We Still Do

As far back as I can remember, our mothers were good friends. As a matter of fact, I used to call her mother Aunt Celest. Allen and Lynn, her two oldest brothers, and I were schoolmates. Aunt Celest used to visit us on a regular basis always bringing goodies for the household. Eventually I left Mulberry to attend the University of South Florida in Tampa. While there I thought I had found the love of my life, but circumstances proved me wrong. After graduating from USF and starting my teaching career, I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. I was introduced to the Unity Gospel Singers and became the musician and vocal trainer. Guess who was a part of the choir? You've got it....Wanda Elaine Jackson! I had just experienced a painful breakup so I had no interest in dating anybody. But after being around her for a period of time, I couldn't help but notice everything about her. As time moved on, we eventually began dating and a short time thereafter, got engaged. We were both saved and loved the Lord, but somehow, we allowed people to cause us to breakup two weeks before the wedding. We still saw each other by virtue of the fact we were still a part of the Unity Gospel Singers. With the extra concerted effort of Dr. Luther Hamilton, we found our way back to each other. Ironically, the florist who provided the flowers for the wedding the first time never got rid of the file for our wedding. She said she knew we would still get married so she kept the file. We tried to set the wedding date as close to the first date (April 14) as we could. We ended up getting married on April 27, 1974 at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Pierce, FL. Here we are, 51 years later, 3 biological children, Excell (Lameka), Chloa (Maurice), Geron and 1 adopted son, Michael Bond; 6 grandchildren, Excell, Jr. (Amber), Trenton, Azir, Chelsea, Aunyea, Aliyah; 6 great grandchildren, Elijah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Marquis, Jr, Z'Leigha, and Isabella and a whole lot of memories! I can't even begin the name all the godchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins; siblings, and all of our nonbiological children!!! That would definitely take up too many pages and I just might miss somebody!!! To God be the Glory!!!!!!!