This book is the culmination of a life experienced by a young African American man who grew up on a farm in rural North Carolina (Longwood in Brunswick County). It is hoped that this work will help young people, especially African Americans, to develop early in life high love for themselves, parents, and siblings.
The book begins with early goals of both parents. The two—my mother and father—truly became one as they showed love for each other and reared their children in a Christian home. They demonstrated that we work together in everything we do. They worked side by side constructing our house with wood that was obtained off the land that Dad had purchased prior to marriage. Despite his lack of a high school education, Dad had great abstract thinking that facilitated the positive completion of a beautiful house. House was a building that we stayed in; home was the place where love, joy, good food, quality clothes, positive dialogue, and communication abounded. Home was the center of sharing with each other, showing empathy and compassion, maintaining a positive work ethic, exhibiting respect and pride in the family name, and learning and practicing Scriptural verses, stories, and personalities. Most of all, our parents ensured that we went to church every Sunday and practiced faith in God daily.
The book reveals how I used the above experiences to study, help people, change some laws, and show empathy. I tell some of the challenges that I overcame. I maintain that God is my shepherd. Surely, this is a victory in the valley of life.
The book acknowledges that I have walked on the shoulders of my beloved parents. They taught and practiced that we should continuously trust in God and put God first.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Covia Levance Stanley is the eldest of five sons to Covia and Lou Mina Moore Stanley. He was born and reared in Longwood (Brunswick County), North Carolina. He grew up as a sharecropper’s son working in tobacco, corn, potatoes, and other crops. The work from sunrise to sunset instilled within him a positive work ethic. Stanley loved to read as a little boy. He loved singing and playing the guitar along with his four brothers in church programs. Stanley had other interests in agricultural projects, athletics, public speaking, and swimming.
He graduated as valedictorian at Union High School in Shallotte, North Carolina. He earned a BS degree in biology/chemistry, then an MS in parasitology (microbiology) at NCCU. He earned an MD degree at the University of Buffalo School of Medicine. He enjoyed and maintained a solo private practice in obstetrics-gynecology in Whiteville, North Carolina, for fi ve years. He was the medical chief of staff at Columbus County Hospital in Whiteville (now Columbus Regional Medical Center) for one year.
Stanley recognized that he refused to accept the call to the gospel ministry during his senior year at NCCU. Then, seventeen years later while in the hospital recovering from burnout (or exhaustion), he accepted the call to the gospel ministry. He worked with political leaders to establish laws against criminal domestic violence and statutory rape. He did much evangelization and religious work. He earned the Master of Divinity degree and is now pastor of Mt. Calvary #1 MBC in Conway and the moderator of Kingston Lake Missionary Baptist Association.