Much loved, much missed!

Sheriff's Meadow stretches out in front of the property where Judith Ballou Freeman spent her summers. She greatly cherished and helped protect this sanctuary and haven for birds plants and so much other wildlife.EfN

Mrs. Ballou welcomed us when we moved in next door. She introduced us to her twin daughters Cay Eden & Judy Freeman and their families. She would come to tea every summer, very formal in her white gloves. We would watch her slow progress from her house to ours along Gaine's Way and up our drive way. She did not cut through the gap in the hedge like every one else. Judy, Ham, her step daughters and their children are a very important part of my summer memories. We were neighbors in a very special part of Edgartown. Our houses were very close together, separated by just the width of a drive way and we could hear the goings on in each others family homes. We shared cook outs and cocktails. We played croquet and caught fireflys. Judy & my mother were great friends. They would talk every day, on the phone, in the yard, one in the window, one standing outside, on their bikes, at the beach and then they would have a "pop" together most evenings looking out over Sheriff''s Meadow from one of their living rooms. Perfect neighbors. Ham and his Eden cousins, who lived in the next house over, used our back lot as a short cut to Fuller Street so we were aware of late night arrivals & departures. As we all grew up and the family dynamics changed dear Ham was awakened far too early by my children playing on the swing set in our yard just outside his bedroom window. And years later his children could be heard playing on the same swing set. For many years I would fall asleep hearing Judy's nightly call for her cat George because my bedroom window was just across from her back door Judy and my mother would not recognize their special spot on Gaine's Way now. Their houses have been torn down and replaced but Sheriff's Meadow is still the same and the view of Eel Pond is still beautiful. I hope these friends are having a pop together in Heaven. much love from Quita Schillhammer, daughter of Dana & Bobbie Atchley