June at five years old
Valerie June Carter Cash was a singer, dancer, songwriter, actress, and author who
was a member of the Carter Family singing group. She was the second wife of singer Johnny Cash (above). She acted in several films and TV shows. June played Mrs. "Momma" Dewey in Robert Duvall’s 1998 movie The Apostle.
June and Johnny in 2002, their last photo together
April 6, 2005, 3:20 am: Setting in the dimly lit kitchen and stillness of the house in which Maybelle and Ezra Carter lived in Macey Springs, VA, my thoughts took me back to earlier times–to faint echoes of little feet and children’s voices–as the morning sun peeked its first look at Poor Valley, the toddlers (June included), and Ezra, prepared to leave and experience the day’s unique destiny. Then how quickly the day must have rushed by-bringing them all back home and together again.
Likewise, the passing `day’ of life moves its travelers quickly through their unique journeys and their many activities to Heaven-an eternal home of never ending togetherness that Jesus promises to everyone who will accept His love.
Having had the great privilege of knowing June personally and experiencing the very essence of God’s love that always seemed to encircle her, I am certain that Heaven is where she is at this moment, forever with God, with John–and all of her dear ones who have already gone home.
June’s remarkable, selfless, yet at times troubled, journey is luminously detailed throughout this remarkable work by John Carter Cash–the one son with whom God so richly blessed her and Johnny.
I can almost hear her calling back, as she did so many times to those of us who were so very blessed to call her a friend–a sister in Christ, and to have the wonderful opportunity to travel the world with her and John–“Press on children-press on, there’s a `family circle’ up here that must be completed.”
Friend and Minister, Rev. Jack Shaw