Personal Childhood Web

SHIRLEY SANDERS - Shirley Sanders is my Mother. She has definitely been the most influential person to me throughout my childhood and my adult life. She has been the most consistent entity in my world. She continues to nurture and show her love for me everyday. Despite any situation she may have been in, she has always managed to be there for me; through the good and bad times. we have had our differences from tome-to-time, but she has never allowed it to distance us in anyway. My mother is a three time cancer survivor; which brings me to my most memorable and special moments with her. Of all the things that she and I have shared throughout the years, I have never felt more special and proud than when she allowed and wanted me to be there with her through the most difficult and traumatic times in both of our lives. She is a very proud woman and has managed to take care of herself (and her children) through any and every obstacle. Her timeline of life events have always impacted me to live my life to the fullest and always put others first and not be selfish. She always said, "There's no limit to the blessings that await you when you try to live in accordance to God's Word." My mother is definitely an example of those words. I only pray that I can be half the blessing to someone else that she has been to me.


ARBORY WATSON - Arbory Watson is my Father.  Like most girls, I was a "Daddy's Girl".  In my eyes, my father, did nothing wrong.  If only that were true in the real world.  My father is human and he makes mistakes, as all fathers.  For a long period of time, in my life, he was my idea of a perfect man.  My father worked hard and had a substantial career as a mechanical engineer.  I grew up learning from my father, that a mans was supposed to work and take care of his family.  Despite my parents hectic work schedules; I always felt special when my father would find a way to be present at one of my sporting events.  The work ethic that my father displayed impacted me in my choices of a partner in my relationships.  I never entertained a relationship with a man that was not a provider for his family.  I thank my father for that gift.


FANNIE DAVIS-WITHERSPOON - Fannie Davis was my Aunt.  My aunt Fannie taught me that being a young lady had many meanings.  You could have fun and still be a lady.  She was a very strict and disciplined woman and what she said, she meant.  She always made me feel special when she would take the time, one-on-one, to teach me how to play cards, do word puzzles, and unique cooking techniques.  I partially attribute my ability to:  multitask, function successfully in any environment, and my desire to feed and nurture children to my early childhood experiences with my Aunt Fannie.  May she Rest In Peace.


DOROTHY BROWN - Dorothy Brown, aka "Aunt Dot" or "Granny" was my active grandmother. Granny was not my biological grandmother but she was more of a grandparent to me than any of my other grandparents.  I was a preemie at birth; I weighed 2.5 pounds.  The doctor's said I would not survive; Granny said otherwise.  Upon my release from the hospital, my Granny took me home with her where she nurtured me to health in spite of the Physicians prediction.  My mother was a first time mother and had no idea what to do with such a small and sickly baby.  My grandfather allowed her to quit her job in order to stay home and help my mother care for me.  When I hear the stories of the sacrifices she made to ensure my development was a success; I know how special I was to her.  Her contributions to my existence has impact me in such a way that it was my influence to dedicate my life to the development of my children and other children.  My only hope is to be successful in the development of a child in need as she was for me.  I LOVE YOU "GRANNY" - FOREVER.


JOE NEAL SANDERS - Joe Neal Sanders was my grandfather.  My grandfather was the most strict person I have ever known.  He was set in his own way.  Everything and everyone had to do as he said.  It was amazing to see his strength and power over everyone around him.  He was very confident and he demanded respect from everyone.  He taught me (and all of his grandchildren) to honor your word.  I remember his tone when he would say to us, "Remember, In this life, all you have is your word.  Once you loose that, then you have nothing."  As I grew older and experienced a lot of what life had to offer; those words took on many meanings and kept me honest.  I quickly learned that people had more respect for me and they were willing to follow my lead because they knew that they could count on me to do what I said I would do.  Later in my adult life, I learned that my grandfather could not read or write.  Imagine that!  A man of such power and respect with such educational limits.  My grandfather has been my greatest supporter of "Never Give Up".  I have taken that frame of mind with me everywhere I go.  When things get rough, I think of all the my grandfather was able to accomplish with limited to no education and I am revived on to continue with my quest.