Major McIntyre

It's Not How You Start But How You Finish Major McIntyre

This manuscript is written about the life and time of Velma Lee McIntyre, the first born child of Henry and Sadie McIntyre who were sharecroppers while living in Mississippi during the midst of the Great Depression. Velma was born January 7th 1945 during some of the most disheartening times in America, particularly for African Americans. Thus, being a female, she had to navigate her way through a society whereas she was disrespected for two unfair reasons; she was black or African American and she was a female. In addition to being born in poverty and having only a sixth grade education, this would add to her struggles; therefore making her scramble to exist and to have a vision for her life all the more challenging. She, trying to find herself wouldn't be easy because of the many odds that were stacked against her from the inception of her life on earth. Through no fault of her own, she had no choice in the color of neither her skin nor the gender in which she was born as. Within this manuscript, the story of "Velma or Bone" is divided into two segments to describe her life. The first portion highlights many of the mistakes she made the first forty one years of her life, and perhaps why. The other portion of her story introduces the last of twenty eight years of her life after having become a born again Christian. From a spiritual point of view this information is given because it may be able to assist others who are going through the same things. . Her story is told of a woman whose life was truly messed up for two/thirds of this female's lifespan, but the last third of her life was nothing short of a remarkable turnaround for a lady whose life was set on a course for failure. It is a real testimony of going from ashes to beauty or from disrespect to dignity, and from failure to success, from stress to joy. For this reason we have titled her manuscript; "ITS NOT HOW YOU START, BUT ITS HOW YOU FINISH; from "Bone" to "Velma." As a misguided child of God who finally discovered her true identity through the Lord after living a foolish and deceived lifestyle.