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Note: Naomi was listed as a member of the First United Pentecostal Church, Livingston, Polk Co., TX. "Some stories about when I first started to live for the Lord: When I first heard of Pentecost I had a fear or dread because I had heard so many untrue things about them. They told us, 'They would tear up our churches and cause homes to break up.' So many terrible things were told. Finally we heard they were going to have services at our school at Providence. I sure hated to hear that. But Papa told us he would go Sat. night. If they didn't act too bad we all could go on Sunday. So we waited up for him to get home and tell us about it. He said, 'It wasn't so bad and they really did preach the Bible, and we could go the next day.(Sun.)' We were so glad. Got up, got ready, had to drive about 3 mi. or more in a wagon. As we were driving up or getting out of the wagon, Bro. Dowden and part of his band came driving up. They were singing, "When upon the clouds of Heaven - Christ shall come to earth again." My! That was the prettiest singing I ever heard. Right then God began to get a hold of my heart. I really didn't know what it was. We went on in the house. They soon started services. That was the prettiest sight. They all looked so happy and each one preached (I thought). The girls were all dressed in white and I thought they looked like angels. The Lord right that day got a hold of my heart and didn't turn me loose. The more I went the hungrier I got. I was so hungry, didn't know just what was wrong. I was trying to pray and searching the scriptures. Papa would tell us, 'Oh, that is not for us. We were alright, we were Methodist.' In my heart I was so hungry for what they had. I would hide away and pray the best I knew how. Oh! praise the Lord! He knew my heart. I prayed, 'Lord, if this is real I want it.' They soon started a revival under a tent where the Barfield home is now. That revival lasted 6 wks. It was almost like a camp meeting. People came from far & near. Some would bring their tents and camp there. The more I went the hungrier I got. Thought maybe since I was a child it might not be for me. I do thank the Lord for dealing with me. During the revivals different preachers would come and preach from all over the country. Bro. & Sis. D. K. Morris and their fam. came. They had two girls Lena and Florence who had the Holy Ghost. My! That put something in my heart. They would testify and seemed so happy. I thought, 'Well, if they could have it, I could too.' I didn't think it would do to step out ahead of my parents and I was having a hard time convincing them this was right but I sure was trying. My Grandfather was a good ole Methodist. We didn't think he needed anything else,m and he didn't go only one or twice. One Sun. PM he was at home alone, got to praying, said, 'Lord, if this Holy Ghost is right I want it.' The precious Lord saw his heart and in a few min. he was talking in tongues. We didn't know about this. On our way to church, my uncle came riding (horse back), caught up with us, said, 'Pa got the Holy Ghost this evening at his home by himself.' What a thrill! I thought right quick if he needs it I do too. If I only knew how to yield to the Lord I would have received Him right in that wagon on the way to church. I didn't think I could wait. I didn't get much out of the preaching for wishing they would hurry! and give the altar call. When they did, I didn't look around to see if Mama and Papa was coming. I fell in that altar and in about 5 min. I had rec. the most sweetest experience, the precious Holy Ghost. At this date Aug 23, 1985 He is still so precious to me and it all seems so fresh on my mind. I looked around. Mama was kneeling pretty close by me and she received Him in a few min. Papa and Sister was in the altar but they didn't rec. Him that night. I think Sister was jealous because I had got it and she didn't. She said, 'Why did Naomi rec. the Holy Ghost and I didn't?' But she did in about 2 weeks and a little later Papa did. What a happy family. "After the tent revival closed, Bro. Dowden taken the tent, put it up in Goodrich or may have been some other place. Bro. Robert Lafluer came to our community having prayer meeting from house to house just any place he was invited. That's when Sister rec. it on PM at a prayer meeting. There was about as many rec. Him after the tent was moved as during the tent revival. Papa was getting desperate. He was in the field plowing, talking to the Lord all alone. He said, 'Lord, I will give You everything I have.' He said, 'Here is my family and my home. Now I want the deed.' He said about that time the Lord came in, he began talking in tongues. We heard him about 1/2 mi. away. We knew what had happened. "We didn't have a church to worship in but Bro. Dowden or some preacher would come by and see after us often. We had church at Uncle Matt Collins, there where Claudia Barfield's house is now. But at times we would meet at other homes or at the Providence school house. We were without a shepherd but the Lord kept us through His mercies. "We soon built the old tabernacle. Must have been about 1915 when we got it ready to have church in (or the last part of of 1914). "We had two or three camp meetings, one or two in Livingston, one at the tab. after we got it finished. The ones in town were under a tent down close to the old B & G N depot. Must have been in 1914 or the last part of 1913. It was the first time I shouted after rec. the