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Lydia's 1st VBS

Children's Home Article Mentioning my Grandpa

It's a new year, and there are new articles about my grandpa in the paper again!  I just wanted to share it.  This one even includes a photo, and can be found here: http://www.dailystatesman.com/story/2155446.html 

My grandfather, Churn Williams, is the second from the right.

Children's Home provides "home atmosphere"

By MIKE MCCOY

Statesman Staff Writer

On Sept. 14, 1980, the vision of two men and the work of a committee brought to fruition the Stoddard County Children's Home. The facility has served abused, neglected and abandoned children from newborn to 18 years of age since its opening over 34 years ago.

CAPTION: PROVIDED photo Members of a committee came together in 1979 to help create a Children's Home in Stoddard County. The Children's Home has remained an important part of the county since it opened in 1980. Shown at left in a file photo are original committee members, from left, Chairman Verna Godwin, Jim Russell, John Underwood, Becky Nickens, Harriet Dean, Lois Tweedy, Beverly James, Judge Flake McHaney, Melvin "Churn" Williams and Bob Brison. Not pictured are Carlene Noyes, Bob Keathley, Bill Ringer and Roger Henson.

 The Children's Home was the result of the vision of two men. Circuit Judge Flake McHaney and Melvin "Churn" Williams, who was the juvenile officer in 1979, saw children in the county who needed an immediate place to live while transitioning into foster care.

One of the first citizens recruited was Jim Russell of Essex, who remains on the board to this day. Russell, a farmer, received a letter from Judge McHaney asking him to appear at the courthouse in Bloomfield on a specific date and time.

Russell was somewhat uneasy about the letter.

"I didn't have the slightest idea what it was about," recalls Russell. "I kinda thought there was a problem."

The result of that letter was that 12 people came together to consider establishing a Children's Home in Stoddard County. Verna Godwin was made chairman of the committee. Other members, in addition to Russell, were John Underwood, Becky Nickens, Harriet Dean, Lois Tweedy, Beverly James, Carlene Noyes, Bob Keathley, Bill Ringer, Roger Henson and Bob Brison. The initial meeting was in the courtroom, but the committee met regularly in the Juvenile Center upstairs in the courthouse.

Russell says he was a long-time friend of Williams. Williams made an effort to include a representative from every area of the county on the committee.

One of the first things the committee did was to visit the Children's Home in Dunklin County. They toured the facility with McHaney and Williams, and then returned home to consider how to make it a reality in Stoddard County.

They approached the Stoddard County Commission with a proposal. If the county would purchase a building, the committee would raise the needed funds for the first year of operation. The presiding commissioner at that time was Bud Temples. The other commissioners were Pete Snider and Frank Sifford.

The committee went to work. They began looking at buildings that would be sufficient for a children's home. They sent out letters to everyone is the county, as well as to former residents who had moved to other areas in the country, in an effort to raise the money. They needed $20,000. In the meantime, the county obtained a grant for the purchase of a building.

The outpouring of donations exceeded anything the committee dreamed of, according to Russell.

A building was purchased at a cost of $35,000. It is the same building that houses the Children's Center to this day.

A special ceremony was held Sept. 15, 1980, to celebrate the opening of the home.

McHaney lauded the work of the committee, noting that it had taken only eight months for them to raise the money to make the dream a reality. He referred to the committee as the "Blue Ribbon Commission."

"We told the committee that there was a need, and they said 'why not,'" said McHaney at the celebration. "They went to work."

"The center must be supported, continually and generously if it is to succeed," McHaney told residents.

The committee was made into a Board of Directors. It meets the second Tuesday of each month. The directors still oversees the Children's Home.

Russell said they oversee the finances, business and any problems that may arise. Regulations have changed greatly over the years. The home has to be licensed as a residential care agency, which means regular visits from the Department of Social Services. It also has regular inspections by the State Fire Marshal, the Health Department and the Bloomfield Fire Department.

At one time a couple lived there and "took care of it," says Russell, recalling Dolly Taylor and her husband, who operated the center for 15 years.

Russell says that the Taylors received Christmas cards from former residents for years after they children had become adults. Russell recalls that one former resident even returned to the home to have their wedding.

It has been the goal since the beginning to "provide a home atmosphere to the children who are placed there."

Placement comes through the judicial system and the county juvenile division. The home is designed to hold up to 10 children, though in some situations that can be increased.

Mike Davis, current county juvenile officer, said the Children's Center does not split up families. Siblings are kept together, so a waiver may be obtained to house more than 10 children. The home is open to both boys and girls.The home has been remodeled and expanded over the years. Davis said two bedrooms and two bathrooms have been added since the building was first purchased.
While some state funding comes from the state, the main source of income comes from donations to the home to this day.

The largest contributions come in the form of "memorials," and individual contributions rank second. Religious and business contributions are also a key to keeping the Children's Home open to children in need.

Each year the board sends out letters to residents and former residents living in other states asking for financial support. It is the largest fundraiser held for the home.

