Texas A&M softball player Ashlynn Walls has a sunshine necklace, a sunshine pin and a sunshine personality. The first two are gifts from her maternal grandmother, Suzie Durham, because of the latter.
"Ash has been a ray of sunshine since the day she was born," Grandma Suzie said. "She was the happiest baby with the exception of being in her car seat or seeing Swiper on Dora. It really took hold because her face would just light up with that beautiful smile whenever she would see me. Whether it would be coming to visit, her waking up in the morning, seeing me at work or picking her up at daycare, that smile would melt my heart every time. How could any grandma have a bad day being greeted with such a smile full of sunshine? She just loves life and everyone around her."
Ashlynn never goes anywhere without Grandma Suzie, either in person, in spirit or in jewelry.
"She's gotten me little things over the years," Ashlynn said. "She'll give me anything with a sunshine on it from anywhere. Just as a reminder. She signs off on all my cards saying, 'Sunshine.'"
Ashlynn and Grandma Suzie share more than bloodlines. Grandma Suzie loves Ashlynn's smile just as much as Ashlynn loves Grandma Suzie's.
"She's that one person that you want other people to meet," Ashlynn said. "She's like a famous person to me. She's the first person I want to introduce to everybody. She's just amazing. Little does she know, she's the biggest light in my life."
Grandma Suzie wasn't an athlete growing up but has found her passion supporting Ashlynn in the game Ashlynn loves to play. Ashlynn, a junior infielder from Pearland, Texas, has her biggest fan in the stands at almost every game. Grandma Suzie drives or flies from her home in Temple, Texas, to be there for Ashlynn.
"She follows me everywhere," Ashlynn said. "It doesn't matter where I am. I could be across the world and she would get on a boat and come watch me play. She is very dedicated. I don't think she's missed one away game, ever."
No matter the state, the field, the opponent, Grandma Suzie is in the stands. Grandma Suzie was most recently at the Aggies' SEC opener at Kentucky, the team's final road trip of the 2020 season due the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I could be having my worst game or I could be having my best game, and she's just up there clapping away, whether she knows what's going on or not," Ashlynn said. "Looking at her in the stands calms me down. She motivates me and just knowing I'm making her proud, no matter how I'm doing, is an amazing feeling."
Ashlynn started 24 games for the Aggies, holding a .404 slugging percentage with four doubles, one home run and 10 RBI. And Grandma Suzie was there for every single moment.
"Ash exudes such a gentle spirit and the warmth of all the rays of sunshine," Grandma Suzie said. "I am truly blessed to be her Grandma Suzie, and I love her with all of my heart."
Likewise, Grandma Suzie serves as Ashlynn's ray of sunshine.
"My grandma just has such a positive energy to her," Ashlynn said. "She's just such a light. Honestly, if you know her or not, you see her smile. It's impossible to be in a bad mood around her. She just makes me want to be a better person all the time. She makes me see the good in absolutely any situation."
"Ash has been a ray of sunshine since the day she was born," Grandma Suzie said. "She was the happiest baby with the exception of being in her car seat or seeing Swiper on Dora. It really took hold because her face would just light up with that beautiful smile whenever she would see me. Whether it would be coming to visit, her waking up in the morning, seeing me at work or picking her up at daycare, that smile would melt my heart every time. How could any grandma have a bad day being greeted with such a smile full of sunshine? She just loves life and everyone around her."
Ashlynn never goes anywhere without Grandma Suzie, either in person, in spirit or in jewelry.
"She's gotten me little things over the years," Ashlynn said. "She'll give me anything with a sunshine on it from anywhere. Just as a reminder. She signs off on all my cards saying, 'Sunshine.'"
Ashlynn and Grandma Suzie share more than bloodlines. Grandma Suzie loves Ashlynn's smile just as much as Ashlynn loves Grandma Suzie's.
"She's that one person that you want other people to meet," Ashlynn said. "She's like a famous person to me. She's the first person I want to introduce to everybody. She's just amazing. Little does she know, she's the biggest light in my life."
Grandma Suzie wasn't an athlete growing up but has found her passion supporting Ashlynn in the game Ashlynn loves to play. Ashlynn, a junior infielder from Pearland, Texas, has her biggest fan in the stands at almost every game. Grandma Suzie drives or flies from her home in Temple, Texas, to be there for Ashlynn.
"She follows me everywhere," Ashlynn said. "It doesn't matter where I am. I could be across the world and she would get on a boat and come watch me play. She is very dedicated. I don't think she's missed one away game, ever."
No matter the state, the field, the opponent, Grandma Suzie is in the stands. Grandma Suzie was most recently at the Aggies' SEC opener at Kentucky, the team's final road trip of the 2020 season due the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I could be having my worst game or I could be having my best game, and she's just up there clapping away, whether she knows what's going on or not," Ashlynn said. "Looking at her in the stands calms me down. She motivates me and just knowing I'm making her proud, no matter how I'm doing, is an amazing feeling."
Ashlynn started 24 games for the Aggies, holding a .404 slugging percentage with four doubles, one home run and 10 RBI. And Grandma Suzie was there for every single moment.
"Ash exudes such a gentle spirit and the warmth of all the rays of sunshine," Grandma Suzie said. "I am truly blessed to be her Grandma Suzie, and I love her with all of my heart."
Likewise, Grandma Suzie serves as Ashlynn's ray of sunshine.
"My grandma just has such a positive energy to her," Ashlynn said. "She's just such a light. Honestly, if you know her or not, you see her smile. It's impossible to be in a bad mood around her. She just makes me want to be a better person all the time. She makes me see the good in absolutely any situation."