Thirty nine years ago tomorrow, my maternal Grandfather, Jerry Stidham died. He was 59 years of age and although that's pretty young, my grandfather enjoyed a rich full life. He was born in the mountains of Breathitt County, KY but moved to his adopted state of West Virginia at an early age. His father was a blacksmith in the coal mines, and Papaw grew up in difficult circumstances. Although his formal education was limited to high school, he was a voracious reader and dedicated to lifelong learning.
From his early years he worked around the coal mines of Logan County. Eventually as an adult he continued to work in the mines and became involved in the organization of the United Mine Workers of America. Eventually my grandfather left his employment with Island Creek Coal Company to work full time for the UMWA. He was actively involved in community activities in the coal fields and belonged to several fraternal organizations. Eventually he was sent to the West Virginia House of Delegates to represent Logan County there for three terms.
For a number of years he ran the field office of the UMWA in Logan County, eventually leaving that office to work out of the District 17 office in Charleston as an International Representative. He was an active lobbyist for the mine workers until the time of his death in 1968, just two years short of his planned retirement. He and my Granny were totally devoted to each other and were married for 41 years. Most Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays were times when the whole clan gathered together at their house. Two large pictures hung on the living room wall of their house at Holden, WV. One was Jesus praying alone in the garden. The other was the stern visage of UMWA President John L. Lewis!
Papaw Stidham accepted Christ as his Savior in 1961 and the last seven years of his life were spent with a new focus. Serving Jesus became the driving force of his life. After answering the call to the ministry, he preached in many churches in Logan County and hosted a live weekly radio broadcast, called "The Old Country Church Hour" each Sunday afternoon. He was a faithful member of the 20 Whitman Community Church, and after the death of the pastor, Dennie Roberts, Papaw was called to serve the church as it's pastor until the unexpected heart attack took him home to be with Jesus. His funeral was a major event in Logan County and there were 98 cars in the processional that wound it's way from the church to Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Jerry Stidham was the friend of everyone who knew him. Among his close friends he numbered U.S. Senators, Congressmen, several Governors of West Virginia, state legislators, county officials, and common coal miners. I have mentioned in previous posts that he was also a poet. In fact, Governor Hulett C. Smith, named my grandfather to the honorary position of West Virginia's Poet Laureate. He truly loved West Virginia and one of his many poems summed up his feelings about his adopted mountain state. In his honor and memory at this 39th anniversary of his death, I want to share that poem with you:
A Particular Place
When God made the earth, He looked out in space,
And graciously blessed a particular place.
Some mountains He moulded to begin His plan,
As He knew they would be cherished by mortal man.
The valleys He shaped so deep and so wide,
And the streams so swift, never to hide,
The sparkle or ripple from man's sharp eye,
So crystal and clear as if dropped from the sky.
The seasons He made our desire to delight:
With light of the day and darkness at night,
Overcast with stars and a silvery moon
The sun in the heavens every day at noon.
With seeds of summer's green grass to grow,
Sleeping under the beauty of a winter's snow.
The Gorgeous spring flowers for all to see,
And the abundant color of the autumn tree.
Game creatures for the bow and fish for the rod,
Rich fertile soil for the tiller of the sod.
Great beds of coal and timber galore,
Limestone and gas, very much in store.
So great, so fine, wonderful and rich,
A pleasant surprise in each corner and niche.
Nowhere you go will be the same,
For West Virginia is it's name.
- Jerry Stidham
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