Rutha--Lady in RED!

Hi Rutha.
Okay, yes she was only five feet tall, but she had a five feet tall heart as well. That is why she is in dressed in RED! Here she stands in the middle of her two of her sisters, Lucinda the youngest on the left and Mildred on the right. They are standing here on the driveway of Elaine, another sister, in Palmetto, Florida. Family was very important to Rutha. She lover her six sisters and two brothers. She taught her five daughters and two sons to also love each other and the family, no matter what! "Blood is thicker than water; always stay together". We are learning to do that, Mama. Thank you, family still comes first!

Rutha--Lady in White!

"I'll be there" was Rutha's motto for her children. Here she is sitting with her youngest daughter in l976. Marguerite (middle) just won Ms Spruce Creek High Prom Queen. Rutha sits next to Alcenia, who went to be with the Lord in April of 2007, me on right and Vanilla, family friend.

Rutha inspired us to always go for it!!! and we do! Thanks, Mama. We love you.

Rutha--The Lady in Pink

Daytona Beach, Florida--the world's most famous beach!

Rutha loved her seven children, their children and their children's children! Here she is on the beach with Cynthia's three daughters, Denise, Alicia and Cheryl. The child is her great grandson, Alvin. Rutha was scared of the water, but loved being with family,and would go just to be with them

Rutha Mae Horne Laws - 1943 Campbell HS Graduate

"My Beloved" are the words written across this photo. Everyone called her "beautiful". She never thought of herself as beautiful. She just loved deeply. Her life took some unexpected turns after this photo and 16 years later she was a widow with seven children. "How did she do it?" They asked. "Only with the help of God" was her answer. I say it was also her deep love and compassion that transended all hurt, harm and danger...

Thank you, Mama, for your gifts of love, beauty and education. This weblog is dedicated to you and to Daddy.
May you both Rest In Peace!

Jimmy James "Jr" Laws and his Legacy!

Here is the handsome dad of seven, at 30, died too young. "Jr", as he was called by his family, and "Jimmy" as he was called by Rutha was a treasure to his children. A very smart man, who graduated from Stanton High School in Jacksonville, FL at the age of 15 and attended Tuskegee College to become an Airman. As you can see, he achieved that goal. His desire for his children and family was they would live with integrity. He hated the limitations that the US tried to impose on him because of his color. He would often defy those rules by taking his family to "whites only" beaches, movies, and parks. As the oldest, I remember being hauled away from a movie theatre in Tampa because they said it was a "white only" theatre and he refused to leave. He had just come back from overseas and refused to be mistreated. He taught me never to look down--or act inferior--to anyone!. He would have me practice standing tall, look straight eye ball to eye ball and answering with a strong, "Yes Sir" or "Yes Ma'am" He would never accept me half doing a job, even at 3 years old. He would say, as he demonstrated for me the proper way to do it, "If a job is worth doing, it is worth doing right the first time!" He would be proud of his children and their families. His legacy lives through them and their families. This weblog is dedicated to that defiant spirit that practice excellence and integrity.
Daddy, thank you!

Reverend Lorenzo Laws Graduates with Master of Divinity!

Rev. Lorenzo Laws, Rutha and Jimmy's younger son, graduated on May 16, 2009 from Asbury Theological Seminary with a Masters in Divinity. He is the Senior Pastor of Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in Hastings, FL. Here he is in this family portrait with his wife, Gertrude Calloway Laws, and daughter, Brittany Laws. Gertie is an author and teacher. Brittany is a Junior at FAMU. Keep them in your prayers.

Another Off to College!!!

Jessica Jonal Kemper, another granddaughter, is off to college with over 30 college credits!!! Jessica graduated from Northeast Academy of Math and Science in Oklahoma City with almost her first year complete! Her major is Political Science and she plans not to stop until she has a law degree. Keep her in your prayers, also. She will attend first year in Oklahoma, but she wants to attend Spelman! Jessica is the daughter of Alicia Kemper, granddaughter of Cynthia Laws Calloway. "You go girl!"

Summa Cum Laude Graduates!

Another family Portrait! Kalyn graduates from Mainland HS in Daytona with honors. (She worked her off!) With God's help, she is on her way to Tuskegee! Here is Kalyn--in the middle--her mother, Denise and me, Denise's mother, Cynthia. Helen
her dad's mom is on the wall looking down. She passed a few years ago, but is in all our hearts. May God continue to give Kalyn all she needs to be successfully. Amen.

High School Queen turns 50!

Another Family Portrait! Marquerite turns 50! What a party! Everyone was there! On the sofa sits Marquerite,middle, 1976 Miss Spruce Creek High School, with Rutha Mae, mom, and sister, Alcenia on left--both gone to be with the Lord--and Cynthia and Vanilla on right. In Black is Marguerite dressed for the party!

First Children's Portrait

Here we are. Rutha and Jimmy's children with niece and cousin all dressed up for Easter 1959 or so. Cynthia at the top, Mildred, Alcenia, Cousin Gwen on back row from left to right; Lorenzo, niece Gail, Jimmy, on front row and Knetha in the middle. Marguerite not old enough yet. God has greatly blessed all of us with beautiful children and families. This blog is dedicated to Rutha and Jimmy James Laws, Jr. and their love and strength they passed on to their children and families. May all who come to this place find HOPE and PEACE! Amen.

Cynthia Laws Calloway, the originator.