This is an autobiography written by Jewel Marie McDonald. The words on these pages have brought about healing as they have put together the patchwork pieces of her quilt. The author has presented this accurate historical perspective that she lived daily. Other published works by the author are articles written as a part of her master's thesis in Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio: "Whole Language, What is it" (1989) and "The Effect of Sustained Silent Reading" (1990). She has been an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. since her initiation in 1957 while attending OSU. Her church ministry led her to serve many years in Ohio and Georgia as superintendent of Sunday school, director of vacation Bible school, and director of Christian education. She also has membership in Phi Delta Kappa Educational Fraternity as well as the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE). Jewel's JOURNEY By Jewel Marie McDonald Trafford Publishing Copyright © 2013 Jewel Marie McDonald All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4669-7650-4 CHAPTER 1 IN THE BEGINNINGPART THREE March 8, 2011 INTRODUCTION Fannie Zenolia, Carrie Ruth, (CAR RU), and Jewel Marie—journeysthat are interwoven like a quilt stitched together with gentle hands,square by square—there is soft yarn between each piece holdingtogether the fabric (and stories) of their lives. "HANDMADE QUILTS" "Take a look at all the colors of a handmade quilt. Examine theintricate stitches. In some ways, the body of Christ is like a quilt,lovingly stitched by the Lord. May we, like that quilt, be a thing ofbeauty to a watching world"! (Author Unknown) "Mom Payne", (Ms. Fannie Z.) born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana,1897—high cheek bones, amazing eyes that were gentle when she sawme skipping down the street to 173 Talmadge, fiery when she thoughtthat you had done something to one of her children. She was AfricanAmerican and Native American and when she spoke her rich heritageemerged. Her first "Girl Child" was (My mother), Carrie Ruth theLove Child of "Doc" Payne's "Mellow Sax." "MEMORIES OF "MOM PAYNE"WRITTEN BY:JEWEL MCDONALDMASTER'S PROJECTWRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY—1989-EXCERPT "The Sunday morning that she died, she was up getting ready to goto Church. (The old Gay Street was now Tabernacle Baptist Church).Mom Payne traveled to such places as Chicago, New Orleans and LosAngeles. (I understand more and more why I can't `STAY PUT')." Instead, on this cold February morning, she took her last journey, andas our family writer, Irene wrote in her poem," "MRS. FANNIE Z. HAS GONE ON HOME TO BE WITH THELORD, COULNDN'T WAIT HERE NO LONGER: "JUST HAD TO CATCH THAT MORNING TRAIN. SHELOVED TO TRAVEL THAT WAY YOU KNOW," WHEN EVER SHE WENT TO AND FRO, AND SO HER LASTTRAIN WAS ABOARD THAT GRAY AND SILVER TRAINWHICH CARRIED HER STRAIGHT TO THE HEAVENLYGATES." "Precious Memories, how they linger, how they ever flood my soul." Thesewords are from a hymn learned in my childhood, written by JohnBraselton Fillmore Wright (1920). The memories are of a time inthe early 1950's, when a little girl, on a warm summer evening couldbe seen sitting on the old porch swing with her best friend andconfidante. As the movement gently swung them back and forth, hergrandmother's smooth, chocolate voice hums, "Work For The Night IsComing!" This hymn was written by Anna Louise Walker Coghill ,(1854) The scriptural reference for the song Is John 9:4 (I must workthe works of Him who sent me, while it is day, the night cometh, when noman can work). I wondered why she hummed this hymn so often. Was she aware thatsoon some days would come that seemed so dark that she couldn'twork, couldn't sing her song, couldn't even pray. Even though I know that you shouldn't have favorites, I always knewthat I was her favorite grandchild. Perhaps because I was first, and lookmuch like my mother, but more than likely because she knew that Iloved spending time with her. I wonder Is it the fragrance of the lilac bushes outside my window oris it the memory of "Mom Payne" that seems to wrap me in its gentlearms. THE GENEOLOGY It was the beginning of Spring—March 10th, 1923, when Carrie Ruthwas born. Three older brothers rushed home from the cotton fields torock their new baby sister in her wooden cradle. She was a sweet child with wise eyes. Did she already know that in afew years she would leave the sweet lullabies behind to sing a new song,a song that was sometimes happy, sometimes sad, but always hers. Jewel Marie was born on a farm in Marianna, Arkansas—December31, 1936, maybe in the same room that her thirteen year old motherwas born. The cotton fields were bare, the winds were cold and frostwas in the air. One journey was ending and a new one was beginning.The old year was leaving and in a few moments everyone around theworld would be shouting, "Happy New Year". She was CAR RU'S firstgirl child. The colors were not yellow and green, (and both girl childrencried!) (Fast Forward): The year was 1989,