Holy Ghost. We went early one PM. Bro. George Harrison was having children's church when we got there. As we walked up, he said, 'Now let's raise our hands and praise the Lord.' I had no more than raised my hands till I had rec. the Holy Ghost all anew even before Mama & Papa had got under the tent. "One night during that camp meeting Sister only got one shoe. She was going to finish dressing on the way in the wagon. So she said, 'Now what can I do?' Mama said, 'Go on barefooted (she was nearly 12) sit back on the second seat so no one will notice you.' Well when we got in (we always got out, went in ahead of Mama & Papa, they had to tie the horses and gather up the little ones.), I can't remember the name of the song, there were a bunch of children and young people up on the rostrum. Some were shouting and by the time Mama got in she looked and there was Sister just dancing and shouting from one end of the rostrum to the other end (barefooted). Course this day in time folks wouldn't think so much about that. And Sister didn't "I feel sure we had 2 Camp meeting in Livingston. Used to we didn't have camp grounds so we had it at different churches. I went to several at Cleveland & Humble. Went to Beaumont to one. I would always go when I had an opportunity and Papa was so good to try to make a way for me to get there. We had several revivals under the old tomato shed." Received the Holy Ghost in the same revival as Maud and Ed Walters. "Vacations: We went to Colorado with John & Lu about 1958 or 1958. Quoted from Grandmother's Family Tree Book given to Stephen Phillips: "About all we knew was to stay home and work. But we were happy, enjoyed our children. Had many happy moments watching them grow up and doing the best we could by them. About our first vacation we went on a trip to Colo. with John & Lu, spent a day and 2 nights with my bro., Keenon and Eileen in Kan. Saw a good many interesting things. But was so glad to get back home. "Then our next vacation was about 1959, 1960 we went with Otho and Casciel to Fla. While there, visited with our aunts & families: Aunt Frances who lived in Tallahassee. Her son took us out for a sightseeing tour. Mr. & Mrs. Merrill Hagen, a day we remember. We also visited with another, Aunt Nancy Smith. Met a lot of kinfolks we had never met before. That was at Chipley. Quoted from Grandmother's Family Tree Book given to Donna New: "Our first airplane trip to San Francisco, CA, April 10, 1969. We went on National Airline. Casciel carried us to the airport, Houston, TX. We left Houston at 10:05 AM and arrived at San Francisco at 1:31 PM. It was 3:31 PM our time. Stopped one time, went on the National 234. Grady's ticket cost $108.15 and mine was $81.11. We enjoyed the trip. My greatest worry was I was afraid my brother might not make it there on time. But he did. He drove us around in San Francisco for a while. But first I will tell this. My brother was far more excited than I was. He parked his car, left it unlocked with the keys still in it. But when he found it everything was ok. When we arrived the prettiest sight I saw was Keenon and Eileen waving their handkerchief trying to make us see them. While we were in California, we visited Sutters Gold Mine that was discovered in 1847. We also visited the Redwoods State Park, saw the many huge trees. We visited the capitol at Sacramento. We went to the Golden Gate Park and went over the Golden Gate Bridge. We went to many interesting places. When we came home Keenon and Eileen brought us in their car. We came by Los Angeles, saw many things there. We went to Knotts Berry Farm. Visited with Eileen's Mother one day. On our way home we went to Flagstaff, saw the date grove. One day we went to the Petrified Forest, saw many interesting things there. We went to the Grand Canyon National Park. I was so sick I couldn't enjoy that trip. We went to the Winchester Mystery House. When we started to buy our tickets the lady said if anyone has back problems they would advise not to go. And that knocked me out. The rest would not go if I couldn't. It really would have been interesting. Mr. Winchester was the son of the man who manufactured the Winchester guns. When Mr. Winchester died she (Sarah Winchester) was so crushed she started building on to her mansion. It was 160 room mansion rambling over 6 acres of land. There were 3 elevators, 47 fire places. I won't go into details further. We drove 100 mi. out of the way to go there." Quoted from Grandmother's Family Tree Book given to Donna New: "I always loved the Lord, and had a fear of doing wrong. I give my mother credit for that. She tried to teach us the right way, as far as she knew. I joined the Methodist Church about 1911 at Providence. We had a revival and several joined the church. I was about 11. I was sincere and did the best I could. I tried to pray but didn't know how but the Lord saw the sincerity of my heart and when I heard the Pentecostals preach I realized there was something more for me. And the more I went the hungrier I got. When we had a revival under a tent about Mar. and April 1913, I finally couldn't wait any longer. I went to the altar and in about 5 min. I had received the Holy Ghost. Such a sweet experience and it grows sweeter and sweeter as the years go by. I have had some wonderful experiences. The Lord has been with me all my life. Everything hasn't been roses. I have had some valley experiences. Thank the Lord for the valley and some mountain experiences. He always knows just when to come and