Grandma Whiteman

Today, TJ and I spent the afternoon visiting Frances Whiteman in Lahoma, Oklahoma, whom we have known for well over three decades. My best friend in high school was Nathan Whiteman and Frances is his mom. By virtue of hanging out with Nathan at his house, Frances Whiteman became "Mom" Whiteman to me. After I was married and had kids she became "Grandma" Whiteman. It's kind of funny that I've always called her Mom or Grandma, but I called her late husband "Uncle" Leo. Uncle Leo taught me lots of old songs that he played on the harmonica. I used to bring over my guitar and he'd get out his box of harps and we'd jam. I remember playing "The Old Irish Washer Woman" and "The Wreck of the Old 97" with him. He taught me to play two songs on the harmonica: "Camptown Races" and "When the Saints Go Marching In." They are still the only songs I can play on the harmonica.

Grandma Whiteman is a spiritual Mother in Israel and we always feel refreshed after visiting with her. She is a person whose faith is real and whose life is lived on the basis of that faith. Even at nearly 88 years of age she is still active in prison ministry. I remember once when I was 16 years old and spending the night with Nathan and we were discussing religion. I wanted to know about the Holy Spirit and Nathan said that his Mom knew all about the Holy Spirit. So we went in at about 2 in the morning and woke her up so I could ask her about the Holy Ghost. I will always remember how sweetly she described the ministry of the Holy Spirit in her life.