|
| |
|
|
I was born on August 16, 1938, on 12th and Dewey in Chandler, Oklahoma to John Henry and Annie Mae (Barnett) Neal. I was the eleventh child of fifteen children, eight boys and seven girls. Growing up, my brother Junior he called me Skeleton my brother Kenneth called me Longbow.
I loved the outdoors, and playing in the woods that were across from where I lived. Playing jacks, hopscotch, jumping rope and riding my homemade scooter were some of my favorite pastimes including riding my bike and enjoying the different colored parts to it. I loved to walk down the dirt roads without shoes so I could feel the mud between my toes. Most of the time I didn't have any shoes to wear.
I liked getting into the water even though I never really learned how to swim, but I could dog paddle well. When I was 12, I got my first job cleaning houses for the Spragues and their children. I also worked helping my mom serving dinner and working in the restaurant. My first real paying job was working at the Marlow Diner on 13th and Broadway in OKC when I was seventeen years old.
I moved back to Chandler where I started cleaning houses again and doing restaurant work in the 1960's. In 1967 I attended sewing classes at the Redland Community building with Mariah Whitehead and Fannie Mae Caldwell.
I did not like school very much, but I did like helping Mrs. Crumble with the school programs and I would help with making the costumes or cutting out all the letters. I also liked homemakers where I started learning how to sew. I later dropped out of school but after I had my family, I saw the need to better myself, so I went to OBU in Shawnee where I received my GED. Praise the Lord!
On July 6, 1981, in Chandler, Oklahoma I married Joe Eddie Long. With the saying his, hers and ours, we had 13 children together: Wayne, Sherry, Stanley, Herbert, Mitchell, David, Delma, Pamela Regina, Calvin, VaRita, Shawn and Angelika.
In 1982, I worked as a teacher's aide. Then in April 1983, I became the coordinator at Head Start. After leaving Head Start, I stayed home for a while and later in 1983 I started working at the Chandler Nursing Home where I worked on the west end. While there, I earned my Nurse's Aide Certificate. I loved my job working with Joe, Connie, Marie, Eddie, Bozo, Shirley, Corene and other names I have forgotten.
After about a year, I started working as a Home Provider taking care of Jean Haywood. I went on to care for Peggy Walker and her son Terry. What a joy it was to care for them. Peggy became ill and had to be put in the nursing home and Terry moved with his sister in Broken Arrow. Joe and I saw a need in the foster care system and decided to become foster parents. We had over 100 children come into our home.
I loved the Lord! I became a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, later named the Mt. Calvary First Baptist Church at the age of 12 and I remained a member until 1972. I drifted away now and then and in 1972 I became a member of the Central Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Gilmore, then under the leadership of Rev. James E. Reed, Sr. In January 2010 I moved my membership to First Baptist Church under the leadership of Brother Rick Blackwell. I loved my church, my brothers and sisters, she is now at peace.
I was preceded in death by my parents John Henry and Annie Neal, my loving husband Joe Eddie Long, my daughter Sherry Parker-Caldwell and son Wayne Long, my eight brothers: Emery, Henry, Otis, Fendrick, John Jr., Hershel, Kenneth and Alvin; my six sisters: Rosalee, Dollie, Octavia, Maggaline, Peggy and Ollie.
I leave to cherish my memory, Nephew/Brother Eddie (Wilma) Holland, my daughters: Pamela J. Naff-Anderson, VaRita Parker, Jackie Holland (my niece/daughter), Regina Long and Angelika (Siera) Mukes; my sons: Mitchell (Glendia) Naff, Delma Naff, Shawn (Chelsea) Long; Stanley (Bonita) Long, Herbert Long, David Long and Calvin Long. Eighteen (18) Grandchildren: George (Torrey) Parker II, Tasha Parker, Rafael Ervin, Natalie Hunter, BarbaraMichelle (Sadarius) Slaughter, Sheree (Trayron) Nelson, Christopher Joe Long, Stephanie (Dan) Gunn, Ariyah & Zendaya Mukes, Anderson Joe and Teddy Long; Wesley (Kelly) Long, Marianne (Maurice) White; Tiana Smith, Tiffany Long (Robert); Tyrone Long and Jennifer Ware; Thirty-two (32) great grandchildren and Three (3) great-great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends..
This site may be freely linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent.
All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited!
© 2000-2024 Oklahoma CemeteriesThe information on this site is provided free for the purpose of researching your genealogy. This material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, for your own research, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The information contained in this site may not be copied to any other site without written "snail-mail" permission. If you wish to have a copy of a donor's material, you must have their permission. All information found on these pages is under copyright of Oklahoma Cemeteries. This is to protect any and all information donated. The original submitter or source of the information will retain their copyright. Unless otherwise stated, any donated material is given to Oklahoma Cemeteries to make it available online. This material will always be available at no cost, it will always remain free to the researcher.