I had just planned to show up at the church in a wedding Gown with my cousin as my maid of honor and get married. Unknown to us, my Mother’s friends had a different idea. They gave me a wedding. Even Mom did not know what they had planned and prepared. They invited my friends and family through the press (Beaumont Enterprise).

The church was decorated with white roses, doves with white ribbons and candle arbors. There was a beautiful white rose bridal bouquet for me and boutonnieres for Al and the other men (Al paid for the boutonnieres). The church looked fantastic.

They also put together the reception (including a 3-tier wedding cake) after the wedding for us.

I feel eternally grateful to those wonderful ladies who were also my examples and teachers in High School, Sunday school, GAs, YWAs and Training Union.

We went to church Sunday morning and straight home to get ready for the wedding. I was so nervous I could not eat a thing. I rode with Mamma to the church. The VW ran out of gas on the way. We were close to a gas station and were only 15 minutes late for my wedding.

Al rode with the best man and everything was fine until Lonnie found out he had to stand in front of everyone. Al did not have a chance to worry about me being late: he had his hands full trying to keep Lonnie from leaving.

My friend Ike was head usher. My brother Sam and his friend Robert lit the candles. My Cousin Marie was my Maid of Honor. My next door neighbor Lonnie was Al’s best man. Since my stepfather would not give me away, my boss, Mr. Alexander did the honors.

Even though Al was not a Christian, we married on June 6, 1965. Our wedding went well (I got the nervous giggles) and the reception was really nice.

My Aunt, cousins & Grandmother were there. Several friends came from Port Arthur and Beaumont. The College even sent someone to represent them.  Some friends I grew up with and some of our church family were there also. There were over 100 guests. Several helped us polish off the wedding cake and punch.

The only thing that went wrong was that President Johnson decided to christen Sam Rayborn Dam that day. Our photographer was the news anchorman for channel 12 in Beaumont. Jerry had to cover the christening of the Dam instead. Ottie took movies and Mama took snapshots.

1 Cor 7:10-16 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

"If I Should Fall Behind" by Faith Hill from CD "Breathe"

On My Own

I've Seen and Heard of Jesus