: About Me

Lois Rayburn, born in southern Ohio to French, Scot, English and Cherokee parents is the mother of two daughters and grandmother to three beautiful and wonderful grandchildren. Her Scot/English ancestors came to Ohio from Kentucky, out of North Carolina, all the way from Aryshire, Scotland. Her French father's family hails from Stockdale, Ohio, originally from Lambertville, New Jersey. Her paternal great-grandmother was of the Lewis and Stone family, both from England. Her Cherokee blood comes from her mother's family, the Dye Family and through intermarriage of her grandfather's family of Rayburns with Cherokee women. She comes from a large blended family of 7 siblings. Her extended family have always been close and much respect is held by them for their wonderful grandparents who were always a part of their lives. While Rayburn works as a Legal Assistant her hobbies are geneology, research in many areas, writing, gardening, biking, "thrifting", walking, enjoying nature and spending time with her grandchildren. She is one of many in her family who write for pleasure and publication.

My passion is ...

Nature (being outside) and History (especially Cherokee and Scottish history)

I know too much about ...

Surviving, lawyers, prejudice.

My parents always told me ...

Be kind, love well, work hard.

My childhood ambition ...

to play the piano

My favorite memory ...

as a child wading and playing in Turkey Creek down home at Shawnee

Why I write ...

If you keep all your thoughts to yourself, does anyone ever really know you?

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

listening to Diana Krall and The Red Road; Watching PBS and CNN; reading The Cherokees of the Smokey Mountains...

My first job ...

Waitress....

My best moment ...

Birth of my daughters and grandchildren.

My inspiration ...

Jesus; my Cherokee and Scot lineage and my grandchildren.

Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Prisoners

3 of 36

Prison Man,    Holding on to hope and staying strong.   Life within the walls, it ain't easy. Keeping your sanity, keeping your spirit free, gotta walk with God in here, let His Holy Spirit lead me. Never thought I'd last when they shackled me, put me on that bus, brought me to this place. Iron gates, steel doors, locked down in a cage.  Stripped me and my identity, gave me a number, put me in their clothes, told me where to walk, t told me when and how to talk, show up for count, or end up in the dark.   Sleeping on a bunk made of steel mattress so thin somet...

More..

• Helium Charter Member