A Diary of Lettie’S Daughter

By Marian Olivia Heath Griffin

Some of the mysteries of life can be the most rewarding experiences of ones life. The story about my birth and death is begging to be told. It is a story that should not be hidden. I remember the day of my birth and death, which occurred at the same moment. It is amazing how much an individual experiences, learns, remembers, and comprehends as an infant or small child. It is even more amazing what one actualizes and perceives about oneself when we become old. The day I was born, I died. My angel came to me. She knew I needed her. My angel told me that I had twin brothers who had died the year before I was born. They were in heaven. My twin brothers came to me and kissed me. My angel took me back to my mother, Lettie. We both were brought back to life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984548580

Marian Olivia Heath Griffin

Marian Olivia Heath Griffin lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with her husband of fifty-eight years. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and College Administrator (retired) for thirty-six years, the last seven years as Director of International Student Affairs. After she retired from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she decided to utilize her degree in Mass Communication and Photography to tell her people’s stories and history. Griffin graduated from Delaware State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and Psychology, a Master’s Degree program in Atlanta University School of Social Work, a Master’s Degree program at Gammon Theological Seminary of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. She received her Master’s Degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Psychological Counseling and Social Work. She received a Master’s Degree in Educational Supervision and Mass Communication and Photography from Southern University. She did further study at Louisiana State University and Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She studied Genealogy at the East Baton Rouge Parish Library in Baton Rouge. She has traveled over the fifty states of the U.S. and six of the seven continents. She has written eighteen books in two years, published them with XLIBRIS and compiled and published two photo books with MYCANVAS BY ALEXANDER. She is proud of her three children: Rev. Bertrand, II (Rev. Kotosha Seals Griffin), Karen G. Phenix, (Keith Phenix) and Dr. Michael (Tracie Haydel Griffin). She adores her eight grandchildren: Nia, Kiara, Christian-Paris, Michael, II. Amelia-Grai, Victoria, Olivia and Sophia – all Griffins and one god-child, Whitney White, one great grandchild – Keomi Phenix, one great- godchild, Amelia Pleasant and her brother, Warren, six great- nieces, Whitney Foucheaux, Amoree Sanders, and Danee Heath, Tikia and Lentia Brown, and great nephews: Bobbie, Jr., Enrique and Alberto Garcia, Tyler Heath, Lauren and Kee Kee Dennis, Arshawon Brown (recently deceased), Willie, Jermaine. Brown, Michael Martin and sons, and Devonte Walker.

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Copyright © 2018 by Marian Olivia Heath Griffin.

Library of Congress Control Number:      2018910006

ISBN:                Hardcover                    978-1-9845-4860-3

                          Softcover                      978-1-9845-4859-7

                          eBook                            978-1-9845-4858-0

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.

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.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®). Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 08/24/2018

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Introduction     Historical Perspective

Chapter I        My Mother Lettie

Chapter II      My Birth

Chapter III     My Ghosts

Chapter IV     My Mother Lettie - Incredible

Chapter V      My Childhood Jobs

Chapter VI     My Sacred Space

Conclusion

Bibliography

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My mother. Let me acknowledge her with love and gratitude because this diary is about her, her parents, her grandparents, her husband, her children and grandchildren and friends, living and dead.

My siblings. Let me acknowledge my siblings: Phyllis, George, Daniel, Joseph, Nancy and Hattie.

My sister, Nancy. I cannot imagine that there are many persons who are more fortunate than I am to have a younger sister as my best friend. When she was born, I was four and a half years old. I knew before I saw her that she would be my very best friend. She is.

Nancy taught me how to be truly accepting and generous to different types of people. She is a special education teacher.

At the time Nancy was born, I was sandwiched between three brothers- one older and two younger. My oldest sibling, Phyllis was the only girl in the family before me. We were destined not to be pals. She taught me how not to treat other people.

George Jr, my oldest brother took good care of me, protected me and defended me when I was little. We tell the story all the time about the day an airplane was flying low (a crop duster) and swooped down near me. I was frightened and started running toward the house where I was born. I was about three years old.

George started running, too and fell on top of me so the plane would not swoop down on me. George, Jr has been my defender and protector all my life and still is. Thank you, big brother.

Daniel and Joseph. Taught me not to be selfish and how to be kind, caring and more giving even when they were selfish. Sometimes they were looking out for number one.

Phyllis and Hattie. Taught me how to defend myself from being bullied. They were ‘two peas in a pod.’ They are now deceased but I miss them.

For this book I am writing, I needed psychological support. I am writing about my mother and father, my siblings and myself. I received much support from George and Nancy. Joe, my youngest brother somehow got squeezed in the bunch. My three other siblings: Phyllis, Daniel and Hattie are deceased.

My eight lovely grandchildren, Nia Olivia, Kiara Janelle, Christian-Paris Bertrand, III, Michael Gerard, II, Amelia Grai Addison, Victoria Olivia, Olivia Christina, and Sophia Morgan – all of you are Griffins.

They are my team. We talk, we bond, they ask questions, they trust me, they are astute as well as loving.

No, I did not skip a generation. My children are so special to me. My four technicians are Bertrand, I, my husband of fifty-five years, Bertrand, II, first son, Keith Phenix, son-in-law and Christian-Paris -first grandson. All I have to do is write. I am thankful that they can e-mail, etc, for me.

