His, Hers and Theirs

By Audrey Flowers

His, Hers and Theirs is based on a true story about two families dealing with love, losing loved ones and finding new love. It tells of feelings-heartaches, tears, and deep sadness, abandonment and exercise of faith. It is moreover concerned with children and the healing of their wounds and the hearts of all.

As faith would have it, member

• Language: English
• Publisher: ReadersMagnet LLC
• Release date: Apr 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781948864374

Book preview

His,Hers and Theirs

Copyright © 2019 by Audrey Flowers

Published in the United States of America

ISBN Paperback: 978-1-948864-36-7

ISBN eBook: 978-1-948864-37-4

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of ReadersMagnet, LLC.

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Cover design by Ericka Walker

Interior design by Shieldon Watson

About The Book

His, Hers and Theirs is based on a true story about two families dealing with love, losing loved ones and finding new love. It tells of feelings—heartaches, tears, and deep sadness, and exercise of faith. It is moreover concerned with children and the healing of their wounds and the hearts of all involved in these two families.

As fate would have it, members of both families found them-selves without the love of a wife or husband and mother or father. Some of their experiences were the same and yet others were quite different. Still, each felt a sense of great emptiness and loneliness. At first, those feelings were devastating, but then one day, they found each other, and for them, life was never the same.

I invite you to read carefully the story of how Callie-Woods-Poole-Sowell and Columbas (Lum) Roberson met—then, observe how they blended their two families into one. It was not an easy task, but through perseverance, they eventually achieved their goal of becoming one big happy family.

Notes From The Author

All references to the Bible or the Scriptures or the Word, etc., refer to the King James version unless otherwise defined by the immediate subject matter of a passage.

About The Author

The author, Audrey M. Flowers, daughter of the late Pastor James A. and Missionary Lucinda (Roberson) Flowers, was born in Dothan, Alabama. At the tender age of ten, she moved with her family to Trenton, New Jersey, where she spent her formative years. Upon finishing high school, many years later, she moved to Washington, D.C. After a short stay in the nation’s capital, she returned to Trenton. A couple of years later, she again moved, this time to Orange, and then, East Orange, New Jersey. Thirty years later, she retired from UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Department of Anesthesiology in Newark, New Jersey, as Residency Coordinator, eventually settling in Florida. There, she wrote her first book which was an autobiography entitled Made In Waiting. Audrey has been involved in Christian ministry since 1967 and heard her call to the ministry some ten years afterward.

Audrey attended Upsala College in East Orange, New Jersey as a Liberal Arts Major. She also obtained a BRE at the Christian Bible College in Bloomfield, New Jersey. In 2005, she received a Doctor of Divinity Degree from the International Christian University at Chesapeake, Virginia.

Contents

About The Book

Notes From The Author

About The Author 

Special Acknowledgement And Appreciatio

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

Part One

The Couple

Chapter One Columbas And Callie Robinson The Courtship

Chapter Two A Marriage Made In Heaven

Part Two

His

Chapter Three Ella Vester (Roberson) Mills

Chapter Four Ethel (Roberson) Hawkins

Part Three

Hers

Chapter Five Cora Roberson

Chapter Six Noah Roberson

Chapter Seven Daniel (Danny) Sowell

Chapter Eight William Roberson

Chapter Nine Lucinda (Roberson) Flowers

Chapter Ten Pastoria Mcghaney

Chapter Eleven Curtis (Curt) Roberson

Chapter Twelve Johnny (Sowell) Roberson

Part Four

Theirs

Chapter Thirteen Robert (Rob) Roberson

Chapter Fourteen Gussie Mae (Roberson) Robinson 

Chapter Fifteen Carston Roberson 

Part Five

Conclusion

Chapter Sixteen They All Were One Family Ever After 

End Notes

Special Acknowledgement And Appreciation

Percell (Roberson) Thomas

Daughter of Curtis George Roberson

And Granddaughter of Callie and Lum Roberson

Isincerely acknowledge and appreciate the special efforts of my cousin, Percell Thomas. Percell is the daughter of Curtis George Robinson. She devoted countless hours reading and evaluating this manuscript to make sure that the facts were correct and in the right order. I am especially grateful that Percell was thoughtful and kind enough to give me her candid feedback on a rough copy. Even though Aunt Gussie did not live to see the finished product, she also was pleased that Percell supported this project right from the beginning.

After Aunt Gussie’s death, Percell encouraged me to continue the project until finished. Thanks, cousin. You are wonderful. Honorable mention goes to John Russell who also provided a lot of insight about various family members.