lift me up. This life has really been worth the living. I have had some rugged roads and severe trials but the Blessed Lord has been by guide and my captain when the battle is hot. And He has never lost a battle. He has supplied every need. He provided me a saved companion. I always said I wanted a husband that was in the church. The Lord saw my heart and gave me a good Christian man, not one that was free from faults, but he was sincere and loved the Lord, and was a great help to me in my Christian experience. He was a good father and helped me teach the children the right way to live. "I thank the Lord for my Mother and Father who was faithful till death. They taught us and as they taught us, so they lived it, day by day. I appreciate my Christian training. We trusted in the Lord and He always came to our aid. The Lord gave us three wonderful children and they all love and serve Him. We had them dedicated to the Lord when they were young and they are all in the church. They are wonderful to me. Without them I surely would have a lonely life. They have never give us any trouble. The Lord provided them good companions and I am thankful for 4 sweet grandchildren. They are so thoughtful of me. They too love the Lord and each of them rec. the Holy Ghost when they were young and the two girls are still going on with the Lord, good workers in the church. The Peebles Cemetery was started as a family cemetery on land that belonged to the Peebles bro. It has been enlarged or added on to several times. When I first remember going there, the graves had a little shed built over them and picket [fence] around the grave but that all has been removed. Now it is a beautiful cemetery. For a good many years most everyone who was buried there were related in some way. But now people bring their loved ones from far and near to be buried there. The cemetery is about 2 mi. north of Goodrich. My best friend was my sister, Leora Gaylord Creel. We always confided in each other, was very close. I could depend on her. School day friends: Lillie Galloway Kerr, Effie Galloway Jones, Jewel Coker Cunningham, Estelle Coker Walters, Hettie McCaghren, Audrey Galloway Davis, Irene Nettles Wilkerson, Ada Creel Griffen, Lizzie Creel Smith, Anna Laura Mills Henderson, Daisie Rice Robberds, Clyde Rice Creel, my teacher, Wynona Epperson Brock, Barbara Lew Parkman, Unice Coker Williams, Anna Mae Harris Carter. Other friends: Lena Morris Patterson-she was very dear to me and a great help spiritually; Florence Morris Briggs-she was a lot of fun and great friend; Gladys Powell Dake-we both wanted Grady but she didn't get him. We lived a long way apart but wrote each other; Fannie Mae Oden Galloway-she is Gordie Galloway's wife, Steve Galloway's Mother; Audrey Walters Simmons, Jenny Walters Munson, Clara McCaghren Walters, Mary Kervin Rhodes, Alverta Matthews mcCaghren, Tressie Renfro McCaghren, Claudia Brock Purvis, Mae Owlsey Barfield, Ruby Sprayberry Phillips, Grace Walters West, Adelia Stephens Wilkerson, Elma Stephens Cain, Ethel Sterling Sales, Jennie Collins Hayes-she was a great help to me spiritually, answered as my Mother in the Lord. Bro. C. W. Dowden was my father in the Lord. "I was borned Aug. 30, 1900 about 4 or 5 mi. south of Livingston in my parents' home. The attending physician was Dr. Gipson. I was the oldest in the family of 8. I was 14 mo. old when my sister was borned. My Grandma Gaylord helped to care for us. As soon as I was old enough I helped my Father with the farming. I could plant the seed and I could pick cotton and hoe and do many things. I appreciated the experience I got being raised on the farm. I loved to go horseback riding. Me and my Dad would run races on the horses. He was good to us and tried to make life pleasant. He was a lot of fun but he was positive. We knew to mind when he spoke. My Mother taught me to help with the house work and cooking. I liked that. She was the mother of 8 children. Three died young, my brother June was 7. She helped with the farming as well as did all her house work, sewed, made our clothes, no such thing as buying a dress ready made. Did the washing the old time way, using a rub board, putting the clothes in a wash pot, boiling them, took them up, rinsed them good, hung them on the clothesline. And most everything in that day had to be ironed and we had the old timie sad irons. We sometime heated them on the cook stove. Sometime we would build a fire outside in the yard to heat our irons. She made 3 meals a day and always when it was available had to gather up the vegetables, maybe pick berries for a pie. She also had to milk the cows to get the milk and butter we used. We raised most everything on the far. My Dad raised sugar cane and in the autumn about Nov. he would strip the cane, cut it, carry it to the mill and make syrup. We didn't have an evaporator, we only had a huge pan to cook the syrup in. It was set over a huge furnace. First we had to grind the cane in the mill to get the juice out, then put it in the pan to cook it. We had to stir it constantly, had a skimmer ot skim off the dregs and such that would come to the top as it was cooking. When it reached the syrup stage we would remove the pan from the fire, let it cool a little, put it in buckets or jugs, seal it. Had a barrel by the furnace we put the skimmings in, let it set a while several days. It would make cane beer. Some people would strain that and drink it and it might make anyone drunk. "We were glad when the crops were made and it was time