A Godly Giant

 Albert Walter Dorminy, 1905-1984

My grandaddy and me, 1957


I was inspired to write about my grandaddy, Albert Walter Dorminy, after this past weekend's visit with my daddy in Fitzgerald.  And the timing's right, since it's almost Father's Day, so here goes a tribute to my grandaddy, a Godly giant. 

Albert was married to Ada and they had 3 children: Carolyn (the youngest and only girl), Alvie, and Gene (the oldest, my dad).  Alvie had 2 children (Mark and Lisa) and so did my daddy: me and my brother, Gary.  So there were 4 grandchildren for them.  I was the oldest.



Ada and Albert Dorminy



He was always bigger than life to me - he was a big man, especially paired with my petite little Granny (a very Godly woman in her own right!).  He was a farmer and worked hard, all the time.  He also worked at the town's icehouse in the evenings back in the day, and drove a school bus.  I loved coming to visit him.  My brother and I came mostly a couple of weeks in the summer and a week or so at Christmas, occasionally during our spring break.  Our spring break in Alabama was not the same as the break in Georgia, so when we came and school was in I got to ride the school bus he drove and visit with the "big kids" he picked up on his route.  I've been told that he took me on the bus even when I was very little.  Then when it was parked in the yard it was a great play area - I can conjure up the heat and special smell even now!  I remember when he had cows, going with him to feed them - yep, the feed smell is there now.  I went to a tobacco auction with him one time - I can smell the tobacco now too.  I loved riding on the giant fender of his tractor with him or going in his truck to town - once a week!  He loved dessert, too - when he leaned over to me and said, "Let's have some cream" I knew that meant the churn was coming out and we were gonna have homemade ice cream!  I can remember sitting on it while it was churning and yes, I smell the motor and the rock salt!  A big part of his life was the spiritual aspect.  He was a church-going man and that meant we all went when we visited.  I remember going with them to Old Prospect Baptist Church, further down the dirt road they lived on.  Small congregation, but I remember the laughing, singing, preaching - worshipping!  His Bible was prominent in their house and well-used - no dust gathered there!

I learned some things this weekend that prompted me to write.  Here I'll relate a couple of stories about my Godly giant grandaddy.



Once when my daddy was still in school the family visited relatives and Grandaddy looked up toward the direction of their house and remarked they needed to go, their house was burning again!  Sure enough it was burning and Grandaddy announced, "God's trying to get my attention.  We're not doing some things right and that's changing right now.  We'll be regular in church for one thing."  So from then on, evidently every time the doors were open, there were the Dorminys. 

Daddy also remembered to me that they would bring the preacher home for lunch after Sunday services and Grandaddy would add to the collection for the preacher's salary if he thought it wasn't enough.  I doubt the church ever knew that. 

A friend of daddy's came to him at church with a story to relate.  He told of an acquaintance of his who was a trucker and told this man of growing up in a very poor family in Fitzgerald and riding to school on a bus driven by a man named Dorminy.  This bus driver, every Christmas, brought candy to the families of the children on his bus as gifts.  Trucker related how some years this was all they got and he remembered the kindness of Mr. Dorminy and how fond he was of him. 

Of course he was talking about my grandaddy - only the prompting of the Holy Spirit leads a poor farmer with a family to share with other families.  My daddy didn't know of this practice before hearing about it recently and even repeating it brought tears to his eyes; then him telling me made us both cry. 



I remember later when Grandaddy was so sick and in the hospital.  I was visiting and so was my cousin, Lisa.  Daddy was there and remarked to him that he had both his granddaughters there, what would he want to tell them?  One word he spoke to us - Jesus.  I told him then that he would surely live with Jesus because he loved Him so.  A Godly giant, yes.  Follower of Jesus, yes.  Always serving and loving and leaving a legacy for his family and neighbors to see.  Thank you, Grandaddy!  I'll see you when I get to Heaven!