The Children's Home received a grant to purchase a mini van and a 12-passenger bus recently which transport the children. Each child, if school age, attends the school district where they attended before placement in the home. A tutor holding a teaching certificate is available to children.

The current board is made up of Tanya Freed and Phoeba Roper of Advance, Tricia Abner and Dorothy Burton of Bell City, Jackie Mayberry and Lauren Mayer of Bernie, Donna Deardorff and Jim Tweedy of Bloomfield, Kristi Hoffman Boles, Judy Boyles, Brad Jarrell and Frank Killian of Dexter, Pat Crane and Russell of Essex and Angela Patterson of Puxico.

Russell is proud of have been on board with the Children's Center since the beginning.

"Kids come in without any clothes," notes Russell, "and they leave with clothes."

They also are taken to the doctor if they need one, and they have good food to eat.

"I take sweet corn up there and vegetables from the garden," says Russell. "One guy some time ago gave us a side of beef."

Russell is glad that he received that letter from his friend, Churn, all those years ago. He is proud that the county provides a "home atmosphere" to children who desperately need it.

Family Portraits

We got our family portrait made at Portrait Innovations on Monday.  I've been anxious to do this since we all bought matching outfits for Jack and Courtney's wedding.

We got one of all of us together.

One of just the girls.

And one of just the two of us.

 

The girls were so funny and were goofing off during the photo of just the two of them.  They wanted to buy one of their goof-off pictures (but $20 was a bit steep for one picture!) so we compromised by having the goof-off included in the collage card that we got.

 I'm very pleased with our pics!  It's been a couple of years since our last family photo. So glad they turned out so great!

Science VBS

You are my Sunshine

Leaving on a Jet Plane

The girls' first time on a plane!

Remembering Uncle James

 My grandma's brother is a bit of a legend in the family.  He has always been good at everything.  He was a good sculptor, painter, teacher, woodworker, and just about anything else he set his hand to.  But more importantly, he was a good son, brother, husband, father, and friend.  He was admired by a great many people. 

In the early morning hours of January 1, my great uncle, James, died in his sleep after battling a long illness.  Today his funeral was held in Arizona, so I wanted to take a moment to pay a photographic tribute to him. 

 Here he is as a ten-year-old Boy Scout in 1944.

 Uncle James was always very proud of his Native American heritage.

 He met and married Clara, and they had three girls: Lynn, Jill, and Jayme (named Jayme Deane after my mom and my grandma).

 His daughters have grown, married, and have kids of their own.  And James is the grandfather to four.

We are thinking of Aunt Clara and the extended family, and celebrating our fond memories of Uncle James today.

Mrs. Roberta's Funeral

Today I attended Mrs. Roberta's funeral.  It was simply lovely.  There were many friends and family there to honor Mrs. Roberta's life.  During the visitation before the service, I got the chance to meet Roberta's younger daughter, Cathy. 

I introduced myself and told her I was from the neighborhood. Her face lit up and she said, "Are you Lydia and them's mom?"  I told her I was and she said, "I just want you to let you know that they were such a joy to her!"  She went on and on about how the girls were such a blessing to Mrs. Roberta and that it was like she had her own kids again. 

I told her that Roberta was the blessing.  She was a joy to the entire neighborhood and all the kids loved her. 

She said she would talk to her mom twice a day and always loved hearing about when she had had a visit from one of the girls.  Lydia was over there more often and Mrs. Roberta would tell her daughter about the time they spent together.  The girls would play games (Skip-Bo) or put together puzzles.  They would admire her dolls and fancy fans from far away places (her husband was in the military).  She would slip them money at Halloween and Christmas.  And Mrs. Roberta would fill them full of candy.  "She always said that she hoped you didn't mind that!"  Too funny!  I told Cathy how the kids would come home with pockets full of candy wrappers and how I had to give Lydia strict instructions to only have one piece of candy at Mrs. Roberta's house!

Cathy said that her mother asked her to pick up things like construction paper for the kids.  Lydia remembered her bringing it out to the backyard for her, Lena, and Cassidy to play with. 

I then met Mrs. Roberta's granddaughter who also piped in about how much her grandmother loved the kids. 

It made me wish they had been to visit her even more often. 

The service was really nice, with her brothers sharing funny stories (about pranks and jokes) and her daughter sharing a poem she wrote for her mom.  I brought home the programs to show the girls.

 

 

 

 

And I showed them the photos that they had posted online.

The girls didn't know that Mrs. Roberta had made the cover of her work magazine/publication by entering a radio contest singing "Mama Won't Let Me Go Fishing With You."  We listened to the song tonight.

And they didn't know that Mrs. Roberta wore bikinis either!!

We have had a sweet weekend of fond memories of Mrs. Roberta over the last few days.  We are praying for Mrs. Roberta's family as I'm sure they are missing her even more than we are. 

Remembering Mrs. Roberta

Wednesday was our neighbor, Mrs. Roberta's birthday.  Each year, we take her a little something on her birthday.  This year, when we went to see her, she wasn't at home, so we left a few things in her mailbox. 

