I am so thankful for my mom, Billie Jean Myrick Hughes. Born in May, Texas, she was raised in the country along with her three siblings. She was salutatorian of her High School graduating class. Of course, there were only three graduates. 🙂 Her father, my Papaw, was a country preacher who, along with Mamaw, saw that Billie had a good spiritual foundation for life.

Although Mom is now in heaven, she invested many great qualities into the lives of both me and my sister, Cindy.

She and Dad were very sacrificial in raising us kids. She was able to stay at home for all of our school years then went to work during my college days to pay for our expenses at the Bible-centered Christian school, Howard Payne College. She worked retail for many years and then shifted to be a pastor’s secretary (now called Administrative Assistant) where she had many opportunities to counsel and direct people in a loving way.

Mom loved the Lord and served him in our local Ft. Worth church by singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, being a supportive deacon’s wife, serving in the WMU and showing hospitality in our home.

Mom and Dad were a wonderful team of Christian parenting for which I am very grateful. They were major reasons why I can say,

“Indeed my heritage is beautiful to me.” Psalm 16:6 (NASB)