to gather it all in.. Then in the winter months we would sit around the fireplace, parch peanuts and make syrup candy and such as that. If it came a big snow we would gather up some and make ice cream. There was hard work attached. My Dad would go to the woods, cut trees to make firewood. Then it had to be put on the shelf by the window or piled up on the porch. We had to draw our water out of the well, no ice. So when we wanted a fresh drink of water we got it out of the well, had the water bucket hanging on the porch, all used the same dipper. Mother had a wood burning stove, so that was a job we didn't like, bringing in the stove wood. We most always had company on Sundays, sometimes through the week. Sometime we went visiting, would go and spend the day. Had plenty of time to visit each other. We always divided what we had with our neighbors, if they didn't have any. We always was glad when hog killing time came. If we butchered before our neighbors did we would divide or if they would first they would divide with us. What a happy time! We didn't know anything but hard work so we all were satisfied with it. "One of the greatest trials I ever experienced was when I lost my Father. He was middle age, left my Mother with 2 boys, 9 and 11 yrs. of age, to support. No work to get to do except work on the farm. They tried to have their little farm and had to work out for other people to get money to live on and buy horse feed. Cullin would hire out to people like a grown man. He hoed, plowed or did whatever come to hand. They picked cotton for people beside worked their own farm. Sure had a hard time. Us girls were married, had to go where our husbands could find work. We helped all we could but we couldn't do much. The boys had to quit school to help make the living. "Mama was faithful to the Lord, never complained. She had a hard time all of her life. She lost her Mother when she was 17. And had to give up 4 of her 8 children in death. She really knew sorrow. But she also knew how to trust the Lord through it all. She never wavered, always considered the Lord's will. She was patient, tender, kind and loved us all. It was through her teaching and loving care that I had a desire to live for God. She taught it and lived it. Father was good and kind, oft he would tell us we would find no one else to share our ills and woes. Sometime it seems that I can almost feel her hand press my brow. So many times she would do without that we might have what we needed. I had the sweetest and most wonderful Mother in all the world. I shall never get to where I won't miss her. Even now sometimes I would like to confide in her. I hope to meet her over yonder. Quoted from Grandmother's Family Tree book given to Stephen Phillips: "We enjoyed watching our children grow up. They were sweet and obedient. Zelene was "doll girl", name my Dad called her. She was always so considerate about everything. She knew we did the best by her that we could and appreciated everything we did. "John Henry was such and humble child. He was always looking out for "sister". He was borned at the beginning of the great depression and we were never able to give him the things he wanted. He would always suggest we get things for "sister" (Zelene), even though we couldn't for him. He had two severe attacks of sickness. Outside of that he was healthy. "Otho Lee was borned in the middle of the depression, but he was a happy little boy. Didn't have many toys for Christmas. When he was two Grady built him a little wheelbarrow, painted it red. One Christmas we were getting things ready for my sister's family. The children were down in the woods getting hollies for Christmas. John Henry was hacking on a tree with a hand axe. Otho put his fingers (or hand) on the place he was hacking and John Henry cut his fingers off. We had them sewed back on. "After we all got in the church, it was by the fireside we got a lot of our teaching and training. That was our family altar and no one went to bed until we had our devotion. We each had a Bible. We would select a chapter, each one read a verse, take turns, one read then the next until we had finished. Sometimes Papa would comment on the scripture, then we had a family prayer. No matter who was there, if we had company, we had our family devotion anyway. That was planted in our hearts. Then after we were married and started our own home, we kept it up. Papa would take time to read a few verses in the Bible before breakfast, matter not how big of a hurry we were in. We would have that morning devotion at the breakfast table. The Lord honored all that. That helped me to go on and live for the Lord. I will never forget to give them credit for being an instrument to helping me on my Christian journey. "Some stories about my life: As I was raised on a farm, I had lots experiences. When I was old enough I would go with my Daddy to the field I would drop the corn, peas and things he was planting. He would always brag on me, sometimes give me a little money or buy something for me when he went ot town. He was a great sport. One our fields was a mi. or so away from home. We would ride horseback to the field and sometimes we would run races. He would most always let me beat him for he saw I was going to do my best. I didn't know he was holding back to let me beat him on purpose. One time he was plowing in one field and needed a monkey wrench that was in an adjoining field, maybe 1/4 mi. away. We had a horse named Charlie. He had at 1 time been a race horse. He