As a young girl I looked forward to every summer vacation from school because I knew that we would be going to Smith Mountain Lake to be with Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Doris and Family.  Now our family is not your typical family – you see we all strived our best to see who could pull the best prank on whom and the challenge would get more and more detailed every year.  From waking up to firecrackers going off in a metal trashcan beside our camper to searching for our dad’s shoes which Uncle Jimmy had buried the pranks and laughs seemed to never end.  No matter who came, what the weather was or how he was feeling Uncle Jimmy greeted everyone with a smile and an invitation to come on in and have a bite.  He taught me how to water ski, how to ride a dirt bike and as simple as this sounds the memory that has always stuck with me so lividly over the years is on summer break before my Senior year in high school I desperately wanted to get a gorgeous tan for my senior photo, Uncle Jimmy told me to come with him and he put me on his boat and took me out on Smith Mountain Lake and laid a towel across the bow of the boat and let me sunbath while he quietly fished, I was so excited to see that my tan was gorgeous and it meant the world to me, but you know that is just how Uncle Jimmy was – no matter what you needed – when you needed or how you needed he would do everything in power to make it possible for you.  If you were hungry he would have a sandwich ready in minutes, if you were thirty he handed you a drink, if you were sad he always had a hug and comforting words, if you were happy he would put on that great big grin of his and share in your joy.  That “grin” or as many would probably say the “smirk” he would always get when he was up to something (which trust me was anytime his eyes were open – and I would almost bet he even dreamed about more mischief to pull every night) that is the face I will never forget – when you saw that smile and that twinkle in his eyes you knew laughter was just around the corner.    Of all the men in my life my father of course always ranked first but I can honestly say that Uncle Jimmy was the closest to a father that any child would ever have the privilege to have in their life.  He was a father, a brother, a grandfather, an uncle, a friend but most of all he was a HERO to every child that was blessed to have him in their life.  I know he is with our heavenly father now and he is no longer in any pain and I can just see that smile as I know he is looking below on all of us and I know he is plotting more pranks for when we join him again.  Uncle Jimmy – thank you for touching my life, filling my heart with so many smiles over the years and for being the most loving and funniest Hero in my life.   I will miss you so much!!!!  I love you – Cyndi Abshire Bailey