This is my mom, Mildred Pollard. She was born in Burdette and raised in Luxora and Blytheville, Arkansas, she was the second oldest of 12. She adored her mother, Pauline and could only hope that one day she would make her father proud of her. The true love of her youth (or I think her life) was a young man by the name of Leon Bates.
Mom seized the opportunity to do what she loved to do and that was to sing. She auditioned in Cleveland, Ohio, and became the youngest key soloist with the Wings Over Jordan Choir in 1952. She traveled the globe (until 1954) touring Japan, Korea, and the United States. Please visit "Wings Over Jordan" and share her memories of singing with the choir. It's her powerful voice that recorded the song that you hear, "He's All and All."
While traveling the U.S., mom decided that there was one of three cities that she eventually wanted to call her "second" home ~ Portland, Seattle, or Minneapolis. She settled on Minneapolis and has lived in the state of Minnesota since 1953. It was here that she met and fell in love with my father, Robert Johnson.
Like many, she has experienced sorrow with the untimely deaths of family members, taken on the challenges and demands of life as a single parent, and answered the call of those in need. Through it all, she has held her head high, maintained her dignity, independence, and wicked sense of humor. She has a style all her own ~ and continues to be blessed with great friends and family.
|