Dedication

Deacon Gussie Mae Robinson

This story is dedicated to Gussie Mae Robinson. The last of Lum and Callie Roberson’s children. She lived a full and active life in Rivera Beach, Florida until she was ninety. Her biological nieces and nephews and multitudes of other adopted family members affectionately called her Aunt Gussie. Very family conscious, Aunt Gussie attended every one of the Flowers, Roberson & Griffin family reunions until she passed. In case you are wondering where the name Griffin fits in, Flowers is the surname of Mary Griffin’s husband and the stepfather of her children. Griffin was the surname Mary received at birth. Gussie’s sister, Lucinda, married into the Griffin-Flowers family. Therefore, her children are related to these three families.

Gussie had aged and was suffering from painful knees, but she was determined not to miss the July 2006 reunion in Atlanta, Georgia. Therefore, she came in a wheelchair, assisted by her godson, Paul Holmes, who tended to her daily needs. Miraculously, however, she still got there! That was a wonderful testimony of her dedication to family.

This book was born out of Aunt Gussie’s and my desire to share the history of her parents and siblings. We wanted to do this so that my generation, which is the age group after hers, and future descendants, will have a better idea of who they are and from whence they came. Perhaps then, they will also be able to determine where they are going.

Although this book focuses on Lum and Callie and their children, attention will be highlighted on Aunt Gussie since she is the longest survivor of her siblings, and she is also the source from whom I gathered much of the information about this exceptional family. The one thing that stands out to me that makes this family so special is that through God’s help, the triumphant way in which Columbas and Callie wove their two families into one. The process was so successful that for years, many of their grandchildren, including me, never knew that some of the children had a different mother or father. I only learned this after my mother died while we were listing the Robersons and the Flowers family in preparation for the family reunion. There could be others who may still not be aware of this fact.

Aunt Gussie said that the word step was never used in their home as they grew up. The parents were momma and papa, and the siblings were brother and sister. Ultimately, through fears, disappointment, suspicions, jealousy, the need for acceptance, and other obstacles, their home was full of love for one another. What a joy it must have been for them growing up in a family where, fortunately, they were taught to share everything, including their parents’ love!

This book is also dedicated to everyone who makes up the Roberson dynasty, especially those family members who will follow us. It is to this group that we pass on, not only our faith in God, but also pass down the legacy of Columbas and Callie Roberson and their children.

It is my prayer that this chronicle will bless everyone that reads it.

Acknowledgments

This is a long list so please bear with me.

I am eternally grateful to God who is my greatest inspiration. He gave me courage, not only to write this book but also my first book, my autobiography, Made In Waiting and also inspires me to write the books that will follow, as well. I am thankful that God’s grace and mercy sustains and blesses me as I journey down this tedious road. I am pleased that through Him, my motivation continues.

Even though I never had the opportunity of meeting Columbas Roberson (my step-grandfather), nor John Sowell (my biological grandfather), they both died long before I was born; their influence was in my life. I thank you, Grandpa John and Grandpa Lum, for your obedience in marrying my Grandmother Callie Roberson. I did not know my grandmother Callie well, I was only nine years old when she died, but her strength and love were conveyed to me by her children: my mother, Lucinda, and her siblings.

To all my aunts and uncles, who will be introduced later in this book, I miss you and wish you were here to see how far your family has traveled in life. It means more than you ever could have imagined for me to be a part of this wonderful family. I still have not forgotten the good times we shared as I grew up in life, and before God took you home. I carry a part of you in character and accomplishments. Thank you for the contributions you made in my life.

Honorable mention goes to my brothers and sisters-in-law. They are Calvin (Bernice and Ruby Flowers), all deceased; W.A. (Myrtle deceased) and Patricia Ann Flowers; James and Lena Mae Flowers (both deceased); Curtis and his wife Pearl (both deceased); Robert (Ruby Nell) both deceased and Elizabeth Flowers; Hilton (Willa Dean deceased) and Margaret (Dee Dee) Flowers. To those of you who are still alive, even though my ministry has taken me many miles away from you, always remember, when I do not communicate with you as much as I, or you would like, you are always in my heart. It is also important that you know that I am only a telephone call away, if you need me, or if you would just like to say hello.

