The 10 Dollar Car

By James H. McRae

"The 10 Dollar Car", by James H. McRae, Sr. is a book written to his children concerning faith, hope, promise and fulfillment. The sub-title of the book, "The Story of Ordered Steps" is taken from Psalm 37:23-24, where it is stated, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though h

• Language: English
• Publisher: Book Vine Press
• Release date: Mar 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9781957781532

Book preview

ANCESTRY—The 10 Dollar Car—1953 Plymouth

Ancestry

Preface—To My Dear Children

Acknowledgments

Ancestry—Your Granddaddy—William Lucious McRae, Sr.

Job in Homosassa Springs

Alcoholism in the Family

Our County Becomes Wet-Alcoholic Beverages Legally Sold

First Stroke

Life After the First Stroke

Nearly Dies in a Fire, Your Grandma Saves Him

Your Granddaddy’s Third Stroke

Granddaddy and the Bible

Granddaddy Art and Music

Granddaddy Had a Heart Attack and No One Knew It

Ancestry—Your Grandma—

Mary Jane (Stephens) McRae

Academics

Leaves Brooksville to Further Her Education—22

Seen by Your Granddaddy

Your Grandma and Granddaddy Get Married

Your Grandma’s Music Ministry

Your Grandma Encourages Me In Music

Your Grandma Takes in Her Grand Daughter, Mary Jane

Your Grandma Prepares to Go to be With the Lord

Ancestry—Your Uncle—

William Lucious McRae, Jr. (Bill)

Your Uncle Bill Nearly Kills Your Granddaddy, Twice

Ancestry—Your Uncle Jacks Stephens McRae

Ancestry—Your Uncle Wallace Theodore McRae, Sr.

Ancestry—Your Uncle Wallace Joins Varsity Football Team at Eleven Years Old

Work Ethic

Your Dad is Born

Ancestry—Your Daddy’s Physical Birth- James Henderson McRae, Sr.

Early Childhood

Going to the Church Conventions

Your Daddy’s Best Friend, (Uncle) Ralph Nathaniel Person and Your Grandmom’s Best Friend, Miss Irene Edwards

Cousins, the Stephens Family

African-American Neighborhoods in Brooksville

Early Life—Following Big Brother, Wallace

First Few Years in Elementary School

Only Near-Fight in Elementary School

Elementary School Teachers

Separate But Unequal School Days

Teacher’s Concern For Their Students

Receiving a Spoken Blessing From Your Grand Mom

High School Years

Why Your Dad Ended Up In The Baptist Church

Niece—Mary Jane McRae

Growth in Spiritual Matters—Mr. Ernest E. Crawford

Matthew 5 (King James Version)

Learning to Walk in Ordered Steps

Preparation for Band in High School—All-State Band Member

High School Academics

One Thought of Rebellion and Your Grand Mom’s Wisdom

Manure Hauler—Working While in High School

When I Was Nearly Killed—Because of My Initiative

Your Granddaddy’s Wisdom

Loading Watermelons and Catching the Bear

Football Players in the Family

Leaving the High School Marching Band for Football

Preparation for High School Football

History of His High School Formal Dating Life

First Formal Date in High School

Second Formal Date In High School

Third Formal Date After High School

Before Graduation, Selecting St. Augustine’s College as a Junior

Preparation for High School Graduation

Home Room Teacher—Mr. Arthur V. Thomas’ Concern For Our Attending College

Getting Ready for College Football Practice

College Years—

St. Augustine’s College

Leaving Home to Attend St. Augustine’s College

Assistance in Integrating the Raleigh, North Carolina Bus Terminal

Relationship to How the Southern States Wasted Millions to Keep Segregation

First Two Weeks of College Football Practice

New College Name—The Creation of Lunch Bucket

Regular College Life at St. Augustine’s College

First Trip Home From College—Dear John

Sharing His Hurt With Your Grand Mom and Miss Irene

Pledging a Fraternity at St. Augustine’s College

Drops Off the College Fraternity Line

First Formal Date at St. Augustine’s College

Second Formal Date at St. Augustine’s College

Third and Last Formal Date at St. Augustine’s College

Learning the Dangers of Defrauding through Dating

Friends at the College and College Life—St. Augustine’s

God’s Grace in Achieving in College

Civil Rights Movement in College

First Summer Job After First Year In College

Second Time Than I Was Nearly Killed (?)-Summer Job, Horne’s Restaurant

Your Uncle Ralph Joins Me Working at Horne’s Restaurant

Joining the Band at St. Augustine’s College

College Years— Bethune-Cookman College

Transfer to Bethune-Cookman College

Job at the Rock Mine

Initial Arrival at Bethune-Cookman—

Mr. Arthur V. Thomas’—Securing Financial Assistance While Attending Bethune-Cookman

