I was born in Kingsport, TN, and my family moved to
Blountville when I was only 2. Except for a period of time that I lived in
Gray, TN, for 5 months, I have always lived in Blountville. I have 2 brothers
alive and one passed away in 2001. My dad passed away in 1998. My mom has been
sick for a few months, and I have been staying with her almost 24/7. I went to
Blountville School, Indian Springs School, and Central High School. While in
high school, I was youth leader for a couple of years at Gunnings Baptist
Church.
Upon graduating from Central, I went to Northeast State
Community College, which at the time was called Tri-Cities Vocational School. I
earned a Secretarial Certificate and went to work for the state in 1974 for the
Dept. of Human Services. I also married in 1974 and was married for 20 years. I
quit work for a couple of years for health reasons and went back and worked
until I went on maternity leave in 1981. I had my daughter, Amanda Nicole
Hartsock, and didn’t go back to work. Two years later, my son was born, Justin
Randall Hartsock. They both were 10lb. babies. I now was a stay-at-home mom.
I still went to Gunnings Baptist Church at this time and
sang in the choir. I also volunteered at Indian Springs School as Red Cross
volunteer in the school clinic, taught 2nd graders to use the
computer, was homeroom mother leader for PTA for both children at once, and
Girl Scout and Boy Scout Leader. I also took the children for guitar lessons,
dance lessons, oboe lessons, softball, baseball, and tee-ball. I was busier
then than when working.
In 1994, for various reasons, my husband and I parted ways.
My daughter was attending Indian Springs Baptist at this time. She and Sarah
Morgan had become good friends and she wanted to go where there was a good youth
group. I prayed about it and felt the Lord was leading me where my daughter
attended. I attended a while before joining. I met Richard Neal and we were
married and both joined Indian Springs together. Together we have 4 children
and 3 grandchildren. We have been married 16 years.
I thought I was saved at the age of 7. One night when Aaron
Rayburn, the pastor at that time, was preaching I realized I wasn’t saved. That
night I asked the Lord into my heart. It was in 2004. I didn’t get baptized
until 2010. I kept putting it off. I was in a wheelchair—how in the world would
they baptize me? I finally went up one Sunday morning and told Pastor Roc that
I wanted to be baptized. Joel said they would come up with a way and not worry
about it. They decided to baptize me in my wheelchair with the help of Tiger
Brooks. That was one of the happiest days of my life.
In 2005, (34 years after I graduated high school) I began
college at Northeast State Community College in Blountville. I felt like a fish
out of water. After going a few months, I decided to double-major in Office
Administrations in General Office and Medical Office Technology. In October,
2006, I developed breast cancer and dropped out of school. At church, as soon
Anne’s Sisters found out, (led by Gerry Frazier) they came to me on a Sunday
morning with hugs, kisses, and a book and tote bag of things to help me through
the process. I felt more welcome than I ever had before. I’m kind of quiet and
stay to myself or close to Richard when I am out. I’m just not outgoing—but can
be a barrel of laughs if I get to know you.
In 2008 I decided to go back to school and get my degree. I
graduated in 2010 with a double-major, a member of Phi Theta Kappa, with
honors, and cum laude. This is an accomplishment that I am very proud of. I was
57 years old.
Being in a wheelchair for quite a few years now, I didn’t
feel there was anything in the church I could do. I had sang in the choir
before and been youth leader at my previous church; however, what could I do
now in my church? In 2010, I had surgery and was bedfast
for three months. Susan Cox came to see me about doing mission dolls and
brought some with her. Since I could do nothing but stay in bed I gave this a
try. I love doing the mission dolls to this day. My daughter-in-law helps me
with the faces, but I do the rest.
While on retreat this year, Pam Archer was explaining about
all the jobs that were vacant and needed volunteers in Women’s Ministry. I
wanted to do something but didn’t say anything to her. After the meeting, she
came to me and asked me about being Communications Coordinator. She explained I
would be sending out birthday cards, get well cards, and sympathy cards for
both churches plus picking the Woman of the Week. I said YES! I had found my niche
in the church. I love every minute of sending the cards and reading the
articles. I feel it will help all of us get to know each other better as it
puts a story, name, and face together. I need every woman that is a member of
the church to say YES! when I contact you about being a WOW (Woman of the Week)
for it to work though. This new opportunity plus the mission dolls keeps me
pretty busy now.
My favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 40:31 “Yet they that
wait upon the Lord will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings
like eagles, they will run and not get weary, they will walk and not grow
faint”.