As always, thanks to my wonderful children: Cheryl Denise Kehl, my daughter, and her husband, John Kehl, who also blended their families: Dustin Kehl, Regina Nicole and Kelly Wright, Jeremy and David Lee Cole, and Spencer Barlow, Jr. I also acknowledge my son Marc Earl (Flowers) Foster and his children: Monique Dent Flowers, Marquan Bennett Flowers and Ashley Barnes Flowers; and my great-grandchildren: LaShay Daniela Wright, Jarrell Kenneth Bostick, and Machi O.W. Sutton; Krystina Monique Wright, Angel Janae Wright and Jasmine Marie Hodges and Asr Dent. To my wonderful daughters, Venus (Paul) Robinson, Shantir and Roscoe Henderson and your children I give thanks for you too. I did not forget about you. I appreciate your love and tolerance of me as I developed into a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who offers you love and respect.

My life has been a struggle and when I look back on the times when I felt like quitting, I am so glad that I held on. Had I not, I would have missed seeing you mature. You are part of my motivation and everything I may have accomplished I did for the most part for you. I love you. To all my wonderful nephews, nieces and cousins whom I have met and with whom I am intimate, I am glad that we are part of the same family. Although we may have had differences from time to time, I harbor no resentment or ill-will towards any of you. I love you, too.

I would be negligent if I did not mention that two of my nephews—Kenneth Jerome (Flowers) Rumph and Reginald Stephen Flowers lived with me in East Orange, New Jersey and are considered by their parents and me as my nephew-sons. How blessed I was to have had their support during those times. While I lived on Glenwood Avenue, Kenneth was the inside man—the electrician, who worked long and hard and helped me with my business and the maintenance of our home. Then, there was Reggie who kept my lawn beautiful, and he also helped me with my business—thanks to both of you. As far as I know, my nephew, Bryan Keith Flowers, was the first in the family to read my autobiography. Bryan, I appreciate your candor and encouragement. You motivated me in words and deeds to write this manuscript and the others that will follow. Continue your encouraging ways.

Finally, I want my other nephews to know how appreciative I am of you. I thank Ronald Flowers for traveling to New Jersey to recapture my possessions and bringing them to me, in Florida. I do not know what I would have done without your help—I would have lost it all. It saddens me that you passed before I finished my writing, but I am leaving acknowledgment of one of the things you did for me in this space. Perhaps your children will appreciate my mentioning you.

I also am grateful for you just being there for me in general. You showed me, real love. Everybody called you my special nephew. However, the rest are special too. But as I have said so many times, you stand out as a beacon of hope when there is a family crisis. Rene, Robert, Jerome, Dennis and Terence Flowers, I must acknowledge you too, I love all of you.

Damian Flowers, since the first moment I met you at the 2004 Flowers-Griffin-Roberson Family Reunion, I have been amazed at how you blended in so quickly. It did not seem difficult for you as you met so many of us for the first time. May many blessings come your way as you excel in your musical endeavors. I am so proud of you. I welcome you to meet new members of our family through this book.

To my niece, Robin Rene’ Holmes and her husband, George Holmes, I have not forgotten how excited you were when you received my first book. I hope you will be as excited about this one, too. Thanks for your help. Rene, this book should be of special interest to you since you were blended into this family also.

To those of you whom I have never met, I am trying everything in my power to locate you and get to know you. To relatives whom I have only talked to and met once or twice, I miss you in my life, I think about you and embrace you as part of my being.

I have not forgotten about you, my wonderful friends—old and new. Thank you for being a friend and just being there during the good times and the bad times. I will not dare mention any of you here to avoid overlooking someone. You know who you are, and I feel special to have known you. To the rest of my family that I have not named here, be encouraged, there are more books on the way, who knows.

Finally, to all of you, as James Cleveland said in one of his songs that I love so well, Please be patient with me, God is not through with me yet. I might add, when he gets finished, I will be that sister, niece, aunt, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, Nana, cousin, sister-in-law, and friend that you will be proud to refer to as one who loved and cared for you. Thanks for being in my life.

Foreword

By Gussie Mae (Roberson) Robinson

Ihave lived a very blessed and, to me, a remarkable existence here on earth, enjoying all the things that life has afforded me. I consider myself very fortunate and wish I had the talent to describe to you, by writing more appealingly, just how privileged I feel. Some of the things in my memory, especially the early years, have faded somewhat. However, I will try to be as factual as possible. It has been said that Truth is stronger than fiction. Sometimes, I guess that truly is the case.

Many years ago, my parents started a wonderful family. Of course, our ancestry goes back further than what I remember—my immediate family is my frame of reference. In the past, to my regret, there was a fire in my home which destroyed much of the written history and family photographs that I had.

My earliest memory of the old days