Delta Strength , livre ebook

Delta Strength
Barbara J. Johnson
Austin Macauley Publishers
2020-01-31
Delta Strength About the Author Dedication Copyright Information © Acknowledgements Chinaberry Lane Prologue Part One: An Endless Dream of a Time Deferred Chapter One In the Beginning – Johansson and Emily Chapter Two Dreaming Must End – Before Living Can Begin Chapter Three Truly Tulsa Chapter Four Pandora – Home Again Chapter Six Emma and Edna Together Chapter Seven Up from the South Chapter Eight The Smoky Room Chapter Nine On the Front Row – Edna’s Funeral Chapter Ten Emma – Home Again Chapter Eleven A Sunrise on the Other Side Part Two: When Evil Ends, Love Begins Chapter Twelve Simon – A Jealous Outrage Chapter Thirteen Pandora’s Beauty Salon Chapter Fourteen Sorrows of a Weeping Heart Chapter Fifteen Loving Coreen Chapter Sixteen Hence, for Brotherly Love Chapter Seventeen Weeping Willow Chapter Eighteen On Chinaberry Lane – Where Diamonds Fall from the Sky Chapter Nineteen When Trouble Comes Chapter Twenty Grandma Pandora in the Fire Chapter Twenty-One All Things Must Come to Pass Chapter Twenty-Two After the Flames Have Cooled Part Three: Once Upon a Dewy-Morn Chapter Twenty-Three God Takes Care of Tomorrow Chapter Twenty-Four The Cessation of a Season Chapter Twenty-Five Expectations – The Will Chapter Twenty-Six Billy and the Axe Chapter Twenty-Seven The Great Restoration Chapter Twenty-Eight A Flicker in the Dark Chapter Twenty-Nine Annie Goes to Whitfield Chapter Thirty Yet Another Season Chapter Thirty-One Byhalia – So Tender Was His Prey Chapter Thirty-Two Wedding Bells Still Ring Chapter Thirty-Three Reflections Chapter Thirty-Four The Waiting on Chinaberry Lane Epilogue Once a Rose Generations of Johansson Beasley and Emily Moore-Beasley
About the Author
- Bio -
Barbara J. Johnson, the fifth of twelve siblings, was born during the mid-1950s in the southern-most part of the United States. Her earlier years were spent performing very cumbersome, often tormenting, manual labor to help earn a living raising farm animals and staple crops (cotton, soybeans, cane, and corn) on a family-owned farm established by her fore-parents ( Reverend John Wesley Elam, Sr. and Mary Heard-Elam) during the early 1900s. She completed the requirements to march with her class and graduate (a young mother) from high school by studying American Government via a tutor employed with the Mississippi State University at Oxford, Mississippi. Afterwards, she earned a diploma in Payroll Accounting & Psychology granted by Draughon’s Business College in Jackson, Mississippi, with further studies in Psychology & Computer Science at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio.
Barbara received a Bachelor of Science Degree (BS) in Management with an undergraduate in Clinical Psychology from Park University, Parkville, Missouri. The University of Managements & Technology (UMT) in Virginia holds her Master Degree (MD) program studies in Project Management. In 2003, she received the honor of a “Certified APDP Level-III, Federal Acquisitions Professional” from the United States Air Force via training accredited through the Defense Acquisitions University (DAU), Virginia; Systems Acquisition School (SAS), Texas; and the United States Air Force Institute of Technology, Ohio. She also trained at Fort Lee Army Base, Virginia; and Warner Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.
Barbara’s career began with the Yazoo County, Mississippi Summer School Youth Program in 1972; the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (Farmers) Insurance Company (1974–1976); a Bank of America affiliate [Finance America Consumer Lending Corp (1976–1980)]; a Manufacturer Hanover, Pennsylvania affiliate [Term Plan Consumer Lending Corp, Tennessee (1980–1981)]; the Lumbermen’s Underwriting Alliance (Lumberyards) Insurance Company, Tennessee/Boca Raton, Florida (1981). In 1982 she was employed by the Winters Bank in Ohio and during the same year became a Civil Servant (civilian officer) with an Air Force Major Command (MAJCOM) until retirement in 2006.