Working While Attending Bethune-Cookman College

The Lord Intervenes at Bethune-Cookman in Providing for My Needs

The Decision Not To Go Home for the Summer While at Bethune-Cookman College

Floyd Thomas Moore, Again—Securing a Room Off-Campus

Job Promotion, From Dish Washer to Custodial Engineer (Janitor)—Daytona Beach Junior College

Fellow Math Students at Bethune-Cookman College— Ray Hall Wright and Wilbert Bradley

Promotion After Ray’s Recommendation

Being Hemmed In By the Lord—The Effectual Prayers of Others

My Transportation/Bicycle Is Stolen

Purchasing the Ten Dollar Car to Replace My Bicycle

The Evolution of the Ten Dollar Car

The Ten Dollar Car Blows Up-Becomes a Thirteen Dollar Car

Purchasing an Eight Dollar Car to Repair the Ten Dollar Car

Ten Dollar Car Has Bad Carburetor-Pushing The Car Off to Start it In the Mornings

My First and Only Race in the Ten Dollar Car

Receiving Extra College Credits From St. Augustine’s College

The Course That Taught That The Bible Was Not True

Why I Asked The Lord For A Wife-Birth of a Vision

Seeing My Future Wife for the First Time, Your Mother— Two Weeks Later

Barbara Wright—My Friends at the College and College Life at Bethune-Cookman College

Taking the National Teacher’s Examination Early

First and Only Blind Date at Bethune-Cookman—The Purpose of the Ten Dollar Car—Meeting Your Mother

The Zero Dollar Car Replaces the Ten Dollar Car— Shocks Go Bad on Ten Dollar Car

The Two Weeks After Finally Meeting Your Mom

Beginning a Three Year Writing Courtship— Two Weeks After Meeting Your Mother

My Last Semester at Bethune-Cookman College

Completing College Work—Leaving Bethune-Cookman after the First Semester, 1967

Post College Period— High School Teacher

Repeated Rejections

Graduation Ceremonies at Bethune-Cookman, 1967

Going Back to Bethune-Cookman College After Graduation for Summer Courses

Visiting Your Mom on Sundays While in Summer School

The First Two Marriage Proposals

The Wisdom of Mrs. Ira Bell Floyd—Home Economics Teacher

Getting a Better Paying Job-John F. Kennedy Space Center

The Marriage Proposal for the Third Time

Post College Period— Computer Programmer

Leaving the Space Center for the Washington, DC Area— Vitro Corporation of America

Visiting My Friends From Brooksville in Washington

Finding an Apartment in Washington, DC

Pete Tuninidis

Visiting My Relatives in Baltimore

The Angel of the Lord Drove My Car-Driving While I Slept— On the Way to the Wedding

The Wedding

Appendix A: THE MCRAE, MCCRAE, MCCRAY FAMILY TREE

Appendix-B: THE STEPHENS FAMILY TREE

Appendix C: Miscellaneous Pictures of the Family

Ancestry

P

reface—To My Dear Children . . . .

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (James 1:2). The preceding Scripture gives a picture of what this book is all about. When we analyze the Scripture, we find that the initial word in the sentence is the word, all. And, another very important point in the sentence is the tense of the word, count, which is, future. Therefore, if I were to issue a paraphrase of the sentence, it could say, "My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, Jesus Christ. One day you will be able to look back at all of the many testings and trials through which you have come and be able to relate to them joyfully." The Bible teaches us that we as Christians, " . . . . walk by faith, and not by sight."(2 Corinthians 5:7—KJV) This book is all about how I met your mother and the many miracles that were performed in my life by my Father as He guided my steps as I walked believing that, But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.(Hebrews 11:6-KJV) I write this book as many have encouraged me to do so as I have shared the many adventures of my Father in my life. Many look at the many adventures which I shared with them as miracles, however, as stated in Psalm 37:23-24 (KJV) The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and He delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholds him with His hand. Your father stumbled many times in his life, however, my Father would not let me fall and be, utterly cast down. He upheld me with His hand.

Your Father delighted in His way because I am His child. My life has been and continues to be a perpetual succession of miracles according to His Love, Mercy and Grace.

