Jolaine B. Hunter

Reflections of My Life

Authored by Mrs. JoLaine B. Hunter

JOLAINE BROWN HUNTER, began life's journey on March 7, 1926 in Louisville, Kentucky, the 11^th child in a family of 12 children. My parents, William A. and Sallie Lee Newton Brown, as well as ten siblings, preceded me in death. The family's matriarch died in 1938, leaving the three youngest children (girls) to be raised by their father. One sister LaUna Shelburne of Louisville, KY survives me and will attest that "Amos Brown" was faithful and more than equal to the task. My youngest sister Mildred B. Mikki" Murphy, and the baby of the family, made her heavenly transition in September 2020.

In my later years, when my husband became a pastor, I was usually called "Mother Hunter" and (humorously) considered myself an especially "blessed" child. I said that "3". -- the third month of my birth - represented -the "Trinity" and ''7" - the day of the month - represented God's sign of “complete-ness". I am '"complete in Him"; He will "perfect" that concerning me. The number "3”  - also reiterates: my belief in the Triune God (Elohim): Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

I was raised in a Christian home and confessed Christ at an early age, being water-baptized at the age of 9. The "Second Work of Grace" - baptism by and with the Holy Ghost came when I was 14 years of age in 1940 under the preaching ministry of Bishop David Schultz, late pastor of Bethlehem Temple Church of Apostolic Faith, Louisville, KY. However, I forfeited my experience, i.e. backslide several years later ..

This regretted odyssey ended with my reclamation to the faith in April 1951 under the preaching of Reverend Raymond Jackson, Church of God of Detroit. Stabilization and additional learning came through the teaching of Doctor James Earl Massey, founder and pastor of the Metropolitan Church of God, where I was a charter member. I remained a faithful supporter and loyal worker there until my marriage in 1960 to "My Beloved" - the late Supt. Louis C. Hunter. As his "help-mate" and in support of his ministry, I moved my membership to the Church of God in Christ under the pastorage of the late Supt. Richmond W. Whitlock. After the Homegoing of "My Beloved" in February 2009, I remained a faithful and supportive member under the leadership of Superintendent Keith L. Crumpe, Sr., until my demise.

My primary education was obtained in the public school system of Louisville, KY where I graduated "with honor" in June 1943. It prepared me for a life's work in the secretarial and administrative fields. I was the first Afro-American stenographer at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio {July 1943). God blessed me with the proficiency to become the first black Secretary hired by the GSA, Cincinnati, Ohio (1948). I retired from the City of Detroit in 1981, training and teaching medical transcriptionists in the Radiology Department of Receiving Hospital until its closing. For a short period, I also taught medical terminology at the Lewis Business College, prior to retiring with 30 years of service.

From an earlier marriage to the late Matthew Sanders, I was blessed with two loving and supportive daughters: Jerilyn Coleman-Marshall (Anthony) of Vancouver, WA and Faye Sanders, of and Detroit, MI respectively. They survive my Homegoing as well as one grand-daughter: Dimitria (Fred) Madlock and their son, Boston; two God-daughters, Marsha Smith-Latham of Sunrise, FL, and Verna Rayford-Ray of Detroit, MI; three Godsons: Darrell Smith and Rushell (Alicia) Marshall of Detroit, MI; Elder Charles (Evalina) Jackson of North Charleston, S.C.; many nieces and nephews of Detroit, MI, Louisville, KY and Akron, OH. I would be remiss if I did not give special thanks to my niece Deborah Akinyemi or as we call her "Nurse Debb" special friends and confidantes: the late Mother Virlene Marshall, District Missionaries B. Marie Wilson and Eunice Williams; one "adopted" sister: Alberta Gamer of Detroit. The Whitlock Memorial and entire Southwest Michigan, 4th Jurisdiction church families have all enriched my life To you all I bid a fond "Farewell" - "Luv U" ......

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