The Memories I Have

I watched the two part documentary about the Jehovah's Witnesses and it opened up some memories. I am thinking that this will take up several blog posts as my memories are coming back but not in any particular order.


I was first exposed to the Jehovah's Witnesses when I was around 3 years old and we were still living in Memphis. Larry and Cindy Landry began studying with my mother. I really do not remember much yet but I do remember when the Landry's lived out by the Memphis International Airport -- we could watch the planes take off and land. I remember they had three sons -- Bruce, Paul and Todd -- and one daughter Cathy. Most of my memories center around Cathy and her actions. Cathy had a son out of wedlock -- the father was Gary Armour. The only thing I remember about him was when Cathy took me, but not her son Curtis, to his apartment -- he had a waterbed.


My mother moved back to West Helena in May 1974 and we lived with her parents for a time. Later on we rented an apartment owned by a doctor and my mother generously let Cathy and her son move in with us. Cathy took advantage of my mother's kindness and was abusive towards me when my mother was at work. I also remember Cathy and my mother holding little get-togethers and have friends over -- Earnice and her son Larry would come over to dance to the music on Soul Train. Also during this time my grandad would come by and take me to the basketball games at Phillips Community College, where he was a staff member. This was before he became abusive to us.


Later on, we all moved into a two-story Helena Housing Authority apartment. During this time are basically the only memories I actually have of my dad and his adopted father Emerson George dropping me off at home after a visit. Also during this time Cathy was dating one of the Donald brothers -- this may have been before the two congregations split to become Helena and West Helena congregations. Anyway, she would take me on her dates but I do not remember Curtis going on the dates. One of the dates was to the drive-in movies in Memphis -- the movie was about a monster in a recording studio (it may have been Phantom of the Paradise but I am not 100% sure of that).


Later on Cathy met and married David Vallun. They held the marriage ceremony at the Kingdom Hall in Memphis that we had originally started out going to. I was the flower girl. I remember the reception was also held in Memphis and when we went to leave, we found we had a flat tire. Dennis Williams, Barbara's brother changed it for us. Later on Cathy had two other kids.


Around the mid-1980s Cathy showed up again in our lives and once again took advantage of my mother. They started up a maid service together and Cathy totally screwed my mother over. My mother had to pay for everything and we were living in the projects while Cathy did not have to spend a dime of her money and lived in a very nice house in a very posh neighbourhood in West Helena!!!


Cathy now lives in Claremore and is acting like she is such a good person. Who knows, maybe she has changed but she is apparently still a Jehovah's Witness and refuses to speak to me.


Next time I may write about Ardena Perkins, who pretend to be one of the 144,000 and have everyone intimidated into believing her!!!