In 1950, young Elizabeth Turner was raped by Reverend Oliver, the assistant pastor of her father’s church. After a hidden pregnancy she gave birth to a son, Johnny. Reverend Turner, Elizabeth’s father refused to respond to her story of rape and disowned her and her son. He forced Elizabeth and his wife Loretha to hide the identity of the baby’s father and live the next thirty six years with lies and secrets.  

     In 1986, Reverend Oliver was forced to confess to his family as well as the Turner family, but before he could leave Rehoboth he became seriously ill. The ripple effect of his confession touches everyone causing them to have an array of physical and emotions reactions. As Elizabeth continues to move on with her life, she didn’t know her husband, Nat was holding a secret that was causing him to suffer enormous pain.
 
     Thea, Reverend Oliver’s wife, could not escape the disgrace and shame she was feeling. She watched painfully as her son, Malcolm tried to forge a relationship with his brother, Johnny. And she never knew Malcolm was also struggling to come to terms with his sexuality. Thea’s most plaguing dilemma had to do with her relationship with her husband. Her only consolation was an old weeping willow tree in her front yard where the graceful branches would dance on the mild summer breezes. Thea called it her dancing willow tree and she would sit under it daily to pray and receive guidance from the Lord. She knew if her husband was to be saved, she had to give him a life threatening ultimatum.
 
 
 
 

Excerpt
THE SAGA OF TWO FAMILIES

Rehoboth Road & The Dancing Willow Tree

LOCATION: Rehoboth, Georgia – A fictitious community located thirty minutes south of Macon, Georgia


THE TURNER FAMILY

Reverend John Turner:
Rehoboth Road opened in 1950 Rev. John Turner was a tall, well built, pleasing to the eye, handsome man in his late thirties. His hair was slightly graying at his temples and impressively contrasted against the dark chocolate tone of his skin. He was a proud man and was well respected in the community. He believed the words of the Bible were the only acceptable way of living a Christian life. He was a proud man and although he preached that he was called by the Lord, he failed to realize it was his duty to first minister to those who were lost; he considered them too lost to heed the word of God.

When his daughter, Elizabeth delivered her son in the girl’s bathroom at the high school, Reverend Turners was only concerned with how much she had disgraced him. He disowned her and her son, Johnny for the next thirty-six years, even when he had finally realized the truth about her being raped by his assistant pastor, Rev. Owen Oliver.

Thirty-six years later in The Dancing Willow Tree, Reverend Turner is in is late seventies; he has had a major heart attack and his movements have lost its spring and quickness. His hair is mixed gray, having completely grayed at the temple.


The unjust he caused Elizabeth and Johnny, and the rift he created in his family have taken a toll on him. All he wanted to do at this time in his life was to do what he could to correct the wrong he had done, but he needed help. He had lived a lie for so long he could only pray for the Lord’s guidance.



Loretha Turner:
Rehoboth Road in 1950, Loretha Turner is a well poised and deeply committed to her Lord, her husband, and their two daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah. She was a tall slender woman with a honey brown complexion. She was always free of facial makeup and the glitz of jewelry and that added to her natural beauty in a homespun, Godly manner.


Her long brown hair was always neatly worn, pulled into a bun on the back of her head and she always presented herself with a submissive posture and perfect etiquette.


During the 1950, the wife and children were seen by the court as the property of the husband.

Loretha refused to allow her husband to further injure her daughter and grand son even when she wasn’t sure of the truth. Mother-love and Christian faith grave her the strength to protect her family, but for the next thirty-six years she was forced to live in two worlds.


In The Dancing Willow Tree Loretha is older and the years have added to her wisdom. She is still beautiful, her shin only showing the wisdom of age as silver streaks lay highlighting track throughout her hair. Her blessings have been over flowing because of her loving and kindly manner.



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