Daughter of a Black Widow

By Dr. Rhonda E. Carroll

In the time of death, in general, who turns their full attention toward the children? Being the daughter of one whose father was removed from this earth by death, I can speak from personal experience of what it is like once all the noise is quieted. After all the services and recognitions, children are left with the aftermath of a loss while wondering how the living parent is doing too. This book, Daughter of a Black Widow, shares a firsthand account of the thoughts and feelings of a ten-year-old girl after the death of her father. This girl witnesses the movements of her mother and shares how these movements helped shape her life in a way that is destined to leave a prominent legacy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796024876

Dr. Rhonda E. Carroll

Dr. Rhonda E. Carroll is one of the world’s astonishing global leaders and speakers. She has been a radio voice in various African countries. Dr. Rhonda is also one of the most distinguished imaginative authors, artistic singers and worldwide motivating influencers around. Additionally, she is tenderly well-thought of as a “professional student” and pioneering educator who positively impacts others to embrace higher education. Dr. Rhonda continues to make one-on-one time for people, which is a favorite past time of hers. Dr. Rhonda facilitates numerous trainings in the areas of Leadership, Communication, Publishing, only to name a few. Dr. Carroll has written other stirring books as, I’m In Love, The Beauty in the Womb-Man, and Pain of Honor.

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 by Dr. Rhonda E. Carroll.

ISBN:                Softcover                978-1-7960-2488-3

                          eBook                     978-1-7960-2487-6

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.

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: 03/29/2019

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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Contents

Chapter 1

Life-Changing News

Your Dad Is Dead

Who Will I Love Now?

Chapter 2

My Heart Hurts

Where Is My Daddy?

Learning Of My Spiritual Daddy

Chapter 3

How Does She Do It?

Where Are The Tears

Chapter 4

Get Some Water and Go To Bed

The Midnight Oil: When Mamma Prays

The Midnight Oil: When Mamma Reads His Word

Chapter 5

Zena, Felicia, and Rhonda – It’s 6:00 o’clock…And It’s Time To Come In Now

Learning The Word

Learning To Pray

Learning To Minister, Learning About Ministry

Chapter 6

Everything About My Ministry, Mamma Taught Me

Epilogue

Last Nuggets

Works Cited

I dedicate this book to:

Adult children who have lived through their childhoods with their widowed moms, without their fathers. I trust that through this work, you will continue to live in strength, in courage and with bravery.

CHAPTER 1

Life-Changing News

I T WAS OCTOBER 1974, my grandmother, my dad’s mom, started early one morning, trying to reach my mom by telephone. She had been trying to call my mom all day, which was very unusual seeing that my mom and my dad’s mom were not close. This particular day, my mom had gone grocery shopping on the base and when Mom went to the base, we knew that it was going to be an all day ordeal. My mom’s visit at the base consisted of going to the base exchange, better known as the BX, the commissary and any other place she needed to visit while there.

As usual, Mom had been gone almost all day when she finally returned home that evening. The phone rang shortly after her arrival home and she received the most devastating news of all. Of course, the phone receiver was not up to my ear as my grandmother’s voice was on the other end of the line, but from my mom’s response, I, along with my siblings, knew that the news was not good. It is a little foggy exactly how my mom delivered the news to us but I remember that she seemed a bit in shock. The words, Your father is dead is devastating news. Immediately, I had a sense of the news being life-changing news which would alter my life forever.

Your Dad Is Dead

Dad was my hero. Dad was my superstar. How could he be dead? He had promised to come and see us. We were all waiting for his arrival. How could Dad be dead? Our anticipation was high of his arrival to 3824 Alder Street. How could Dad be dead? You mean dead as in dead, as in not breathing anymore, as in lifeless? What do you mean? What happened?