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dedication
Helen Spears Gladwell is the beloved mother of Craig and his twin sister, Carolyn. The daughter of a coal miner and preacher, Helen grew up in the heart of a close-knit family in the backwoods of Pikeville, KY, near the family of Loretta Lynn. As a young lady, she migrated North to MI to be near her older sister and her family. There she met Craig and Carolyn's father, Jack. Jack and Helen were married over 60 years before the Lord called Jack home in 2015, just a few months after his older brother, Ted, who resided in Navarre. Carolyn and Craig have provided Miss Helen with amazingly talented grandchildren: Teacher Matthew; Engineer Michael; Church Secretary & Missionary Rachel; and Physician Office Manager Lindsay. In addition, she has been blessed with one great-grandson, Mason. Miss Helen is one of the matriarchs of her church, Merriman Road Baptist Church in Westland, MI, where she has been a Sunday School Teacher for many years, as well as a Vacation Bible School Teacher. Without God and the influence of Miss Helen, this center would never have been created. Miss Helen is the epitome of a loving, nurturing teacher of Christ.
Daisy Skidmore Clifton was Lisa's legendary paternal grandmother. Miss Daisy came from a similar farming and coal mining background. She raised 5 children single-handedly after the early death of her first husband, Minter, not long after the beginning of the Great Depression; this is in addition to also having lost a child during this time. Miss Daisy was a tough, feisty, God-fearing woman who raised her children, 30+ grandchchildren, and countless foster children over the course of 40+ years along with her second husband, Minter's brother, Mandel, whom she also lost due to an untimely death. Miss Daisy worked hard all of her life from sun up to sun down, gardening, canning, tending to livestock and children. On Sundays, Miss Daisy's life belonged to the Lord and her church family of Upper Holly-Glade Baptist Church. The values Miss Daisy bestowed upon those fortunate to have known her were that one serves God first, followed by family, and neighbors. When it came to children, Miss Daisy's grandchildren can attest to the fact that she was indeed a firm believer in the adage, "spare the rod, spoil the child!" :) In her hometown of Webster Springs, WV, Miss Daisy was well-known as always the first one to arrive with a home-cooked meal for a funeral service; clothing and household goods gathered for families in need; or with one of her beautiful handmade quilts at the birth of a baby. When the Lord called her home, there were so many in attendance at her service that the local Fire Department opened their doors to hold and feed the abundant crowd. Miss Daisy was an amazing woman and her legend lives on in her grandchildren and their successive generations.
Neither of these ladies were rich in the way of money or possessions. What they were rich in was a love of Christ, and a passionate commitment to their families. Anyone who has ever met either of these amazing icons will say that they adored them and that they have many endearing, teachable stories to share. There are many inspirational women in this world, but none to be compared with these two amazing servants of God. We are blessed to be able to continue their teachings with the children of this center. Thank You, Father, for the gift of these two beautiful ladies!
Daisy Skidmore Clifton was Lisa's legendary paternal grandmother. Miss Daisy came from a similar farming and coal mining background. She raised 5 children single-handedly after the early death of her first husband, Minter, not long after the beginning of the Great Depression; this is in addition to also having lost a child during this time. Miss Daisy was a tough, feisty, God-fearing woman who raised her children, 30+ grandchchildren, and countless foster children over the course of 40+ years along with her second husband, Minter's brother, Mandel, whom she also lost due to an untimely death. Miss Daisy worked hard all of her life from sun up to sun down, gardening, canning, tending to livestock and children. On Sundays, Miss Daisy's life belonged to the Lord and her church family of Upper Holly-Glade Baptist Church. The values Miss Daisy bestowed upon those fortunate to have known her were that one serves God first, followed by family, and neighbors. When it came to children, Miss Daisy's grandchildren can attest to the fact that she was indeed a firm believer in the adage, "spare the rod, spoil the child!" :) In her hometown of Webster Springs, WV, Miss Daisy was well-known as always the first one to arrive with a home-cooked meal for a funeral service; clothing and household goods gathered for families in need; or with one of her beautiful handmade quilts at the birth of a baby. When the Lord called her home, there were so many in attendance at her service that the local Fire Department opened their doors to hold and feed the abundant crowd. Miss Daisy was an amazing woman and her legend lives on in her grandchildren and their successive generations.
Neither of these ladies were rich in the way of money or possessions. What they were rich in was a love of Christ, and a passionate commitment to their families. Anyone who has ever met either of these amazing icons will say that they adored them and that they have many endearing, teachable stories to share. There are many inspirational women in this world, but none to be compared with these two amazing servants of God. We are blessed to be able to continue their teachings with the children of this center. Thank You, Father, for the gift of these two beautiful ladies!