_{*Quick Summary: The author adds a personal eulogy as a memorial to friend and mentor Mary Hendrick.*}

A very influential person in my life passed away the other day. Mary Hendrick was one of the most truthful and direct people I’ve ever known, in fact it was her calling card. While most people saw her as an extension of her husband “Papa Joe”, or the mother of Rick, she was so much more than someone’s wife or mother. She was a great friend and confidant to my mother. She was a great mentor to me. She was an amazing grandmother to her grandchildren, all of whom she had strong connections with. She was a good friend to many. I could write all day and not come close to describing how wonderful she was, and how many lives she touched. She was an amazing lady, and I’m very proud to have been able to spend time with her throughout her life. I am certainly better off for it.

More than once, I had the privilege of seeing her get a complete rundown on the performance of her race team from her son, crew chiefs, or from the drivers themselves. While many thought it was “cute” she was listed as the owner of a NASCAR Cup race team on paper, she’d demand real answers to hard questions when they weren’t running well. She’d take them to task for every mistake her team made on the race track. When they’d meet with her, it became clear they were giving an account to the CEO.

I’ll never forget how much she enjoyed her Pall Mall cigarettes and Schmitt Sohne Liebfraumilch wine. When Papa Joe was diagnosed with lung cancer, she had a special “smoking area” set up in her kitchen with one of the most powerful exhaust fans imaginable to carry out the smoke, so she could still smoke in the house. Always a bit of a rule bender, when she wasn’t supposed to have wine anymore, some of us would sneak her in a bottle or two.

I’ll always appreciate that she called me one of her grandchildren even though I wasn’t, but she sure felt like a Grandmother to me.

There are a thousand other things I could write, but for now just know that one of the most special people in my life has gone to Heaven. As sad as I am for our loss, to know she’s been reunited with her husband, two children, and three grandchildren in Heaven makes me happy for her. I will forever miss her.

Her obituary: https://www.southhillenterprise.com/obituaries/article_b52198d0-6c8b-53b9-8bc8-b9a98865e014.html

Having the opportunity to be at her home in Virginia for a bit the other day brought back so many wonderful memories for me. Here are some photos from the last few days: