It Happened to Me

By Judy Nolen

Elizabeth Johnsons life has been like a constant roller coaster ride since the time she was born. Being born with a special gift to pick up people emotions was a blessing and a curse to her. A blessing because she was able to help so many people make it through some hard times. A curse because she found herself in the middle of so much drama. Born to an alcoholic mother and not knowing her father she felt like she never knew who she really was. Journalizing was always therapeutic for her because it allowed her to release her deepest thoughts when words from her mouth were lost.

Elizabeth lost her memory because of a bad storm but she never lost her love for God. Her parents were killed in a bad car accident. She found herself alone with no parents to lean on except her grandmother, who also eventually passed away. With her lack of understanding and desire to be loved, she found herself part of the statistics, a pregnant teen mom. She lost her baby because of medical issues and found herself deeply depressed and bitter. Her best friend Emily just left and no one had any information as to what happened to her. She felt like God didnt love her because he kept taking the people she loved away.

Going through life Elizabeth felt alone, lonely and lost. She did not know who she was, where she came from or why she even existed. The people she allowed in her life loved her but also dreaded her because she was always opinionated. As she goes on this journey called life, she finds her true purpose. She also realizes God never left her. He was just building her up for something special.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Dec 9, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491751893

Judy Nolen

Born in St. Louis Mo. raised in the downtown area I was inspired to write about the things I had experienced. Writing started out as a form of expression, but quickly it turned into therapy and healing for myself and others. I pray my experience will help someone else know the power of prayer.

Book preview

Southeast Church of Peace

My life started with my mother in 1946 in a small town in Southeast Missouri called Portageville with a population of 4,500 people. There was only one black church in the community called The Southeast Church of Peace and there was nothing peaceful about the church. The women were always controlling everything, the head deacon was too afraid to speak up, and the pastor did whatever the board told him to do. The financial logs always came up short and the bookkeeper always forgot to pay the bills on time.

One Sunday morning, it was cloudy and muggy outside. Whenever it was real cloudy it made the church look real scary like a haunted shack, especially with all those tomb stones surrounding the building and those boarded up windows. The windows stayed boarded up because of the bad storms and the deacon had gotten too old to keep climbing up and down the ladder.

Deacon Graves was the grounds keeper. He was 74 years old, about five feet nine inches tall in stature with a big stomach he referred to as the playground. He called it the playground because in his younger years the children loved to poke at him. Every Sunday morning he would arrive to church 30 minutes early to prepare the church for Sunday school and on cloudy days he would go in even earlier in case something was out of order after a storm. One Sunday morning he walked into the building, turned the light switch on and off, but the lights would not come on. He walked into the back of the church to flip the circuit breaker but the lights still would not come on. He said, Oh my goodness this woman done forgot to pay the light bill again. He walked into the pastors office picked up the phone and dialed Sister Mabel’s phone.

Sister Mabel was a 78 year old widow who had been the church bookkeeper for over 40 years and was in her first stage of Alzheimer’s. Sister Mabel answered the phone after the fifth ring yellow. Deacon Graves says, Now Sister Mabel I’m over here at this church building trying to prepare for Sunday school and these lights won’t come on. Did you pay the light bill? In her sweeties voice she said, Why yes Deacon I did. I got the receipt round here somewhere I’ll be over there with it in a jiffy. She giggled first then hung up, Deacon Graves hung the phone up shook his head and walked out the building and sat on the church steps and began to moan the hymn Lead Me Lord. Twenty minutes later he heard someone coming down the dirt road fussing, but he couldn’t quite make out who it was. As she got closer and her voice got louder he realized it was Sister Odell.

Now Sister Odell was about five feet eight inches tall, a body shape like an apple standing on sticks, a face like a mad man and a mouth like a motor. As soon as she reached the church building she looked at Deacon Graves and said, What are you doing out here old man you know it’s fixing to rain. I hate rainy days cause it makes my bones hurt and it makes me real crabby. Deacon shook his head looked up at Odell and said, The lights off in the church again and the storm didn’t click’m off this time. Sister Odell dropped her mouth open, pushed passed Deacon Graves mumbling, No the hell they not off again. She walked in the church building and began flipping the light switch off and on. Talking under her breath, I can’t take no more of that old senile bat I should’ a got rid of her a long time ago. As she turned to walk out the building she bumped into her partner in crime Sister Georgia Mae.

Sister Georgia Mae was the church gossiper. Anything and everything that happened at church or at home everybody knew about it because she always had her nose in somebody’s business. Although she was telling everybody’s business, she never told any of Sister Odell’s business of course, because she was scared of her. Georgia Mae was standing at the church door entrance with her arms folded shaking her head and saying, This don’t make no sense now this the second time this month them lights done been off now we gone have to do something about Mother Mabel. Now, Odell I told you the first time she forgot to pay them bills you need to let me handle the church finances but did you listen to me Nooo!!!!!!!!! (Odell cut her off). Now Georgia Mae I am not in no mood for your non-sense this morning so shut up while you’re ahead unless you want that top lip of yurn swollen this morning. Georgia Mae shook her head, held her hands up, and said, I’m just saying.

Sister Odell said, Now I agree, we need to replace Mother Mabel so we gone cancel church today and we gone have a meeting first thing Thursday morning. Deacon Graves said, Now Sister Odell why we can’t have a meeting tomorrow? (Rolling her eyes) Sister Odell said, Because I said so! Besides I got some business to attend to this week and if something changes on my schedule I will let you know. Deacon Graves says, What do I tell the people that show up for church today? Sister Odell said, Tell them the storm knocked the lights out last night but we will have church services next Sunday morning even if we have to do it by candle light.

Church Meeting

The following Thursday everybody showed up for the meeting except Pastor Frazier. Nobody heard from him or seen him after Sis Odell canceled church services on Sunday. Georgia Mae said, After they left church that morning her and Sis Odell went to Pastor Frazier’s house to let him know services was canceled. Pastor Frazier and Odell got into a heated debate about canceling services. Pastor Frazier said he could have gotten up on that ladder and let the Lords light into the building and Sis Odell said we not having service in a church without lights. Pastor Frazier told her he can’t take her controlling ways anymore and Sis Odell was like fine. Consider yourself dismissed! We will find someone else to Pastor the church even if I have to bring the word myself.

Sister Odell stood up at the church meeting and said, Let us start with a prayer to the Lord before we begin. Everybody stood up and held hands. Sister Odell began to pray, (in her proper voice) Thank you Lord for this opportunity for allowing us to come in your presence once again and we ask father that you bless this meeting and let everyone here have an open heart. Peeping over at Mother Mabel

Immediately after prayer, Sister Georgia Mae says, What are we gone do in the future if we plan on having visitors at our church Mother if you can’t pay the bills on time? Deacon Graves intervened and said, I agree with you Sister Georgia Mae. Now Sister Mabel, don’t you think it’s time for you to retire? Let the young folks handle those books because it’s obvious you can’t handle it anymore. Cutting him off and growing irritated, Mother Mabel replies, Don’t tell me what I can’t handle Deacon. I’ve been doing those books all my life! Why would you want to take the only responsibility in the church that I have. (Shaking her head), I just don’t understand.

Every time someone would mention the lights Mother Mabel would weep and mumble There are no perfect peoples in this world. While you all sitting around here judging me for my short comings. The bible says, all have sin, you know what I mean Odell, and falling short of the glory of God. (Roman 3:23) So don’t sit over there like you have never made a mistake in your life because you know I know everything. (Looking Sister Odell in her eyes).

If you take them books from me I will surely die cause then I have nothing to offer the Lord. I am old and I do not have the strength to walk those streets and do evangelism anymore. The room became quiet as Mother Mabel began weeping loudly for about 10 seconds.

Sister Odell reached over and grabbed Mother Mabel’s hand and said, Ain’t no body taking nothing from yah not long as I’m living and breathing you doing a good job mother keep up the good work. Mother Mabel shook her head and said, Thank you baby I try and I will do better the next time I promise. Sister Odell said, I know you will mother now you go home and get you some rest. As soon as she walked out the building Sister Odell turned to Deacon Graves and said, I want you to tell the old fart she got to go. Tell her you sorry, but you decided it would be in the best interest of the church if she would just step down. Suggest to her to sew some curtains or something the Lord will be pleased with it. Deacon Graves sadly looked up at Odell and shook his head.

Now Sister Odell, why you putting me up to tell her? (Rolling her eyes) Cause I said so. Besides it would not look right for me to tell her to leave because I promised my mother on her death bed that I would take care of the old bit-tee. (Smiling), Sister Odell said, Besides you know after her husband died 15 years ago she has developed a soft spot for yah. Deacon Graves dropped his head down, smiled, then looked up at Sister Odell and Sister Georgia Mae and said, Y’all a mess shook his head and walked out the building.

Sister Odell was mean and her decision was the final decision in the church unless you wanted to put up your dukes and fight. She had a tongue that would cut you like a sword with all that cussing and that bad breath from dipping snuff and not brushing her teeth. Not even the pastor would dare to challenge any of her decisions. Alllll but there was one that would shut her down with a look and her name was Sister Hattie Mae Buford.

No one ever knew what Sister Hattie Mae had on Sister Odell but everyone knew when Sister Hattie Mae entered the church whatever she wanted, Sister Odell made sure she got it. Sister Hattie Mae was not the friendliest person in the world but she never bothered anyone. She showed up once a month and requested the front row and Sister Odell made sure it was available for her. The members loved when Sister Hattie Mae showed up because they got a chance to witness another side of Sister Odell. She appeared to be nice and concerned. Her tone and her personality would change like night and day.

