Watch Your Step You Are Someone’s Hero

By Marian Olivia Heath Griffin

I t’s a humbling thing to write about persons who have greatly impacted your life. I am reminded that we cannot live alone without the influence of an individual (s) or a higher deity to affect our lives. There has always been someone who came before us and influenced us in a way that greatly mattered to us. They came with equal talents and gifts (of the Spirit) that guided us along the way. We must take heart and humbly seek guidance of our Creator. He will send a mentor or hero to help us whenever we are experiencing frustration or exhaustion.

Our Savior God calls us to endure the pain and hurts as well as the successes. He will keep his promise to work in and through us.

We must follow Him with exacting diligence to uphold our responsibility to be generous with a faithfulness, justice and a joyful heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796047523

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 © 2019 by MARIAN OLIVIA HEATH GRIFFIN.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-7960-4753-0

                eBook          978-1-7960-4752-3

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.

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: 07/23/2019

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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CONTENTS

Author’s Notes

Acknowledgements

Introduction

First Reason— Nicholas De La Faoutaine

The Second Reason D- Day Is Special

The Third Reason Normandy Was Important

Barack And Michelle Obama

Chapter I     More History As It Was

Here’s How The Conversation Started

The Declaration Of Independence

D-Day Celebration

Normandy Invasion

Chapter II     Lettie, My Mother, My Hero

Chapter III     Daddy, George Heath, The Builder

Chapter IV     My Big Brother, George, Jr, My Supporter

Chapter V     Nancy Heath Kellam And Albert Kellam

Nancy’s Life

Nancy As Caregiver

Albert’s Life

Albert As A Scientist And Baseball Coach

Albert’s Comitic Tales

The Boot-Legged Liquor Hiding Place

The Hurting Hog

Riding The Back Of The Mule

Chapter VI     Marian Anderson, My Name Sake

Chapter VII     Langston Hughes

Hughes’ Poems In The 1920’S

Hughes’ Poems In The 1930’S

Hughes’ Poems In The 1940’S

Hughes’ Poems In The 1950’S

Hughes’ Poems In The 1960’S

Chapter VIII     Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A Tme For Everything

Birmingham And The Civil Rights Movement

The Poor People’s Campaign

Chapter IX     Coretta Scott King

The King Center

Coretta King Arrested At South African Embassy In Washington In 1985

Chapter X     Bertrand’s Ministry

Chapter XI     Bertrand’s Migrant Ministry

Chapter XII     Return To Seminary At GAMMON Theological SEMINARY

Death Of President John F. Kennedy

The Senior Paper, Thesis

General Conference Of The United Methodist Church

Chapter XIII     Dr. W. T. Handy, Pastor, District Superintendent, Bishop

The ‘Kneel-In’ At The General Conference Of The United Methodist Church

Dr. Handy As Bertrand’s Mentor

Dr. Handy As District Superintendent

Dr. Handy As Bishop

Chapter XIV     The Migrant Worker Complexity

The Migrant Family Living Standards

Chapter XV     Bertrand In The Local Church

Chapter XVI     The Black Chaplain In Prison Ministry

Chapter XVII     Jay Is Here

Jay’s Ministry

Chapter XVIII     Bertrand II, Twin Of His Father And Kotosha Griffin

Bertrand, II Leader Of Boys Scouts

BERTRAND, II Student Pilot

Bertrand’s Call To Ministry

Kotosha Seals Griffin’s Ministry

Chapter XIX     Karen, Child Advocate And Champion

Karen’s ‘Gee Gee’

Chapter XX     Michael And Tracie Griffin

Michael’s Army Stint

Michael And Tracie

Their Family

Michael’s Visionary Leadership

Their Family Grows

Love

Chapter XXI     Keith, Karen’s Love, The State Trooper

These Biblical Words Come To Mind:

Chapter XXII     Dooky And Leah Chase

White Co-Worker Introducted Me To Leah

Leah And Dooky Speak To Us

Martin Meets Leah And Dooky

Chapter XXIII     My Sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha

Julia Mae BROGHDON Purnell, International PRESIDENT

Doveal Austin Essex, President

Sandra Temple Hall, President

Janifer Peters, Co-Advisor To Under Graduates

Gloria Turner Spooner, President

Katina M. Semien

Susie Boudreaux

Chapter XXIV     Dr. Maya Angelou, Inspiring Author And Poet

Karen’s Assignment To Hear Angelou

Karen Griffin Had Two Passes For The Reception

Maya Angelou’s Words Of Wisdom

Conclusion

Bibliography

Reference Books

DEDICATED TO:

My Grandchildren: Nia Olivia, Kiara Janelle, Christian-Paris, Michael Gerard II

Amelia-Grai, Victoria Olivia, Olivia Cristina, Sophia Morgan

and

my Great- god Children, Amelia and Warren Pleasant

and

My Great niece, Amoree

AUTHOR’S NOTES

Watch your step! Someone is watching you. Someone is always following behind you. Follow the leader; but make sure he is leading you right. You may be someone’s hero or idol.

Find a path to exit if something is not right for you.

I was just coming home from work at Southern University and pulling into our garage as Grandpa Bert (my husband) and two-year old Christian-Paris (our grandson) were leaving the house to take their evening walk. They walked every evening, Summer or Winter unless it was raining.

