CAIN
Congratulations! Amy Hirasaki and Brad Moore married 9 Mar 2002 and honeymooned in Hawaii. We all wish them well and much happiness for years to come! Current Events!
Donald Hilburn’s granddaughter Samantha Owens recently completed her basketball season with great success. Her team finished the season tied with the best record, but was awarded second place due to head-to-head records with the other team. However in the post-season tournament Samantha’s team won the championship outright! Way to go Samantha!
Inspirations!
“The thief (devil) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:10,11. Sin binds, enslaves and blinds, but Jesus came to set us free from the works of the devil. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; … to comfort all that mourn;… to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.” Isaiah 61: 1-3 See Luke 4:18. To receive this deliverance, we must ask forgiveness for our sins. To not be charged with our sins we must be baptized in Jesus name and he will fill us with his spirit, the Holy Ghost, which will help us live above sin and have that abundant life. See Joel 2:28,29 and Acts 2:16-18; Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:38, 39.
Miracles and Divine Interventions

My Miracle by Sissy Manning Williamson: My husband Red, Clifton, and I lived outside of Orange, Texas at the time of my miracle. I had become so weak in my body that I had to grit my teeth to make myself go. One day after Red went to work, I said, I’ve got to go to get some strength.” There was a doctor’s office 3 or 4 blocks up the street. I thought I’d go get a B12 shot and get some strength. The landlady kept 3 year old Clifton while I went.

To my surprise, the doctor would not give me a B12 shot until he examined me. I did not like what he told me! He had filled two long pages of what was wrong with me. I have infected sinuses, extreme fatigue, low grade fever, enlarged aorta (letting too much blood down) cyst on lung, three problems with female organs and my legs -– When he got to my legs, he said, “How long have these legs been this cold?” He found the arteries from the stomach, to the hips, to the thighs were just about closed up. He could not do anything about the other problems until he took care of my legs.

He put me in the hospital. To my great dismay, my legs went numb on the 1^st or 2^nd night. I knew what lay ahead for me as there was a lady in our church whose daughter had lost several of her limbs because of this very thing. I talked to the Lord all night and worked with my legs to try to get them to wake up because I knew I only had two days of grace, but they would not wake up. I told the Lord, “I don’t blame you for not listening to me if you don’t want to, because I have turned my back on you so many times. Take my legs, I don’t care, but just leave me alive so I can get to church and seek your face until I can find you.”

When the doctor came around the next morning, I told him, “You take my legs, but leave me alive. I’ll crawl or beg or steal to get to church to seek the Lord’s face”. At shift change I had a headache and asked the nurse for a pill. She gave me a pill and I went to sleep. I woke up after 1-2 hours. At first I did not know what awakened me but then I realized that my legs were on fire, just like you get your hands so cold in ice and they start warming up and it feels like fire in them. When the doctor came around again and I told him what had happened, he asked the nurses faster than they could answer, “What pill?, What pill?, thinking that he had a miracle pill! But I knew the Lord had opened up those arteries and veins going to my legs! He had just handed me a miracle! Oh how I rejoiced!

After I got out of the hospital, I started going to church and seeking the Lord. It did not happen for some span of time of seeking the Lord, but by and by I received the Holy Ghost! God not only handed me a physical miracle but also a spiritual one! Unbeknownst to me, the Lord had told Mom (Ruth Cain Manning) that he was going to save me. Although she could not see any evidence of me coming to God as time went on, she kept on believing and then saw it happen!

As O.R. Manning would say, some of the family have still been “Enjoying poor health and need your prayers.

Janice Hilburn Patterson recently completed more radiation treatment on the hip and leg. A follow-on CT scan and tests determined another series of chemo-therapy was necessary. She had the first treatment 5 Mar.

Please continue to pray for our nation, and our President.