On Friday, we learned that Mrs. Roberta had passed away on the evening of her birthday.  We had recently learned that her cancer had returned, and she had been in and out of the hospital.  Her family was hoping she would make it to her birthday, and they got their wish. 

We are heartbroken.  The girls are heartbroken.  The neighborhood is heartbroken.  She was just the sweetest, kindest neighbor.  She brought such joy to the neighborhood.  She will be sorely missed by everyone...especially all of the neighborhood kids she spoiled rotten with her loads and loads of candy. 

They published her obituary online, so I wanted to share it.  The first is from the funeral home, the second is the formal notice for the newspaper. 

In Memory of

Roberta Bryant

January 7, 1930 - January 7, 2015

Obituary

Roberta lived to love her family. They were her life and joy and she supported them and cared for them with an unconditional love - faithfully and generously. She had an affinity for bringing joy and value into every relationship she possessed. She had a countless number of friends she cherished with all her heart. One of the greatest gifts she possessed was a passion and thrill for giving. Whether it be to her garbage collectors, neighborhood children, or her church. She was certainly gifted with the desire to give and she did so most generously. Another trait Roberta had was an amazing ability to relate to and love children....

Roberta lived to love her family. They were her life and joy and she supported them and cared for them with an unconditional love - faithfully and generously.

She had an affinity for bringing joy and value into every relationship she possessed. She had a countless number of friends she cherished with all her heart.

One of the greatest gifts she possessed was a passion and thrill for giving. Whether it be to her garbage collectors, neighborhood children, or her church. She was certainly gifted with the desire to give and she did so most generously.

Another trait Roberta had was an amazing ability to relate to and love children. She served her church as Sunday School and Bible School teacher for small children and received much satisfaction and fulfillment in doing so. But the real benefactors were the children who loved her and was naturally attracted to her. In her teenage daughters lives, she became an incredible positive and happy influence, and an integral part of their friends lives. Everyone loved Mrs. T and she kept her home doors open to each of them.

Roberta was, also, an accomplished business woman. She began her career at National Life Insurance Co. and eventually spent most of her career life as Administrative Assistant to the Adjutant General for the State of TN's National Guard. While there she was an active member of the Business Women's "Executaries Club". After retiring from the National Guard, she helped campaign for one of the former Adjutant General's run for governor. The she went to work for her daughter as receptionist and bookkeeper. Perhaps her greatest quality was the warm and welcoming voice she always offered to those who called or came into the office.

Roberta's extended family was her church family. She loved and cherished her relationship with them and felt so honored to be a part of Community Baptist Church.

If all of the above wasn't great enough, her greatest accomplishment was the spiritual foundation and legacy of faith in the Lord Jesus she instilled into her two daughters lives. She was the epitome of what Christ-like love is to her family and all who knew her.


A second obituary:

Roberta Trigona Bryant 

Roberta Trigona Bryant, Thompson Station, TN Passed away January 7, 2015.Survived by her two daughters, Vicki Trigona Edwards (Rick) and Cathy Trigona Trew (Paul "Eddie"); three grandchildren, Wes and Whitney Trew and Kim Bates (Caleb); two great-grandchildren, Jay and Kamry Richardson; and two brothers, Bob (Nell) and Wayne (Doris) Martin. Visitation will be held at Woodlawn Roesch-Patton Funeral Home on Sunday, January 11, 2015 from noon to six o'clock in the evening and again on Monday, January 12, 2015 from nine to eleven-thirty with funeral service to follow at eleven-thirty, also at Woodlawn.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Community Baptist Building Fund, 3015 Belshire Village Drive, Spring Hill, TN 37174.

Report Cards - 2nd Nine Weeks

The girls' report cards were issued today.  They both did a great job and made honor roll.

Lydia got four B's and two A's.

 

Language Arts - 85 B

Math - 85 B

Science - 86 B

Social Studies - 89 B

Chorus - 97 A

Music - 100 A

Bekah was trying for all A's again, but got two high B's this nine weeks.  Still great grades, but I hate that she's disappointed.  But she has resolved to get all A's this quarter, so she's working hard to get a great start!  

 

Language Arts - 91 A

Math - 90 B

Science - 88 B

Social Studies - 92 A

Band - 100 A

Intermission - 100 A

Our Big New Year's Holiday

 Want to see all the pictures I took over the New Year's holiday?

Here you go!

 Yup.  That's right.  Two photos!

We had a few friends over for New Year's Eve, but I didn't take a single photo.  We just enjoyed hanging out and chatting.  

And then on New Year's Day we saw Annie (loved it!) and then on the 2nd we saw Into the Woods (Liked it until they undid the happy ending...then it just got weird and confusing).

We hung out with friends on the 1st (football game at the Boyds), 2nd (dessert with the Nelsons), 3rd (Pappases came over), and 4th (lunch with the Tuckers).  Then it was back to work for me and packing for Haiti for David.

The girls started back to school today and we're back to our regular routine.  But it's bitterly, bitterly cold and we are keeping as warm as possible - while David's sweating it out in Haiti.

Hoping your New Year's holiday was a peaceful and relaxing as ours.