Acknowledgments

Scripture quotations in this book may be found in the King James Version of the Bible (KJV). Definition of character definitions come from a sheet from the Character Bookshelf Series game, Character Clues from the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP)

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.—(Proverbs 2:1-5)—KJV

One of the definitions for the word, humility (from the IBLP sheet) is, Recognizing the fact that God and others are responsible for the achievements and successes in one’s life. Encouragement and Godly advice have been offered throughout my life by others placed there by the My Father. Many have encouraged me to write about the many orderings that have been shared with them concerning how the Lord so wonderfully hedged and guided my life and ordered my steps. Emphasis is placed upon God’s grace and mercy. These people, who My Father brought into my life, have been beacons of light to shine upon the path that He planned for me. Many, with whom I have spoken, would laugh as I shared the many adventures with them, stories about The 10 Dollar Car (1953 Plymouth) and its evolution, and The Zero Dollar Car (1953 Oldsmobile), the successor to the Ten Dollar Car. The Lord continues to show how He orders my steps throughout my life in so many wonderful ways.

My Father has directed me in the way He wanted me to go many times when I did not want to go His way. My Mom and Dad were the foundations that influenced all of my beginnings. Miss Irene Edwards was Mom’s best friend. They grew up together. Miss Irene was also my Sunday School Teacher and seventh grade teacher at the beginning of high school. She was a very Godly woman. Ralph N. Person became my best friend. You know him as Uncle Ralph. Uncle Ralph was reared by "Miss Irene". We have always encouraged each other over the years. Mrs. Theressa (Raines) Johnson, my Mathematics teacher, inspired me to major in Mathematics in college. Mrs. Hattie J. (Harris) Redding, my English teacher taught me how to stand in front of others and communicate verbally. Mr. Arthur V. Thomas, my band director and home room teacher throughout my high school days, cared about me as he provided wisdom and guidance. Coach George L. Quiett, my physical education teacher and first football coach also became one of my best friends as the Lord used him to get me into college initially. Coach Raymond McDougal my second football coach continued to provide encouragement when Coach Quiett left our school to become a college football coach. Mr. Leamon C. Parker, my assistant football coach and science teacher also provided much encouragement. Mrs. Bennie T. Clark, my History teacher, wanted us to know more than just what the text books taught. Mrs. Carol (Lawrence) Stewart, my business studies teacher taught me how to do my income taxes. Mr. John D. Floyd, my principal while in high school and the man who hired me out of college to teach Mathematics back at my old high school, also provided much encouragement, and let me know how proud he was of me regarding my accomplishments. Mrs. Ira Bell Floyd, Mr. Floyd’s wife, who was also one of my Sunday School teachers and also taught Home Economics, shared her wisdom in providing direction and protection in my life. Deacon William (Roy) Wright, my Sunday School Superintendent, provided another example of what a Godly father and man should be in the family and society. Mr. Clarence Walker, who became my Vocational Agriculture teacher after Mr. Floyd became principal, taught me how to be a farmer, and Mr. Odecee Chestnut, my music and chorus teacher shared with me in how to have confidence in myself. Rev. King Edward Rogers was my pastor, one of my mentors and the man who baptized me.

One other person was very special in my life. He was Deacon Ernest E. Crawford, the man who taught me so much about how to develop a work ethic and had a great desire to share Jesus Christ with me during my early teens. Mr. Crawford was a Southern Baptist deacon whose life was the illustration of the walk of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I will write more about Mr. Crawford later. There were many others who are too numerous to mention. The Lord knows them all. Regardless of all the obstacles that were placed in my paths to discourage or hinder, the Lord continued to place these and other wonderful people in my life to encourage me in His Son, the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass . . . The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He deligeth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with His Hand.

—Psalm 37:7; 23-24—(KJV)

Contentment is defined (IBLP Character Sheet) as, "realizing that God has already provided everything I need for my present and future happiness."). The Lord presented me with the opportunity to purchase and own a car for $10.00. A car that cost $10.00 is a bargain, any time. Some may say that it is impossible to buy one. But God made it possible. The title of this book, The 10 Dollar Car, is all about a turning point in my life when the Lord permitted this car to come into my possession. The subtitle, The Story of Unseen Ordered Steps, indicates one of the how’s of my life as the Lord Himself has and does direct my steps in very subtle and continuous ways as I harken to the promptings of His Holy Spirit. In Psalm 37, the Lord says, Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.(KJV) One of the most difficult qualities that I have found as a believer to develop is, resting, in the Lord. I have found that pro-activity, assertiveness and aggressiveness can hinder the Lord’s direction in the life of the believer. Resting in the Lord is very important and to remain, " . . . in the way", and permit Him to carry us is one of the keys to joyful Christian living. Progressive Sanctification is what the life of the Christian is all about. We are constantly in a state of growth and change.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.—Hebrews 11:1—(KJV)

