Joanne called me earlier this morning with this news of Tony's homegoing.  Again, another sign that I am getting old.

Tony Snow, the former White House press secretary and conservative pundit who bedeviled the press corps and charmed millions as a FOX News television and radio host, has died after a long bout with cancer. He was 53.

A syndicated columnist, editor, TV anchor, radio show host and musician, Snow worked in nearly every medium in a career that spanned more than 30 years.

?The White House has lost a great friend and a great colleague,? said President Bush?s press secretary Dana Perino. ?We all loved watching him at the podium, but most of all we learned how to love our families and treat each other.?

Snow joined FOX in 1996 as the original anchor of ?FOX News Sunday? and hosted ?Weekend Live? and a radio program, ?The Tony Snow Show,? before departing in 2006. A sometime fill-in host for Rush Limbaugh, Snow said he loved the intimacy of his radio audience.

I was saddened to hear of the home going of Joan Ramsey on May 5, 2008.  I new her thu my cousins Stan, Dan, Ken, and (Richard).  When I was around 17 I use to go to Lester and Joan?s house to do help Richard with his Citizens Band Radio.  His CB Handle at that time was Scooby Do.  Tho the years have made us loose contact, it is nice to be brought together through the internet.

I must be getting old because a lot of folks I know are Going to there eternal reward.

Homegoing celebration For Dottie Rambo

Visitation
Saturday, May 17 from 4-8pm
Sunday, May 18 from 2-4pm
Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home
660 Thompson Lane
Nashville, TN 37204

Memorial Service
Monday, May 19 at 1:00pm
Christ Church
15354 Old Hickory Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37211

McDyess plays through grief

Forward gets 17 points after learning of his grandmother's death earlier in day.

Joanne C. Gerstner / The Detroit News

AUBURN HILLS -- Pistons forward Antonio McDyess tried put his grieving heart as far away as possible Tuesday night.

There would be a time, after Game 5 against the Magic, to begin to mourn the death of his beloved grandmother Beatrice Harris.

But this was not that moment.

McDyess went to work, playing inspired basketball against the Magic. McDyess had 17 points (6-for-9 shooting), 11 rebounds and a steal, plus brought a steely will to keep possessions alive.

McDyess found out around 3 p.m. that Harris had died in his native Mississippi. McDyess' family wanted to shield him from the news until after the game, as they knew the Pistons had an important clinching opportunity.

But the news reached McDyess anyway.

"This is really unexpected, I didn't know she was that sick," McDyess said after the game. "It made me think she was looking down upon us, definitely. I will definitely dedicate this win to her because she never missed a game. She always called me, talking about the game.

"She loved the Pistons. I'm just happy to have the opportunity to win this game on such an important day of her passing. Brings tears to my eyes, pretty much. She definitely was with me."

McDyess said Harris, 84, was like his second mother. He lived with her for two years during high school.

Later in life, he had the chance to repay her love and care, buying her a house and taking care of her financially. McDyess said she kept a life-sized poster of him in her house, right by the TV set that was frequently tuned to his basketball games.

Pistons guard Lindsey Hunter empathized with McDyess, as his grandfather died three weeks ago.

"Dice was phenomenal," Hunter said. "Got his hands on the ball every play, rebounds, putbacks, got us going offensively. Our hearts go out to him, I know exactly what he's going through."

Antonio McDyess was told before the game that his Grandmother passed away.  Antonio McDyess played like his grandma was there watching.  The way he played helped Detroit into there 6th strait conference finial.  GO DETROIT PISTONS

Few details are yet available, but Associated Press reports suggest overnight storms and high winds (still buffeting the southeast) caused the 1997 Prevost bus to crash into a guard rail and an embankment around 2:20 a.m. on I-44, two miles east of Mt. Vernon, Missouri.

The bus driver, Ronnie Meadows, is in serious condition and Ms. Rambo's manager, Larry Ferguson, and his wife and his two children, are also hospitalized in Springfield, Mo., the report says. Chris Barnes, 22, Ms. Rambo's web master and Mr. Ferguson's assistant, was in serious condition.

Ms. Rambo was a prolific writer and singer whose hits include "We Shall Behold Him", "Holy Spirit Thou Art Welcome (In The Place)", I Go To The Rock, and Sheltered In The Arms Of God".

Elvis Presley, Barbara Mandrell, Carol Channing, Whitney Houston and Dolly Parton are among those who have recorded Ms. Rambo's songs.

Ms. Parton quickly released the following statement: "I know Dottie is in heaven in the arms of God right now, but our earth angel will surely be missed. Dottie was a dear friend, a fellow singer, songwriter and entertainer, and as of late my duet singing partner. Dottie, 'stand by the river' and wait for me. I will always love you, Dolly.

"I also want to send my prayers and thoughts to her manager Larry Ferguson, the children, families and everyone involved in this terrible tragedy."

As a young girl, Ms. Rambo fell in love with country music while listening to the Grand Ole Opry in her Morganfield, Kentucky, home. She started writing songs at ate 8, and by age 10, Ms. Rambo was singing covers of country songs on a local radio station.

By age 12, she became a born-again Christian, a decision her dad abhorred. He ended up kicking her out of the house, and Ms. Rambo started her Christian career.

Ms. Rambo met Buck Rambo at age 16 and they married soon after, forming a gospel trio that would launch a 50-plus years career in Christian music.

Barbara Mandrel inducted Ms. Rambo -- who wrote some 2500 songs -- into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame late last year, making Rambo only the 10th woman to enter the hall. She is also a member of the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, inducted there in 2006.

Rambo was slated to release a new album, Sheltered, in the summer. The album was to include a duet with the late Porter Wagoner, "Sheltered In The Arms of God", and Dottie was set to dedicate her album to Wagoner.

  I just got back from Temperance MI.  It was bittersweet trip.  My cuz (Alta) was dropped off in Cincinnati where she became engaged.  I continued on up to Michigan to get some more personal stuff.  It was nice trip.  Joanne was beautiful, as she always was.  But OMG she looked like she?s lost almost 200 #s. I know she feels better. I am so proud of her.  It also was good to see my son Christopher.  I think he's going to school sometime this year.  Even tho he is being a typical teenager.  I think he will do right and be a productive young man.

  I was blessed to bring back with me one of the dogs.  I stayed long enough to sign tax papers too.   When I got home today.  The divorce papers were here waiting for me to sign.  With my tears flowing.  I signed the papers.  This was truly a sad day for me.