Thomas Peoples’ dad Charles, passed away on 20 Jan 2002. Charles was a retired Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer who served his country in the Army during WW II, and in the USAF during the Korean Conflict and Viet Nam War. His remains were buried in a full military ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery 15 Feb 2002. The ceremony consisted of a short sermon given by Rev. Brian Krause of Care Center UPC of Bridgeport PA., a 21-gun salute with shell casings presented to family members, Taps played by a Bugler, and folding and presentation of a flag to Mrs. Helen Peoples.

The family also lost Sissy, Viola Mae Manning Williamson 13 Mar 2002 after a brief hospitalization. Sissy leaves behind her son Clifton, grandchildren Jackie Ruth Vallee and Wanda Lee Williams and a great-grandson David Williams. She was buried Saturday 16 Mar 2002 at Shady Grove Cemetery located approximately five miles west of Haynesville LA.

Our condolences to all.

Mom – Some Special Glimpses by Linda Hilburn:

Her love for Jesus and His people.

Just to have Mom tuck me in bed at night was so comforting - I suppose, my “security blanket”

Tender loving care when I was sick and her special gifts to encourage me, one, a stuffed animal.

Special treks to the woods to look for violets, “rooster heads” and May apples.

Going with her for first time grabbling of new potatoes from our garden in the spring.

That wonderful taste of fresh English peas, new potatoes, and hot water corn bread from Mom’s kitchen.

Those wonderful homemade chocolate and banana puddings!

Can’t forget those peach cobblers, strawberry and coconut pies!

Trips to the chicken house to gather eggs and feed the chickens.

The best fried chicken, from our own chicken yard and chicken and dressing second to none!

Trips to Penney’s in Shreveport to pick out material for new school clothes and new shoes, to Kress’ Department Store (peanuts and candy), Morrison’s Cafeteria (for lunch) and Southern Maid Donuts (on the way home.)

Those many custom-made dresses that others longed for.

The many handy-crafts she made for me such as the lamp she painted, the afghan she crocheted, and the doilies she painstakingly crafts with love.

The delicious, rich, homemade ice cream in the summer, Yum Yum!

That wonderful butter and milk.

The best whole-wheat homemade bread, by hand.

Her love for flowers that she instilled in me.

Oh, those cute, cute custom-made doll clothes (made while I was gone to school or to bed). What a surprise at Christmas!!

All the times she has listened to me when I wanted to talk.

All of the times she came to my rescue to make Donny “leave me alone” when he was pestering!

Those delicious homemade chocolate malts we shared!

All of the special trips we made to Black Lake, Arkansas, Wyoming, the Smokies, etc.

Seeing that I got to go to Youth Camp and later our trips to Camp Meeting.

Dad – More Special Glimpses

His great love for me manifested in many ways day after day.

Walking in his footprints he made in the garden when we were planting potatoes, etc.

Our talks we shared at the barn when he was milking the cows. I had lots of questions about the antique barn we had, and Dad’s family that I never got to know, etc.

My trips with him in the old black Chevrolet truck in the pasture, on the way to town and back, and later in the back of the truck on the way to Aunty Geek’s and Uncle Dallas. We were in “high cotton” when we got to ride in the back of the truck in the summer.

His patience with me with questions about watch work.

Listening to him tell animal tales

Going with him to kill varmints the dog had treed.

Getting to pick out school supplies from the Economy Variety Store when September came.

Helping Mom and Dad in the store at Christmas time, wrapping gifts, waiting on customers until we all dropped, especially on Christmas Eve.

Taking Dad’s lunch to him at the store for Mom.

The thousand times he rubbed my feet to help me feel better.

His concern for our health.

His great love for Mom.

“Stump-water smell good”, his name for Mom’s perfume!

Laughing at his dry sense of humor.