said, " Naomi, you get on Charlie, go to the far field, look by the gate, get me that monkey wrench." So I did. Made it up there ok, got down picked up the monkey wrench, started back. Charlie got to running. The more I pulled up on the bridle the faster he would run. I finally dropped the monkey wrench. Was holding on with all my might. I quit pulling up on the bridle. I thought I would just let him run. And he did. All I was doing was trying to stay in the saddle. He ran around and around the field a few times and finally just stopped. Papa could hear him running. He knew he was running away. He was only worried about me but I stayed with him. Papa said he imagined a weed or something struck him in the flanks and he thought it was me spurring him. And he said that was the way they would do race horses to make them go faster, pull up on the bridle. The more I pulled the faster he got. Papa said I did the right thing by dropping the monkey wrench. We went to where I thought it was & found it. Papa finally traded him off for 1 named Baltimore. He was so lazy he wouldn't hardly trot. One day me & my cousin was riding him. Papa was ahead saying, "Come on." I was pecking on him with a switch, he shook (or shuddered). My cousin fell off. Baltimore stopped, waited for her to get back on. She cried & cried. "The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful family. This life has been worth the living. In spite of all the sadness and disappointments I have found happiness all along. The Lord has promised to be with me and go with me all the way. I can't count my blessings but I do like to try. They have been many. I can see how the Lord has kept His hand upon me all my life. He has helped me through some things that no one else could do. I can see His hand guiding me even sometimes when I am careless. He still keeps and guides me. After all He is my greatest companion and friend. He fills the vacant places. I am thankful that I know Him and have learned to lean and depend on Him." From Grandmother's Family Tree book given to John & Lunell Stephens. "We always looked for Christmas and special holidays and we managed to get together even when we were 100 miles apart. Sometimes it was hard to get gas to make the trip. We always had a good time of fellowship. sometimes it was hard to get the food we all like, but we would put our food together and have a good meal. Occasionally we would have all day singing and preaching with dinner on the ground. We would meet with old time friends and loved ones once in a while. About once a year we would have a picnic, go fishing down on the creek, carried our lunch, taken pans and grease to fry the fish, would cook the fish on the bank of the creek. My it was delicious. After lunch the children would wade in the creek. The older ones (or some) would go swimming. We enjoyed it all. One Christmas my sister and I went to our Aunt (Atlas) to spend a few days. We rode on the train. Our Dad taken us to the depot in the wagon. It was about 5 mi. and cold! We wrapped up with a quilt, put our feet on some warm brick but still we like to have froze. My Dad was considerate. He was willing to do things to accommodate us. My aunt's folks met us. Her children were a lot of fun to be with. We all went on a hay ride one night. We like to have froze. My it was cold, but we had a lot of fun. I caught my first boyfriend while up there. When we came home some of the girls came with us to spend a few days, then on Sat. our boyfriends came. What fun! One Christmas I will remember we wasn't expecting to have much. My two brothers came, brought us all something. My, I was so thankful. Brought Zelene a very pretty yellow dress. The first time I went to iron it, burned a hole in it. Mama fixed it and it didn't show much. Don't know what we would have done if it hadn't been for her. "We all looked forward to going to church. If we had company to come we just taken them along. Most every Sunday we would bring company home with us for dinner. Sometimes we were invited to go with someone. "One time it came 11 in. snow. All the kids and folks liked to get together to play in the snow. One time I remember Otho and Kat came. We even got Mama out in it and taken her picture. We would get the snow and make ice cream. "My sister and me were always close to each other so we got together every time we could. She acted like she had got home when she would get to my house and my brothers did too. It may have been because my Mother lived with me in her last days. "My children always come home Christmas, if possible. We all don't get to be together at one time often but we do have sweet unity and sweet fellowship. We have a great time at Christmas. And one thing I am so thankful for, we all belong to the same church and sometime we all get to meet and worship together. That gives me a thrill. I thank the Lord for all these blessings. He is wonderful, and it is through His goodness and mercies that we all are blessed. "And another thing about Christmas, I get the most gifts. Christmas Eve night I just about get them all. I am so thankful for my family. They all love me and respect me in every way they know how. I give the Lord the praise for my family. I appreciate the grandchildren. They all love and respect me. They always give me gifts, send cards and will do anything they can for me. I love them all and especially appreciate Benny. He is almost like one my own, will do anything he can for me."
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