The Lord continues to show that what is happening today might be better understood in retrospection in many instances. Continuation in one’s own preferred direction can cause many of God’s wonderfully planned blessings to be negated. As God is faithful to His servants, as stated in Hebrews, chapter 11, He continues to show His faithfulness throughout the life of every believer. Basically, what is being said in the above chapter of Hebrews is that God has, is and shall always keep His promises and, as seen in the remainder of that chapter, we can see that those in whose lives He worked always had the confidence that He would always continue to do so.

Ancestry—Your Granddaddy—William Lucious McRae, Sr.

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart; And thou shall teach them diligently unto thy children, and shall talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down and when thou risest up. And thou shall bind them upon the post of thy house, and on thy gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9—(KJV)

My Daddy was a teacher in all of his ways, throughout his life, with words and actions. Early records show that Daddy was born August 10, 1902 in Quincy, Florida, the first child of Lucious Wesley and Idella McRae. We later found out that Daddy was probably born elsewhere, probably in Bainbridge, Georgia. Daddy and his siblings were reared in Quincy, Florida. Daddy’s father and grandfather were African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church ministers. His siblings were, Idella (Aunt Bonnie), Magnolia (Aunt Mag), Theodore (Uncle Ted), and James Wesley (Uncle James). Grandpa, Lucious Wesley was also a butler/cook in the house of wealthy white people in Quincy. Daddy said that his life started off normally as any young African-American boy during that time until the age of eight. The first two years of elementary school were normal. Before the start of his third year of elementary school, his services were needed to help his father in the house of the people for whom he worked. Daddy accepted this job as a little boy of eight years old to help his father in the cleaning of the house and to do whatever was necessary. The Bible says in Romans 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purposes.—(KJV)

Many people would look at what happened to Daddy as being quite negative, that is, for a little boy at the age of eight to be taken out of school to work in the house of wealthy people rather than to develop with his peers in school. Many would think that Daddy was being misused. However, when God’s word says that, " . . . all things work together for good . . .", that is exactly what He means. Little did others know that God was presenting Daddy with the opportunity of developing accelerated character and life development skills during this time of accelerated academic learning. The house of those wealthy people where Daddy worked as a little boy had a wonderful library and Daddy was permitted to read as much as he desired. I also noticed throughout my life, that Daddy loved to read.

While other kids were in school learning the basics of the three R’s, Daddy was gaining knowledge far in advance of those his own age. Daddy also learned the virtue of working in many different capacities. Daddy had the advantage of watching his father work, especially as the cook for this wealthy family. Daddy worked in the house of this family for five years. He was permitted to go back to public school at the age of thirteen. By that time, Daddy had literally surpassed all of the children his age in intellectual knowledge and he knew the importance of work and had developed character that far surpassed that of his peers. When he went back to school, he had surpassed intellectually all of his classmates, except Mom (Your Grandma). Mom had her upbringing in Brooksville. Daddy learned how to be a cook at an early age while working in the house of this wealthy family. During most of Daddy’s life while rearing his children and providing for his family, his livelihood came from his position as a chef.

Daddy was not only a good student in the classroom, but he also excelled in the area of sports. During Daddy’s early years, he was a little skinny, as he put it. He stated that he only weighed about one hundred thirty-five pounds while in high school. The Lord permitted Daddy to always have the confidence and determination to be able to achieve whatever was placed before him. Daddy spoke often about his football playing days in high school. Daddy was the quarterback on his high school football team. He spoke of the times when not only did they play the high schools in Florida and Georgia, but in the early days, they played against, as he put it, FAMC. FAMC, at that time was, Florida A. and M. College. Today, it is Florida A & M University in Tallahassee.

As Daddy and Mom were in the same class and were both very popular, they were attracted to each other, so much so, that Daddy and Mom eloped and got married shortly after they completed high school. Daddy moved in with my mom’s Aunt Julia and her family, as they began their married life. Aunt Julia was Mom’s father’s sister with whom she lived when she went to Quincy to complete her high school education. There were no secondary education schools for African-Americans in Mom’s hometown of Brooksville.

