02.07.2016

"To God Be The Glory!!" January 22, 2016, the online entry, clarence towns, SEND, revealed the full scope of his death- how long have I waited to know of his being. Now, I will think on our memories until a later entry. Until, the words of Canon Henry Scott Holland...

“Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before. How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!”
― Henry Scott Holland, Death Is Nothing at All