Herb Williams:  

Like all of us I have gone through many changes since my rough and tumble days of the past. I must admit that I am not to proud of some of what I did. But, I am very grateful for the end result. My story could best be summarized as God's Patience , care and guidance in spite of my rebellion and ignorance. I had traveled down to Panama, Central America where I lived like a King but found no satisfaction in the fast track. After receiving a very discouraging letter from my younger siblings explaining how difficult life had become with a violent step father and race problems in school: I decided it was important for me to come home. My first mission was to to straighten out my step father who had been physically abusing my mother and siblings while I was out of the country. After a "small altercation" with him, (which he actually initiated by trying to man handle me), he left the house and I took over helping with support of the family. Up until that point my mother had always worked two or three jobs to support her eight children. In the early years My father had worked successfully, but spent his money on himself. He drank daily and would often beat my mother. Which led to long nights. ( five of us siblings sleeping in the car to avoid violence). It was tough because often I would go to school after sleeping in the car, in the summer heat. This led to bad marks in school and me being looked at as the, "dumb kid." Of course I hated school and just zoned out all day. During those years I never once, heard my mother complain, or wallow in self pity. My mother after years of abuse, divorced him and eventually married my step father. He came on the scene as prince charming, but turned out to be a violent loud mouth drunk. It was at that time, while I was in Central America, I received the letter, from my younger brother, explaining the situation at home. This news caused me t...Expand for more