She’s just an angel, plain and simple, and you’ve been hearin’ me talk about this for years now, that the day would come when it was Mama’s time to pass and there’d be someone comin’ in to take my place. Well, that someone is here, and I’m holdin’ her in my arms. Meet this beautiful child, Layla. She’s an angel from heaven.”

There was a kind of ahhh sound made by the crowd that almost sounded like a prayer, and all I could do was just stand there and watch as Mama held Layla up to the crowd. And just as she did, with Layla kicking her legs a little, Layla made the cutest sound that I swear sounded just like “mama.” And with that, the crowd erupted into joyful laughter.

Mama was smiling, Maggie was smiling, and I was just standing there kind of numb and elated at the same time.

Mama continued, “So since we are all one very big family, I’m puttin’ you all on notice that this baby is no ordinary child and it’s up to all of you to help Mister Jim and Maggie raise and protect our Layla.”