Standing Tall: Challenged of Faith, Hope and Love

By Roemaine Hayden-Moore

Standing Tall: Challenges of Faith, Hope, and Love

This story and/or narrative depicts the life of a young African American couple with twelve children who supported its self by sharecropping and whatever means possible to survive. The contents of this offering is based on the lives of Theodore Hayden, Sr. and Christine Massey Hayden. Beginning in the late eighteen hundreds it spans well into the latter part of the twentieth century. Each chapter describe events or circumstances that had a direct impact upon the making and survival of this family revealing it struggles and triumphs. It paints a loving mother possessing an unwavering faith and tenacity who propelled her family to make remarkable strides in a no win situation.
The portrayal of family life and its unselfish rendering of self for the sake of family is uncanny. The family unit is strong and its members accept their responsibilities with pleasure.
The opening of the story begins with the birth of John (Theodore) and the familys subsequent escape from slavery. It moves swiftly to the courtship and marriage of John and Sarah and the development of their family consisting of seven boys and five girls. The remaining of the story deals with the familys relationship to itself and varying aspects of other influences that affected the familys life and survival.
The story ends with the death of Sarah and the familys struggle to try to begin again. Sarah had given her all to family and without her was unbearable.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 12, 2006
• ISBN: 9781465317872

Roemaine Hayden-Moore

Biography Romaine Hayden Moore born and educated in South Carolina received BA degree Benedict College Columbia, South Carolina Employed 19661996 New York City Human Resources Administration Singer of classical music Retired 1998 Currently resides in Alabama with husband, Raymond.

Book preview

Copyright © 2005 by Roemaine Hayden-Moore.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including

photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval

system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

27388

Contents

Acknowledgements

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X

Chapter XI

Chapter XII

Chapter XIII

Chapter XIV

Dedication

To my devoted and loving husband, Raymond Moore, who has been supportive, patient and kind for the duration of this project.

To the memory of my beloved parents: Theodore Hayden, Sr. and Christine Massey Hayden.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to my Lord and Savior for making this possible.

To my husband, Raymond, thanks for hanging in there with me and always being an encourager.

To my nieces Clara and Ethel, thanks for the first readings.

To my brother, Theodore Hayden, Jr. and nephew, Calvin Eugene Hayden, who helped with the early family history.

To the many well wishes for the success of this publication, thank you!

To Tonya Nelson, for her dedication and expertise during this project.

Chapter I

It was nearly daybreak. Margaret had just been awakened by a horrific nightmare. Tears flowed down her dark cheeks. The makeshift pillow and tattered gown she wore were soaking wet. Her furrowed brow curled deeper as she grimaced with pain of insurmountable grief. Margaret had not realized at first that the child she was carrying had not died but was indeed still alive. Immediately, Margaret came to her senses. She buried her face into the soaked pillow and sobbed uncontrollably. Finally, she began to take control again. She turned the soaked pillow over to rest her aching head. She remained quiet until the sun peeped into her window. Margaret could see her heaped silhouette on the far wall. She caressed her stomach and cried quietly. After several hours, Margaret fell asleep.

The onset of this nightmare was borne out of Margaret’s current dilemma. She had been dismayed by her struggle with severe poverty that slavery had forced its rippled effect upon her family. It was first her parents and now she and her siblings. Moreover, the fact that she was now pregnant only added to her depression. She was in her early teens, fifteen to be exact, when she conceived. Additionally, she had been raped by one of the other slaves from a neighboring quarter. She had not seen or heard from this man since the incident. Perhaps he had run away, she thought. Furthermore, her pregnancy and the impending birth of her child only brought greater hardship to her already ailing and impoverished parents. Margaret vowed that very day that after her giving birth to a healthy seven-pound boy, whom she called her seven-pound miracle, that day would be a day of new beginnings. She felt ready and deserving of a new start for herself and her child. Margaret felt an overwhelming flood of joy and an indescribable pain of uncertainty as well. Her pain grew into joy each time she glanced over at her seven-pound miracle. Margaret named him John Elias for the affection that she had for her father, John.

Margaret lived in the slave quarters with her parents, John and Mable Henley. Henley was the last name of the slave master, Rupert Henley. Her parents had come to accept life as it was and felt that there was no better way. Margaret, on the other hand, wanted more and was determined to somehow make it happen.

John and Mable had one room. The family grew rapidly, causing severe overcrowding. Out of some unknown and inexplicable reason, Rupert Henley agreed to move the family to another quarter consisting of an additional room. The two rooms they now occupied were a little more comfortable. By the time Margaret conceived, there were five other older siblings. The more children the better it was for the Henleys’ insurance of work hands, especially healthy children. John