Thanks to my researchers who are Michael Gerard, I second son, Karen Michelle, my daughter and Jeanette Shakesnider, my ‘proxy’ daughter, and Nancy, my sister who travels with me and gathers documents for me.

Let me say thanks to the staff in the East Baton Rouge Parish Library, Scotlandville Branch for guiding and directing me during my research on topics of which I knew nothing, such as Near Death Experience (NDE), Ghosts, out of body experience and ‘presence’. They had me reading from morn til night and signing up for the Summer reading program. They include Pamala A. Donaldson, Jennifer L. Thompson and Chad J. Cooper.

To my precious church members at St. Mark United Methodist Church, Baton Rouge, the pastor, Dr. Derrick D. Hills and his wife, Sharron Hills, the ministerial staff, retired Rev. Bertrand Griffin, and retired Rev. Glorious Wright, the musicians, especially Miss Ethel Blaze, (I am a volunteer member of the musician staff), my class leader, Catherine Martin and her husband, Semmie Martin for all their assistance and quality time together over the years, our church secretary, Edna Hickman with her special ‘GOOOD MORNING, ST. MARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH and her giving, caring and expressions of concern and love to all those she meets.

Then there is the Breakfast staff, Dorothy Collins (my little cousin), Michelle Thomas, I taught her a few words in German (Guten Tag), so she wouldn’t be so sassy to me, Rosilyn Magee, {a special person to me} and Ernest Lee, {who is one of our real song birds) whom I see when I walk in the door of the church each Sunday morning, I say thanks for helping me to keep my head together and for your indulgence as you touch other people’s lives.

INTRODUCTION

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

The story about my birth and death is begging to be told. It is a story that should not be hidden. My birth happened on the same day, the moment, the minutes that I died. I do remember. These two events happened. I am Lettie’s daughter. I have told strangers some of the occurrences of that fateful day, August 29, 1939. I have not told family members.

I choose to write this phenomenon or story as my grandchildren have asked questions. I shall tell my grandchildren that there was ‘something to write home about.’ I feel comfortable and self- assured with children, especially my eight grandchildren.

Some of the mysteries of life can be the most rewarding experiences of one’s life, such as outer body experience and experiencing heaven before you actually die. Very few people have seen a ghost and not been frightened to death by it. Biblical characters have seen angels and been afraid. I have seen both and had an overall calm, serene sense of peace within the realm of the situation.

I feel that I was ushered into heaven to meet my angel and to receive my assignment from God. God truly speaks to us when we need him most. He changes lives, transforms hearts and uses us for good when we are receptive to his will.

I got a glimpse of heaven as an infant. I was introduced to the amazing love of God at the tender age of one day old. Apparently, I accepted the life that God planned for me. I allowed God to speak to me and I heeded his call.

It is not what you think. This could have been a catastrophe occurrence. Many things that happened in our family life were good, comical, blessed and endearing to us as children. We had a wonderful childhood life due to a loving father and a caring mother, thoughtful, wise grandparents (except my paternal grandfather who was hateful and mean.), good, considerate aunts and uncles and great siblings (except Phyllis the oldest sibling who couldn’t stand her younger siblings.)

Phyllis must have taken her cantankerousness and contrariness after my paternal grandfather, William ‘Will’ Heath, Jr. ‘Will’ Heath had a way with him that would not ‘set horses’ with anyone except his wife, Hattie (who was our grandmother.) I do not understand how Grandmom Hattie was able to put up with Grandpop ‘Will’, but she did.

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what in unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Cor 4: 18 NIV.)

The world stage was on the verge of World War II. Germany was to invade Poland. This was the most devastating event to be happening during my birth date. I ushered in World War II. Or did World War II usher my birth date.

According to African oral tradition, Every birth is the rebirth of an ancestor. (Follmi, Danielle & Olivier. Origins-African Wisdom for Every Day)

"Long before birth, the child as a pre-existing soul, is watched over by a whole line of ancestors down to and including the placenta and the primadian mother that begins to fashion him. (Alassane Ndawe. – Follmi)

Over the years, I have recounted what happened to me as a day-old infant. I’ve tried to tell the story to other people, only to be disbelieved or shut up.

I am now being brave enough as I swallow my pride to tell a most intimate and blessed story of my life.

When I was eight years old, I tried to tell this story in Sunday school class one day. The minister was sitting in our class that day. He told me not to have that conversation any more because there was no such thing as dying and going to heaven and coming back to life in this day and age, only in biblical times.

He said there was no such thing as being visited by an angel, or seeing ghosts or having out of body experiences (dreams of heaven}.

My father sort of believed me because we had conversations about my birth when I was around two years old. He was the Sunday school superintendent at our church.

When I left class that day, my father told me not to mention my ‘dreams’ in class any more.

I didn’t quite understand what was going on with me, but I knew I was not lying. I did obey both of my parents and kept quiet about my experiences.

I started burying my thoughts and issues deep in my mental diary. These things happened when I was a young child and even during my young adulthood. Yes, I had had an outer body experience, a near death experience, more than once and I have seen ghosts. I buried these things deep.

As I grew up, I was just Marian to my friends and family, not someone who had been visited by my angel. I never thought those around me would believe me or even fathom what I was dealing with.

Both my grandmother Sadie and grandmother Hattie knew about my entrance into this world, that as soon as I was born, I died. They were both mid-wives and were there at the time of my birth.

Mother Lettie died, too.

Was I born to live or born