Grandpa Bert had retired several years earlier and had agreed to care for his first grandson, Christian-Paris until he was old enough to go to a nursery school. Grandpa Bert and I brought Christian-Paris and his parents’ home from the hospital. Both parents had just gotten promotions in their jobs and wanted to go right on back to work. They lived in Houston.

We all agreed that our new infant grandson should not go to a baby-sitter or nursery school at such an early age. Grandpa Bert suggested that we bring him home to Baton Rouge with us and care for him.

I was still employed at Southern University, so Grandpa Bert would be the chief cook and bottle washer. After a week of staying in Houston, we bundled Christian-Paris up with all his new clothes and gear and rode home with him to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

I didn’t know how to act because I had never ridden in the back-seat of our car before. Christian-Paris was in an infant car-seat, but I didn’t want to leave him back there alone.

Christian-Paris made all the right moves. He crawled at five months, started walking at eleven months and started babbling at one year. He took the baby spoon out of our hands and tried to feed himself.

He fitted right in with his Grandpa’s schedule. We carried him home to Houston every other week and Karen, our daughter came to our house to see him the odd two weeks.

After almost two years of having Christian-Paris with us, the family decided that he would be fine at a nursery. He was getting very independent, wanting to feed himself and no longer wanted to ride in the baby- carriage or wagon.

On this particular evening, as I was coming home, my two gentlemen, Grandpa Bert and Christian-Paris were leaving out for their usual sidewalk trek.

I was unloading and preparing for the evening, when I heard the door -bell ring. It was my next- door neighbor, Jayne. She was steady laughing. I opened the door and she came in.

Come, see! Come, see, she said.

What’s up, I said.

Come, see the weirdest, cutest thing! she said.

I stepped outside the door, not knowing what to expect.

We went out to the sidewalk and watched Christian-Paris and his grandfather walking down the sidewalk. Christian-Paris was out of the wagon. The wagon was parked on the lawn. Grandpa Bert was walking ahead and Christian-Paris was walking behind him. Bertrand was taking long strides and Christian-Paris was trying to keep up with him. He was trying his best to walk just like his grandfather.

Bertrand is six feet tall, and Christian-Paris is at this time is barely two feet tall. Bertrand is ‘wing-footed’ and walks with a swagger as well as on the balls of his feet. Christian-Paris is seriously trying to put his footsteps in Grandpa Bert’s footsteps.

It was like a two -year old saying, Show me how to walk, Grandpa, and I’ll follow you.

Christian-Paris was trying to see the footprints on the sidewalk by looking down at his granddaddy’s feet. Footprints in the sand are also tracks in the dirt. It is like, we’re on familiar soil, now.

Yes, it was a sight to behold. Our neighbors were slowing down to watch the small parade. Grandpa Bert and Christian-Paris were oblivious to the persons watching them except for waving at them. Bertrand would raise his hand to wave at his neighbors and Christian-Paris waved too.

It was so funny. Bertrand waved without looking at the cars. Christian-Paris waved without looking at the cars.

Bertrand told me later that night that Christian-Paris had climbed out of the wagon and started walking.

Bertrand felt that that was fine and parked the wagon. He did not know that it was going to be show time. Christian- Paris did not want to hold Grandpa Bert’s hand so Bertrand walked on ahead of him.

As I looked through my first book, CULTUEAL GUMBO, OUR ROOTS, OUR STORIES, I pondered the concept that children and adults all need mentoring. This book tells of the lineage story of four families dating back to the era before slaves were brought from Africa to Europe and South, Central and North America.

My research for this work constituted looking at contemporary records and archival documents in an effort to reach greater heights of authenticity and enhance ancestral reality for our younger generation. I want my children and grandchildren as well as the world to know who their ancestors are.

We as blacks have always had to make a greater effort to do our best in the world, study harder, prove ourselves more to be good citizens. We have not had easy lives from childhood to adulthood. We have made a determination to discover the truth about our forefather’s poignant journey.

Coming from aristocratic families from France and England, taking down morally by being owners of slaves (from the blacks’ point of view) from before the Civil war, we had to train our children from several generations back to the present time who we really are.

We have to assert ourselves; we have to find ourselves because until we do, we have no history. I want to show our people through research into our backgrounds that our relatives, both black and white, came from foreign countries to America on ships.

We as blacks were a part of the Atlantic Slave Trade. Our white family members were seeking a better life also from religious struggles and toils in their own countries in Europe. However, they became our captors.

All I said was "Watch your step! Watch your step.

Watch your step. You have someone following after you. You have someone looking at you, so watch your step.

When you are young, things that happen in your life can be painful and hurtful. Later in life, the same incidents and circumstances can become the fun and jokes in your life.

Never take life so seriously that you can’t be happy and joyful. God wants us to live a joyful life.

Ecclesiastes describes that there is a time and season for everything.

Seek the Lord while you are young, and when you are old, you will not depart from it.

Ironically, on June 23, 2019, at 8: 00 o’clock, ET, I watched on TV as a Brother and sister team walked the HIGHWIRE in Time Square. They did this spectacular event in the name of peace for the world. They sang and prayed and talked to each other the whole time they were on the HIGHWIRE.

They encouraged each other and expressed their love for family. Lijana and Nik talked openly about family, talked to their father and mother and their children.

Lijana had experienced an accident in 2017 on the HIGHWIRE and had broken every bone in her face. She had numerous surgeries on her face and other parts of her body.

She acknowledged her fear of taking this walk on this day. Yet she felt that she was put on earth