After graduation, Daddy’s first job was that of a cook. Mom said that Daddy’s first job paid him $3.00 per week. Our family probably would have stayed in the Quincy area except for an incident that occurred shortly after their marriage.

While at one of our family reunions a few years ago, one of Daddy’s first cousins, Cousin Cleola Booth, shared with me that Daddy was scared out of his hometown of Quincy. Justice for African-Americans was virtually non-existent in most areas of the South during that time. If an African-American man was accused of something, he was judged guilty until proven innocent, and many times he never had the opportunity to go to trial to determine his innocence, especially if he was accused of doing something to a white person. In this instance, it was a white woman, which was much worse. It turns out that one night after Daddy was on his way home from work, as a cook, the police picked him up and took him to the police station for questioning concerning an incident involving the alleged molestation of a white woman by an African-American man, who she could not identify. Apparently, Daddy was on his way home from work when the incident occurred. Lynching was usually the outcome whenever an African-American man was accused of molesting a white woman. After that interrogation, Daddy did not remain in Quincy very long. Gadsen County and the Quincy, Florida area had a bad reputation when it came to the treatment of African-American citizens. It was not until late in the second half of the 1900’s that African-Americans were permitted to freely participate in voting in that area. Daddy and Mom left Quincy and moved to Brooksville after that incident, Mom’s home town. There, Daddy got another job as a cook and was then making $5.00 per week.

Daddy was also a carpenter and built a four bedroom house on property given to Mom and him by Grandpa Jack Stephens. He also built a new house next door for Grandma and Grandpa Stephens. Grandma and Grandpa Stephens lived in that house until they both went to be with the Lord. My brother, Bill, was the only one of the siblings in our family who knew his grandparents for any period of time. Bill was fifteen years older than I. My other brother, your Uncle Wallace knew them, that is, Grandma and Grandpa Stephens, in his early years also, but it was not very long before both of our grandparents passed away. Grandpa went to be with the Lord before Grandma. I was not born when Grandpa went to be with the Lord. Mom said that as a little boy of about two years old, I would run back and forth playing with Grandma during her last days. I was too young to remember anything about any of my grandparents. Later, Daddy also built five additional houses on the property so that Mom could rent them out as additional income for the family. Daddy was always employed and made sure that his family was taken care of properly.

J

ob in Homosassa Springs

During my early elementary school days, Daddy took a job in Homosassa Springs, about twenty-three miles north of Brooksville in Citrus County. A Mr. Charles H. Hinson opened a new restaurant and wanted Daddy to become the head chef. Daddy took the job and at first, Daddy was the only cook and worked from 5:00 a.m., when he opened the restaurant, until 9:00 p.m., when he closed the restaurant. Daddy worked six days each week. The restaurant, Hinson’s Restaurant, was closed on Mondays. This was the one day Daddy came home to be with the family at the beginning of this new job.

There was an unwritten law that African-Americans were not allowed to live in Homosassa Springs, and normally if they worked there, they had to be out of town by sundown. Homosassa Springs was a very small town in Citrus County, just north of Brooksville. Daddy was permitted to remain in town until he closed the restaurant around 9:00 p.m. each night. Daddy could not afford to come home every night, nor did he have time to come home each night and be back at the restaurant in time to open it up each morning. Mr. Hinson owned a large riverfront home on the Homosassa River, about three miles from Homosassa Springs, in an area known as Old Homosassa. This was his vacation home. It was located about three miles, down in the woods from the main highway that ran through Homosassa Springs, which was U.S. Highway 19/98, and was located on the Homosassa River. Daddy was permitted to live there during the week. This is where Daddy went each night after getting off from work. There was a time the first summer that Daddy worked there that all of us in the family went to live with Daddy in Old Homosassa for a week. We enjoyed living in the house and fishing from the front porch of the house directly on the Homosassa River. The river was formed by the springs that flowed several miles away, into the Gulf of Mexico. Many kinds of fish would congregate at the mouth of the springs, both fresh and salt water. The springs were known as, Nature’s Giant Fish Bowl.

There were other families who also lived in the Old Homosassa area where Daddy lived most of the week. These were white families. Many of the people were very poor and lived most of their lives back in the woods. Many had little or no communication with the outside world during that time and had never met or seen an African-American person before. Some in the United States would think that it is amazing that some whites had never met or seen an African-American person most of