Barbara has served and held membership in several professional organizations: the American Society of Professional Military Comptrollers; DoD Equal Employment Council (EEOC)/Special Emphasis Program (SEP) representative; and a Girl Scouts of America troop leader. Soon after a brief career at another U.S. Military installation (USSOCOM), she became employed as a municipal government Fiscal Officer/Human Resource Director; after which, she ended her full-time working career in 2010, and relocated back to her birthplace where she worked as a substitute teacher, then resigned to provide personal family caregiving support to two elder parents. Thus, following the death of her father ( December 28, 2018) – she departed the south (once more) to explore a new career and complete this publication.
There are two additional works of literature copyrighted, published and adds to Barbara’s life-time accomplishments: “A Mississippi Family” (1986), and “Chinaberry Lane” (1999). Her aspiration to become a writer started at nine years old with visiting neighbors, just to reach into the real world – outside of farm life – through their magazines and books. It was also her grandfather (Ousborne Elam), the oldest son of John Wesley and March, whom she grew up around and received her greatest inspiration to record in history, several decades of experiences that molded her own within a southern society, experiences which especially represent a lifestyle that strikes many to still wonder about; a southern family life-style that’s slowly disappearing over time; disappearing into a broader landscape of the past, which this novel has rescued.
Barbara’s additional passions include composing songs, art-illustrating, fishing, traveling, and antiquing. As often as possible, she inspires others to capitalize upon their own strengths to fulfill their mission in life; striving for joy and peace (which encompasses many things) through intellect (acceptance, adaptation, observation, understanding, and compromising) when it is deemed necessary to do so; hence, with much patience, courage, love, and grace! The mother of two biological adult children, a god-son and daughter; the grandmother of seven grandchildren and six god-grandchildren; Barbara has been with her husband (Norman) since 1973.
Dedication
To the Holy Spirit and my Guardian Angel – for sustaining me ona long and enduring journey while composing this masterpiece.
(1969–2020)
Copyright Information ©
Barbara J. Johnson (2020)
The right of Barbara J. Johnson to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.
Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781528909433 (Paperback)
ISBN 9781528909440 (Hardback)
ISBN 9781528959261 (ePub e-book)
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2020)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5LQ
Acknowledgements
My gratitude and acknowledgements are extended to the following individuals; those who have greatly influenced my life – providing everlasting encouragement.
First, blessings to Mrs. Tonea Stewart , an English professor (at the time, 1974) at Jackson State University, who was the first to critique my creative writing ability. Also, I appreciate my long-time husband, Norman Johnson , in an everlasting manner for sharing my hand-written poetry with Mrs. Stewart – to include " Chinaberry Lane" in its first version; then, reporting back with encouraging words that ignited sparks in me to write more; sparks which provided light along a darken pathway (an enduring journey) leading to the completion of this literary treasure.
Next, and foremost, I am honored to offer my deepest appreciation to Mr. Warren H. Treece, Sr.; an extraordinary human being ( ex-employer and devout Christian friend ); and an American Military icon/hero who served in four wars: [World War II (1939–19450); Korean War (1950–1953); Vietnam War (1954–1975); and the Cambodian Civil War (1967–1975)]. While others constructed walls and planted land-mines ahead of my quest to press forward in my education, career, happiness, and goals, Mr. Treece’s “action-oriented” leadership, mentoring, and sponsorship has strategically steered me safely over many stumbling blocks. His un-selfish contributions generated enabling abilities necessary to remain on a steady path and cross many finish lines. The world is a better place because of his sacrifices to his country and fellow human beings. Most certainly, his angelic existence has been etched on stone in history – and upon a page in God’s heavenly-scroll .
Additionally, my sincere appreciation is extended to Mr. William E. Lane and his wife, Doris (deceased), for remaining my Christian friend since 1982. My first federal government opportunity as a secretary-steno came through Mr. Lane, who continues to encourage me to strive on and not question God’s miracles.
Thus, many thanks to Mr. William Lee Robinson and Barbara, his wife. Mr. Robinson stood up in my defense for equal-employment rights in the federal government. His compassion helped to balance one more “scale of justice” against discriminatory practices for the disadvantaged (minorities, handicaps and elders) .
Also, to my unwavering supporters (Tammy and Lester Washington, Ethel Chapman, Mondine Holloway, Mildred L. Cooley, Alma J. Washington, Dr. Wilson J. Washington Jr., Attorney LaVeeda Battle, Ethel Morgan and Ethel Gerald) ; I offer my sincere g