Chapter One: The Early Years

“The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” Proverbs 29:15 (KJV)

Glory to God in the bad times and in the good times. Glory!!! For God is worthy of the Glory, honor and praise plus more. He has never come SHORT of HIS WORD and he keeps his promises even when I don’t deserve them. He has been so faithful, compassionate and merciful to me. He saved me, rescued me before Satan buried me in sin. God has been my protector all my life. I am here in HIS PRESENCE because he wants me to be. I live, move and I have my BEING in HIM and I love God with my entire mind, my heart, my soul and my strength. He Knows that and HE loves me too.

This is my testimony, my story, my songs, if I say nothing else. This is who I am.

The Bible says “Charity begins at home and spreads abroad. It says to give “HONOR” where “HONOR” is due and it says we must train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. We all have a beginning a start in life. I must give honor to my Mother, Mrs. Queen Terry Davis. It could have well been an aunt, a grandmama, friend or I could have been left in an orphanage if God had willed it so. But God blessed me with a God-fearing Mother who was a devoted Christian, a Soloist, Choir Member, a Beautician and a great disciplinarian who loved her girls, her neighbors, her entire family and herself. She was a beautiful Lady who taught us girls how to be ladies, have faith in God and be the best that we could be. She took us to Sunday school and Church to learn about Jesus Christ and his love and to get to know him.

I don’t know what happened to my biological father, all Mama could tell us was that she married at an early age. My Father was a great musician and singer. They couldn’t agree on things so they divorced. You didn’t ask any more questions at that time. My Mother wasn’t perfect and she did the best that she could under the circumstances. There were some things I never understood about her until I became a woman. She had to endure a lot of hardships like all of God’s Children and she had needs. I never saw her begging nor were we ever hungry. I didn’t approve of one or two of her friends. That’s when I learned how to pray and I knew there was somebody watching over me day and night. I just didn’t know how to make the connection until one Sunday morning after the sermon, I gave God my life. I was converted. I would never walk alone. I always had a song in my heart and I always got a strange and joyful feeling hearing my mother sing around the house and in church, “I Must Tell Jesus.”

I accepted Jesus Christ in my life; thus, I started getting involved by singing in the choir, playing for the youth choir, speaking and acting in plays, etc. Mama didn’t have to tell me anymore because I was Saved and I had a “Spiritual connection”. I knew for myself that Jesus Christ is REAL and we established a relationship then and it exists today. I can’t imagine my life without him. He keeps me moving on, toiling on, going on, singing on, working and praying on.

My Mother finally remarried and I was happy for her. I would like to say things were better if just for a little while. But, I have learned that if Satan can’t tempt you; he will get involved in what you do. Many times we bring him right into our homes unaware because we don’t acknowledge God in all that we do. God must sanction you marriage for it to work and be successful. He said we must be equally yoked and reason together.

Some things you tell and some things you don’t want anybody to know not even God, but he knows everything already. When you become a Christian, that doesn’t stop the challenges of life. Sometimes they seem to get worse. If the Master suffered so also must HIS servants suffer and we are not better than HE. Making bad choices can affect others in your home and life. I continued to pray and write in my diary. I knew there was a calling on my life and God was preparing me for it at home, school and church, but sometimes we can move too fast, even if the problems occur in the home. You pay for disobedience, and trying to solve problems without God. After High School, I took things in my own hands trying to escape a bad situation at home and I made a bigger mess of my life. I didn’t let God lead me and I began to go astray trying to fix things myself. I ended up making big mistakes, bad decisions and wrong choices.

I didn’t break the cycle of “bad marriages,” there was a marriage that never should have been followed by three children. There was bondage with an abusive husband who didn’t want to work. I had to call on the Lord. It wasn’t HIS fault. We blame God for so many things even though he was not involved. I was unhappy and sinking deep in sin and I had three children to feed and take care of every day so, I started singing in a night club and playing for the church on Sunday. I was going down a one way street. I was so out of place in the club, I was being introduced to the vices of the world. I was depressed and I felt so out of order and guilty sitting at the piano on Sunday morning. You just can’t serve two Masters because God is a jealous God and there shall be no other gods but him.

One night into the “groove” of things, I saw my mother sitting in front of me. God had sent her to rescue me and put me back on the straight street. She told me to go home and she said I sounded like I was singing a Church song. She had a good talk with me and God convicted my heart and gave me “ANOTHER CHANCE” to live and do his will and to be what he wanted me to be. The Spirit of the Living God cleansed me up so I could teach, love and sing. He forgives our wrongdoings, changes our lives for the better and in the midst of it we learn valuable lessons. I learned that my way wasn’t the right way of solving my problems I had to turn it over to Jesus and wait.