I was there when this experience happened, so I know firsthand how this story is an example of the character and manner of Sally Stratford, my mother. The year was about 1990 and mother and I were just leaving the Westwood Ward chapel after services. While walking to our car, the Westwood 2nd ward folks were arriving for their scheduled meetings.
In the parking lot we saw Ed Barner by his car talking with his daughter Elizabeth, who was probably about 12 years old. When we went over to say hello, it was not difficult to realize there was some problem between the two. He mentioned that for Easter he had bought his daughter a beautiful new white dress to wear to church. He went on to say that she did not like the dress and was not going inside.
Elizabeth got out the car and I said to myself that it did not look like to me anything was wrong – it was a cute white dress. Mother ask her what the problem was and after much coaching, she finally and shyly admitted that you could see through the white material. She was embarrassed.
Mother sized up the situation is seconds, looked around the parking lot to see how distant she was from others, lifted up her dress, grabbed hold of her white slip, took it off and gave it to Elizabeth to wear. She quickly put in on and that solved the problem.
The insight into Sally Stratford? She was always eager to help others and there was no regard as to what was proper or not to protect the feelings of this young girl.
Lynn Stratford
Elizabeth, John, and Rebecca Barner
Sally Stratford 