March 3
Today is March 3rd, as I write this I am reminded of a very special event that happened 57 years ago today. My mom and dad were married. Helen Lethia Thornton and Charles "Pete: Smith were married. They were married 52 years when my mom passed away back in 2008. Everybody thought that maybe my dad would consider maybe courting, but the question is how do you court anyone after you were married 52 years to someone. How do you even began to process that in your mind?
My mom and dad met when my mom was 11 years old and the family moved to Mabscott. The years was 1947. A big family moves in down the street from my dads grandparents home John and Lula Traynham. All of the kids went to see if there was any kids to play with, there was seven kids then some the same age, some a little younger and some babies. My mom admits to being a tomboy back then. Her sister was about five or six and she grew up with brothers. Anyway all the family got acquainted with each other. As my mom and dad went to high school, she had her friends and he had his. He always looked out for mom. The kids from Mabscott used to come over to Beckley to the dances and different activities, they all went to Stratton High School. Once mom came over to Beckley with friends, they went with their boyfriends leaving mom to find a way home. My dad knowing she was stranded over in Beckley got her a cab home. We later found out that my mom had another boyfriend, her mother apparently didn't like him. He went away, I am not sure if it was to join the army, he wrote her, but my mom never got the letters, because my grandmother burned them. She liked my dad "Pete" as everyone called him.
When they graduated high school, both of them went to work at the old Raleigh General hospital. My dad as an orderly , my mom owkred uin the kitchen. When the Minners Hospital opened up she went to work there. In 1956 they got married on March 3rd ay 8PM in the evening at the home of Rev.J.W.Gowen. A small reception was held afterwards. There are pictures of this event. One of the most prized pocessions is a drawing for the wedding picture done by my cousin Audrey Dennis, who is a very talented artist. They didn't know the road ahead of them. It was a challenging road. I was born in 1958. They had went to school with some people that were albino's and when I was born, people scared this young couple to death. They told them all of the things we couldn't do. Finally my dad was talking to one of the doctors and he told him to get a book. My dad went to the library and got a book and read it. They made a promise to take care of us no matter what. Even though me and Sharon are both well past him trying to take care of us, he still tries, because he promised mom that he would.
Anyway they build a home together. There were times when money was tight, my mom always did what was necessary to keep the family going. In that respect I am a lot like here. They taught us to be able to take care of ourselves and both of us were at one time gainfully employed. Things have changed since we have gotten older. My dad finds the things we have had to deal with in our lives very hard to take. It huts him to see it. I am just thankful to have had them as parents though. If I didn't have them as parents I am not sure where I would be by now...
My mom and dad met when my mom was 11 years old and the family moved to Mabscott. The years was 1947. A big family moves in down the street from my dads grandparents home John and Lula Traynham. All of the kids went to see if there was any kids to play with, there was seven kids then some the same age, some a little younger and some babies. My mom admits to being a tomboy back then. Her sister was about five or six and she grew up with brothers. Anyway all the family got acquainted with each other. As my mom and dad went to high school, she had her friends and he had his. He always looked out for mom. The kids from Mabscott used to come over to Beckley to the dances and different activities, they all went to Stratton High School. Once mom came over to Beckley with friends, they went with their boyfriends leaving mom to find a way home. My dad knowing she was stranded over in Beckley got her a cab home. We later found out that my mom had another boyfriend, her mother apparently didn't like him. He went away, I am not sure if it was to join the army, he wrote her, but my mom never got the letters, because my grandmother burned them. She liked my dad "Pete" as everyone called him.
When they graduated high school, both of them went to work at the old Raleigh General hospital. My dad as an orderly , my mom owkred uin the kitchen. When the Minners Hospital opened up she went to work there. In 1956 they got married on March 3rd ay 8PM in the evening at the home of Rev.J.W.Gowen. A small reception was held afterwards. There are pictures of this event. One of the most prized pocessions is a drawing for the wedding picture done by my cousin Audrey Dennis, who is a very talented artist. They didn't know the road ahead of them. It was a challenging road. I was born in 1958. They had went to school with some people that were albino's and when I was born, people scared this young couple to death. They told them all of the things we couldn't do. Finally my dad was talking to one of the doctors and he told him to get a book. My dad went to the library and got a book and read it. They made a promise to take care of us no matter what. Even though me and Sharon are both well past him trying to take care of us, he still tries, because he promised mom that he would.
Anyway they build a home together. There were times when money was tight, my mom always did what was necessary to keep the family going. In that respect I am a lot like here. They taught us to be able to take care of ourselves and both of us were at one time gainfully employed. Things have changed since we have gotten older. My dad finds the things we have had to deal with in our lives very hard to take. It huts him to see it. I am just thankful to have had them as parents though. If I didn't have them as parents I am not sure where I would be by now...
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