Kool Joe & Kitten: A True Love Story -Transformation of Diamonds in the Rough

By Lynette T. Smith

A marriage journey that will help and encourage married couple who are going through turbulent and trying times not to quit but to strive hard to learn how to forgive and love each other on this earthly journey and continue to love and support one another. This story is about two people roller coaster ride from youth to maturity which eventually ended in a peaceful destination.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Jun 2, 2016
• ISBN: 9781504353816

Lynette T. Smith

Lynette T. Smith is Christian Education & Professional Development Director for Impact Nation Fellowship Churches based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama where her son, Bishop L Spenser Smith is Chief Prelate. She currently serves a Dean of the School of Ministry and head of the Presbyter Board. She graduated from South Carolina State University of Orangeburg, SC (1964) and completed her Master’s Degree in Education in 1974. She completed her Doctorate in Educational Leadership (2014) from the University of Phoenix. Also, she currently teaches at the Unity School of Ministerial Preparation. Her dissertation research focused on the impact of leadership practices of Alabama’s interdenominational pastors in influencing their subordinates to become and remain leaders in their organization. In 2014, she was assigned the role of Overseer of Christian Education & Leadership Development. Dr. Smith was married to Joseph W. Smith for forty-nine years. They have four children, Ronald , L Spenser, Curtis Elliot, and Tyfanni. Her husband passed away on December 4, 2015.

Book preview

Copyright © 2016 Dr. Lynette T. Smith.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Balboa Press

A Division of Hay House

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.balboapress.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5043-5380-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-5381-6 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date: 06/02/2016

7826.png

This book is dedicated to the memory of my husband Joseph Wilfred Smith (November 5, 1942 - December 4, 2015). Joseph was a husband, father, grandfather and an extraordinary band director and instrumental music teacher.

Some of his students called him Poppa Smith, Grandpa and the Maestro. His children called him Daddy, Dad and Pops. I called him KOOL JOE and JW.

May your spirit of individuality, and artistry continue to live on as you have now

become a part of the Great Cloud of Witness.

Foreword

Writing this story is my therapy. When I’m feeling overwhelmed from the loss of Joseph, I find solace in writing my experiences with him. I affectionately called him JW AKA Kool Joe.

These journey experiences were also written for my children and grandchildren. It is hoped that they will see their parents and grandparents in a more human light. I want them to know that we were not perfect. We were just two imperfect human beings struggling to be better even though situations in our childhood and adulthood might have given them another perspective. I pray that they will see that their parents never quit in believing that life could be better and that winners never quit and quitters never win

Lastly, just maybe, our marriage journey will help and encourage some married couple who are going through turbulent and trying times will learn some of the lessons that we learned on our journey together, and that each couple will make the decision not to quit but to strive hard to learn how to forgive and love each other on this earthly journey. It is hoped that they will continue to love and support one another. This story is about two people on a roller coaster ride from youth to maturity which eventually ended in a peaceful destination. In other words, this story is about two people fighting personal wars within themselves and deciding in the end that working together was the way each of them could allow God to produce the diamond that was in each of them. I do not regret all the moments I spent with this renaissance man. I would do it all over again if I could do it again with him.

IMG0143.jpg

KOOL JOE & KITTEN

Contents

Chapter One — How I Met Joseph

Chapter Two — College Life

Chapter Three — New York Venture

Chapter Four — Meeting Joseph Again

Chapter Five — Married Life

Chapter Six — Life in Our New Home

Chapter Seven — The Secret Revealed

Chapter Eight — The Final Eight Years

Epilogue

Now let the story begin

His family and classmates called him Wilfred, His school mates called him Wilfred and Rat Man. His college classmates called him Joe and Rice Man because he loved rice. His Children called him dad and Pops. I called him JW and KOOL Joe. He called himself the Mellow Fellow but if you asked his full name he would say My name is Joseph Joseph means he shall add and he did:

He added:

Ronald Tyrone

Leonard Spencer

Curtis Elliott

Tyfanni Nekeisha

And because they were apart of him they did add:

Ronald Tyrone, II

TABIA Mariah

Tykiah Nimah