Cookie Day

Happy heavenly birthday to my grandmother Erma Gwendolyn Server-Spencer aka Cookie. Grandma Cookie was born August 9th, 1943 in Phoenix, Arizona. She was one of seven children born to Fleta and Guy Server, she had four sisters and two brothers.

Erma grew up in California like much of the rest of her family. Growing up Erma came from a Christian family and her relationship with her faith played a big role in her life. She was a member of Providence Baptist Church and remained a member of the church until her health declined in her later life. Grandma Cookie was quite the brainiac her whole life. She graduated from Richmond Union High School in Richmond, California in 1961. She earned a license in cosmetology the next year. She eventually earned an associate’s degree from Contra Costa junior college in 1988 as well as a Bachelor’s in Arts degree in management from Saint Mary’s College in 1997.

When she was just 11 years old Erma met her childhood best friend and the love of her life, Harry James Spencer. They stayed best friends for the remainder of their childhoods and eventually married one year after graduating high school. Erma and Harry would have three children together: Lana, Harry and Ruby.

Erma and Harry both joined the United States Army where Erma lived as a military dependent with Harry and worked as a computer analyst as they traveled all over the world. Their military careers took them many places across the world like Japan, The Netherlands, France, Italy and eventually Germany where they were stationed for some time. Erma would have a decorated career working for the federal government for over 37 years before she decided to retire.

There are too many descriptions to recall my grandma Cookie. Her fitness was very important to her, she loved to bowl and line dance. She was crazy about pinochle and playing cards with friends and family, but what I remember the most is how much she loved spending time with her family.

Growing up me and my sisters always called our grandparents by their famed nicknames “Cookie and Papa” and every time they came to visit us or whenever we would visit them we would have the greatest time ever. Family reunions are the biggest deal in our family. We have them every year and Erma was always there with Harry and they were always the life of the family party. I had the privilege of being at their side when they hosted our 2004 family reunion in Santa Clara, San Jose in California.

Another one of grandma Cookie’s greatest traits is being a strong willed person. In the year 2000 she was diagnosed with cancer and her doctors did not give her long, but no matter what the doctor’s report said she kept outliving the prognosis on her health. Every time I would see her it was like she was stronger than ever after her every bout with cancer. She continued to be the life and love of the party with joy, laughter and good spirit.

Without a doubt the most painful blow to ever hit Cookie’s heart was when her youngest daughter, my mother Ruby died in a car accident back in the summer of 2010. Life was at its most difficult, but Erma continued to smile through the heartache and press forward as she continued her battle with cancer.

On April 9th 2012 Erma passed away after her 12 year war with cancer. She fought the mightiest fight I have ever seen and her journey through cancer was a true testament of how she carried a mighty heart. Her husband Harry would join her six years later and I always imagined that when they were reunited they played a game of cards together as Papa promised they would when they were together again. My grandma Cookie was the most amazing woman you could have ever met. She was a great mother, grandmother, a wonderful soul who loved life and everyone in it and she was a queen. Long live the queen.

~~Happy heavenly birthday to my grandmother Erma Gwendolyn “Cookie” Spencer. May your endless love continue to watch over us.