First Sunday

Sister Hattie Mae Buford was a single parent, about 5’5 inches tall in stature weighing 140 pounds. In her younger years she was beautiful!!! She had beautiful skin color, like that of a pecan, long black hair, high cheek bones like an Indian, hazel colored eyes, and hips made for baby making. Nobody ever knew what happened to her in the big city. She just came back home to Portageville after her mother died. She had a bad attitude, a small child, smoking cigarettes, and drinking alcohol heavily. Over the years, the stress of life, smoking, and drinking made her look 20 years older. She use to dress nice, now she just throws on whatever she puts her hand on and walks out the door.

The first Sunday of the month everybody new Sister Hattie Mae Buford would show up and show out if she didn’t get her way. She would walk in the church every first Sunday faithfully wearing a lop sided wig she referred to as her good hair, some black shades to keep people from noticing her coming in late, and her outfit had every color in the crayon box. Whenever she showed up, at the beginning or at the end of service, she would request to sit on the front row close to the pulpit. No one understood why she had special privileges but she always got her way in the church.

For three months straight she would come to church every first Sunday and act a complete fool. She would request to sit up front no matter what time she arrived. The usher would let her know that church services were coming to an end soon so there weren’t any more seats up front. So Sister Hattie Mae would start to fussing and cussing. She would say, I don’t give a d*** if it is the end of service you bets make me a seat up front then cause I ain’t sitting in no back. Never! My daddy started this d*** church and as the founder of this church it is my right to sit where ever in the hell I wants too! If it wasn’t for my daddy’s memories in this building I wouldn’t visit this God forsaken place.

Sister Odell heard the commotion and marched toward the back of the church with her face all messed up with an attitude. What in the hell is going on back here when she realized it was Sister Hattie Mae she changed her tone. Good morning Sister Hattie Mae what seems to be the problem? Find me a seat up front Odell, Now! (Sister Odell put on a fake smile) I’m sure we can accommodate you Sister Hattie Mae. She turned and looked at one of the ushers and whispered, Sit her and her daughter in my seat up front please. Soon as the usher walked away to seat Sister Hattie Mae and her daughter, Sister Odell told the other usher I don’t know why her drunk a** won’t stay home she just likes to come up here and show out. I am going to have to come up with another plan for her. The usher did not want any trouble so every first Sunday they would reserve two seats up front for her and her daughter Sarah just to keep Sister Hattie Mae quiet.

Sister Hattie Mae and her daughter only showed up the first Sunday since it was the only Sunday the church did communion. The town was such a small town and most of the alcohol came from Memphis unless someone decided to make homemade moon shine. The last Saturday of the month a delivery man named Bob Curry would come from Memphis to deliver alcohol to the stores in the small towns. He would make a special trip to the church to deliver two bottles of MD 20/20 wine to the church for communion Sunday.

One bottle would be for the church and the other one for Sister Hattie Mae Buford to take home after church services. She always set close to the pulpit so when they gave the benediction she would go straight for the communion table. Every other cup she would pour one in the bottle and one down her throat until the cups were empty. She would obtain her bottle of MD 20/20, which was most often placed under the communion table in her shopping bag, complements of Sister Odell. After bottling up the wine she would have Sarah to clean up the communion table and she would sit on the front row and moan hymns and visualize her daddy preaching in the pulpit.

One Sunday morning after services Sarah asked her, Mommy why do you only get happy after you drink the communion wine. Sister Hattie Mae said, Baby you wouldn’t understand if I told you. Sarah said, Why do we drink wine? Sister Hattie Mae said, Drinking the wine is a representation of the blood Jesus shed for us on Calvary and the bread is his body that was broken for us and we should do it in remembrance of him. (Luke 22:19-20) Confused, Sarah said, That’s a lot of Jesus blood you drinking mommy. Hattie Mae laughed and said, You’ll understand one day but for now let’s go home. Mommy tired.

Walking out the church doors I could feel the tension in the air. Sister Hattie Mae would say, You ladies stay blessed and have a wonderful Sunday. They would smile back and say, Thank you Sister Hattie Mae, but they really were just happy she left so they could finish talking about her and cleaning up the church.

Sister Hattie Mae cooked a big Sunday dinner every communion Sunday as part of the celebration of Jesus death and resurrection and a reason to drink wine all day. Dinner was always well planned and Sarah always helped out in the kitchen. As much food as Hattie Mae cooked on Communion Sunday you would swear she had the whole church coming over. Sarah would ask lots of questions and most of the time Sister Hattie Mae would be so happy off the wine should would never answer her questions, just make Sarah laugh with her gestures and facial expressions.

Daily Routine

Sarah was 7 years old when her mother returned to Portageville. She looked just like her mother just a little bit darker when she was younger before she started drinking heavily. Sarah had a heart shaped face with lips so big they looked like they didn’t belong on her face. Her skin tone was a Bronze color, her eyes was very bright with a beautiful light