ELETHA JOHNSTON'S LIFE STORY
Hello this is Connie James. I wrote my mom's life story for the Mother's Day Program at the Claremore Church of God (7th Day) May 11, 2024.
Eletha Nell Hinds was named Letha Nell Hinds at birth. She was named Letha for her Aunt Minnie Eletha Hinds and Nell for her mother Martha. Her dad Oscar thought Letha was his sister in laws name. Letha was born March 20, 1932 at the General Hospital in Muskogee, Okla. to Charles Oscar and Martha Garrett Hinds of Ft. Gibson. She is the oldest child of seven. After Oscar and Martha's marriage in 1930 in Wagoner, Okla, the couple moved in with Martha's parents, Walter Zwag-gerty Garrett and Emily Vada Walton Garrett in Ft. Gibson, Okla. Their second child Charles Oscar Hinds, Jr. was born April 26, 1933 at their home in Fort Gibson. In 1934 Oscar moved his family to Inola, Oklahoma on to his dad John Hinds' 80 acre Farm and began attending the Church of God in Inola. His dad John was the pastor of the church. (Oscar grew up in the Church of God at Inola.)
After moving to Inola, five more children were born, four at home by a mid-wife Helen Cotton. Duggan in 1937, Dell in 1939, Emily 1939, Jerry Don in 1941 and Mary in 1945. In 1947 at the age of 15 Letha took Jesus as her Savior. She was baptized by Elder Kenneth Walker in Inola. In 1947 her dad moved the family to Deming, New Mexico for about 3 months to pick cotton. They moved back to Inola the same year and found their home had been broken into and trashed. They remained in Inola only a few more months before moving to Willcox, Arizona in 1948.
Eletha Nell Hinds was named Letha Nell Hinds at birth. She was named Letha for her Aunt Minnie Eletha Hinds and Nell for her mother Martha. Her dad Oscar thought Letha was his sister in laws name. Letha was born March 20, 1932 at the General Hospital in Muskogee, Okla. to Charles Oscar and Martha Garrett Hinds of Ft. Gibson. She is the oldest child of seven. After Oscar and Martha's marriage in 1930 in Wagoner, Okla, the couple moved in with Martha's parents, Walter Zwag-gerty Garrett and Emily Vada Walton Garrett in Ft. Gibson, Okla. Their second child Charles Oscar Hinds, Jr. was born April 26, 1933 at their home in Fort Gibson. In 1934 Oscar moved his family to Inola, Oklahoma on to his dad John Hinds' 80 acre Farm and began attending the Church of God in Inola. His dad John was the pastor of the church. (Oscar grew up in the Church of God at Inola.)
After moving to Inola, five more children were born, four at home by a mid-wife Helen Cotton. Duggan in 1937, Dell in 1939, Emily 1939, Jerry Don in 1941 and Mary in 1945. In 1947 at the age of 15 Letha took Jesus as her Savior. She was baptized by Elder Kenneth Walker in Inola. In 1947 her dad moved the family to Deming, New Mexico for about 3 months to pick cotton. They moved back to Inola the same year and found their home had been broken into and trashed. They remained in Inola only a few more months before moving to Willcox, Arizona in 1948.
Leon and Letha were married July 21, 1949 in her Aunt Goldie Hinds's kitchen and Leon's first child Larry Leon Johnston was born March 28, 1951 in Phoenix, Arizona
In September of 1952 Leon, Letha and their son Larry moved to Claremore, Okla. and attended the church there. She was very active in her church. She served as a Sabbath School Teacher, a VBS Teacher, Secretary and Treasurer of the Sabbath School, Secretary and Treasurer of the Women's Group called the Lydia Club. Her and Leon was custodians of the church building for about 5 years.
For the first 15 years of marriage, Eletha was a housewife. She and Leon had 3 children, Larry, Connie and Marlene. She sewed for people and sold Stanley Products to bring in a little income, but in 1964 Leon became very ill and was in the Veterans Hospital in Muskogee for 4 months. Eletha had to go to work outside the home to support the family. She first worked in a Health Food Store and Bakery for Carrie Dickerson. Later Carrie and her husband Robert built and opened Aunt Carrie's Nursing Home. When the nursing home first opened Letha was the head cook at the nursing home on the evening shift. The second year she trained as a Nurses Aid and worked a few years as an aid. Later she trained and became a Certified Medication Aid for the next 13 years. By that time Carrie and her husband sold the nursing home and it became Wood Manor.
After 45 years of marriage Letha became a widow. Leon passed away July 30, 1994 in the Claremore Regional Hospital. She remained a widow for the rest of her life. In 1998 she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She was a Breast Cancer Survivor. In 2002 she was diagnosed with lymphoma and battled that for 12 years. Eletha passed away December 28, 2014 at the age of 82 in the St. John's Hospital in Tulsa of Kidney failure. She was a very caring and godly woman. She gave lots of time, love, care and help to others. I have been told by many she was loved by many and truly missed. I know I miss her still. God finally gave her peace. I truly believe she will come out of her grave to eternal life at Christ's Second Coming. I am trying to live my life as a child of God and pray I will see her again in the 1,000 year reign of Christ.
Thanks for listening to my story. God Bless.
In September of 1952 Leon, Letha and their son Larry moved to Claremore, Okla. and attended the church there. She was very active in her church. She served as a Sabbath School Teacher, a VBS Teacher, Secretary and Treasurer of the Sabbath School, Secretary and Treasurer of the Women's Group called the Lydia Club. Her and Leon was custodians of the church building for about 5 years.
For the first 15 years of marriage, Eletha was a housewife. She and Leon had 3 children, Larry, Connie and Marlene. She sewed for people and sold Stanley Products to bring in a little income, but in 1964 Leon became very ill and was in the Veterans Hospital in Muskogee for 4 months. Eletha had to go to work outside the home to support the family. She first worked in a Health Food Store and Bakery for Carrie Dickerson. Later Carrie and her husband Robert built and opened Aunt Carrie's Nursing Home. When the nursing home first opened Letha was the head cook at the nursing home on the evening shift. The second year she trained as a Nurses Aid and worked a few years as an aid. Later she trained and became a Certified Medication Aid for the next 13 years. By that time Carrie and her husband sold the nursing home and it became Wood Manor.
After 45 years of marriage Letha became a widow. Leon passed away July 30, 1994 in the Claremore Regional Hospital. She remained a widow for the rest of her life. In 1998 she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She was a Breast Cancer Survivor. In 2002 she was diagnosed with lymphoma and battled that for 12 years. Eletha passed away December 28, 2014 at the age of 82 in the St. John's Hospital in Tulsa of Kidney failure. She was a very caring and godly woman. She gave lots of time, love, care and help to others. I have been told by many she was loved by many and truly missed. I know I miss her still. God finally gave her peace. I truly believe she will come out of her grave to eternal life at Christ's Second Coming. I am trying to live my life as a child of God and pray I will see her again in the 1,000 year reign of Christ.
Thanks for listening to my story. God Bless.
Comments