Donald Hilburn wrote: Since my sister Linda decided to publish this newsletter, I have had several discussions with family about how wonderful our family is, and how lucky we are to have such a good family. What made our family so wonderful or did we just get lucky? I believe that it was not luck! Our older generations were all raised when the world was a kinder, gentler place. Besides that, the older generations came from “good country folks” – folks having better values and beliefs from so many people today. I also believe there was some really good parenting from loving mothers and fathers, with good discipline mixed in whenever the situation required. My parents carried on in that tradition. They are two of the finest individuals and parents in my humble opinion (even if I didn’t turn out just like they’d have desired, my two sisters make up for me!) I’d like to tell you a bit about them.

There are two things that really define Jessie is in my mind: 1) she is a devout Christian, and since I can remember, has always lived by the good book and the Golden Rule; and, 2) providing for her children and husband took precedence over everything else in her life. What can explain this? I suppose you could just summarize and say it’s her devotion to her God and family. But it occurs to me that she is extraordinary in that she put everything ahead of herself, her needs and desires. More defining characteristics: Jessie was the first and only family member of her generation to graduate from high school. She later attended a business school where she also completed her course of study. She and Dad went out of their way to ensure their children got opportunities they were never afforded, including college degrees for all three.

Meredith’s father was a sawmill worker who kept the saws sharpened; after I was old enough to remember him he had retired from sawmills and was farming cotton and grain just “down the road.” Meredith got his love for farming honestly from his father, always raising a garden and keeping cattle to provide for us. He was also a special person to me; below, I have included a document that I prepared for his memorial service that I believe tells you who and what he was. But before you read that I just want to say that he was the finest, most caring and gentle man I have ever known, and a much better man than I. I’m proud he was my Dad and I miss him greatly!

My Dad

He was a kind, gentle and loving father, husband and grandfather.

Though not given the opportunity for advanced education, he recognized its value. He ensured his three children all got a college degree to maximize their opportunities.

He worked hard. For years he worked at his regular job while maintaining a working farm with cattle and garden. He loved his watch making!

Though forced to work a “regular” job, he considered himself a farmer. He loved his cattle, and in fact he twice daily milked his cow for many years, starting milking at age six.

Early in his adult life he served the community as a scoutmaster. He valued this contribution, helping young men and boys learn skills and values. As part of his Scout affiliation, he traveled to places like Washington DC, New York City and Chicago. That taste of travel satisfied his appetite, and for years he almost flatly refused to leave home, excepting for a family vacation at Black Lake, LA.

He was a religious man and he truly cared for others. He always let his values and religion guide his decisions on what he said and how he treated others. He was never heard to say anything derogatory about anyone. For many years he taught Sunday School and helped manage his church’s budget by accounting tithes and offerings. He considered teaching Sunday School and lay speaking his calling. He of course loved his Bible.

He was measured, methodical and thoughtful, always carefully considering what he said before speaking.

Though he never held elected or appointed office, he tried to serve the community in a variety of ways. The Economy Variety Store was one such outlet, where when asked, he assisted others with advice and counsel. His interest in politics was satisfied through years of writing letters to his congressional representatives and to the editor of the Shreveport Journal. His letters were very much issue-related, not just emotional outpourings caused by the hot topic of the day.

Unknown but to his family, he was somewhat of an artist in his earlier years. He left behind an archive of sketches from correspondence courses. Also not well known to those outside the family was his humor. He was prone to laughing until he cried with members of his family.

Friends said of him: “If Mr. Hilburn got upset, I never knew it.”

“He was kind, gentle, quiet and patient.”

“He thought before he spoke.”

His Legacy: A wonderful, loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, gentleman farmer and watchmaker who lived by the teachings of his religion and the Golden Rule.

This new feature was requested to be included by Sissy Williamson. She remembered Janice Hilburn’s trying to tell of her brother being born as follows:

Right after his birth, Janice, they a 3-year-old, regularly met the postman in San Antonio with the exciting news, “Hi! I dotsa ditsy un daggy duh!” which Jessie interpreted as “I’ve got a little baby brother.”

If you have something similar to share, please do so!

Reader Feedback