All About Me

(Well almost all *S*)

I was born on a cold winter night in December in Bloomington, Illinois, the middle child of Emery and Evelyn Clark, (both deceased now). I have a sister 13 months older than me (Lynda) and a brother 10 1/2 years younger (Bill).

I got married for the first time in 1962 at the ripe old age of 16. Needless to say we were both too young and it didn't work out. We did have three children, Donald, Donna and Dwayne. I lost them in mid 1966 when they were very young and will always regret that. I was living in New Orleans at that time and later that year I met, fell in love with and married Joe. We have four children:

Ruthie, who is a single mom with three children, Kenny, Vicki and Krista.

Joe Jr, who got married to Nicole on February 27, 2000. It was a beautiful wedding and we all had a lot of fun that weekend. They have been married 2    years  now and are expecting their first child around the end of the year. 

I hope the baby is born on my birthday.

Update: Its a girl and they are naming her Miranda Payton.  

Update 12-24-2002: Miranda was born the day after my birthday at 2:45 pm, weighed 7lbs. 7oz. and was 20" long.

Pictures of the wedding are in Family Celebrations, Joe Jr. and Nicole's Wedding.

Curtis, who is unmarried

Charlie, who is married to Tesha. They have a daughter, Morgan, and Charlie also has a daughter, Nicole, from a previous marriage.

They are expecting a new baby  June 5, 2003

.In 1981 we moved to Mississippi. Then in 1989 we got our first real home.

I started taking a home-study computer programming course in 1998 and got my computer and boy am I glad I did. It was on my computer that I found out my daughter Donna was looking for me. This was in June of 2000. I got in touch with her through Email, she emailed me her phone number and I called her and we talked for a long time. She gave me Donald's email so I emailed him with my phone number and he had his girlfriend Dolores call me and we talked for awhile (they have broken up since then, so he's single again, Ladies). Donald got on the phone and we talked for a long time. But at the time neither of them knew where Dwayne was. It took three weeks but Dwayne called Donald, knowing nothing about them finding me and found out. I got Dwayne's phone number from Donald and called him, but unfortunately he was at work but I talked to his wife, Carol. Dwayne called me later that night and we talked.

I thank God every day that my children and I have found each other again.

Donald lives close to us and Joe Jr. made arrangements for us to meet at Shoney's, with most of the family there, and had a family get together so Donald and I could see each other again. (June, 2000)

Donna lives in Oregon with her two of her sons David and Brandon. We got to see each other for the first time in 35 years on Christmas day, 2000. It was a big surprise to me because I didn't think they'd be able to make it, but my brother (bless his heart) got them here.

Dwayne lives close by too. He is married to Carol and they have a daughter Jessica. We talk on the phone and I got to see him and meet his family (July, 2000). I spent 2 days at their home getting to know them and had a great time.

© 10-05-2002 By Ruth Riley