Meet Roscoe + Helen \\ Story Portraits
Meet Roscoe and Helen. They’ve been married for 63 years, and this is their story.
They grew up on two different tobacco farms in North Carolina in the 1930′s. While the country was bogged down in an economic depression unlike any other, there was tragedy in the rural North Carolina homes of Roscoe and Helen as well. Both of their mothers died, leaving their fathers to care for their large families and farms. This was an insurmountable reality, and so, within a year of each other, Roscoe and Helen entered the Barium Springs Home for Children.
An orphanage can be a dark place. It simply is not natural for children to be separated from their parents. I bet I am not the only person who is thinking back on the horrors of Oliver Twist or Annie. They can be pits of abandonment, neglect, and sorrow.
But Roscoe and Helen’s story different, and a testimony to God’s extraordinary grace to his children. Roscoe said, “After you got over the homesickness, it was a wonderful life.” Barium Springs was a blessing to them and their families. At the orphanage, they were not neglected, but loved and cared for. As I talked with the Roscoe and Helen about their time there, they laughed and smiled. When asked what their favorite part about the orphanage was, they responded, “having such a big family!” They remembered their superintendent, Mr. Johnson, a great Christian man, whom the kids admired and who served them faithfully. As a statement of his influence in the Barium Springs community Roscoe and Helen keep a framed photograph of him in their living room. In a time when the rest of the nation was suffering, Roscoe described their childhood like this: “We had no wants! Everything was supplied. . .We feel sorry for the people who didn’t get to go to the orphanage.” Roscoe played on the orphanage football team, and they traveled around playing other orphanages in sports. When Roscoe graduated high school, he was offered a job at the orphanage, where he worked for five years. Helen graduated two years after him and worked sewing collars in a shirt factory.
In 1950, Roscoe and Helen were married at Little Joe’s Church, after living together in the orphanage for over 12 years. They have been married for 63 years, but have lived together since 1937, over 75 years.Since then, they have done a lot of life. Roscoe was drafted and entered the Air Force in 1952. After his time there, he worked as an electrician for Eastern Airlines until retirement. Roscoe and Helen have two daughters, three grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.
Over the course of my conversation with them, they repeated how grateful they were for God’s provision to them throughout their lives. In fact, they profess the goodness of God in their lives every day, and I have been a witness to it for the past 13 years in church. In many ways, they are my spiritual grandparents. They always remember my birthday. On Christmas morning, they wake up before the sun has risen to pick up boxes of warm Krispy Kreme doughnuts for their family and for their pastor’s. It means the world to be counted as part of their beautiful family. They are always there early to help in any way possible at church. Helen has made countless pitchers of quality, truly Southern sweet tea for potlucks, stuffs bulletins for worship services, and helps prepare for fellowship dinner. Roscoe hugs everyone who enters the church on Sunday morning. His quite literally breath-taking bear hugs are legendary. They are such an incredible example of living the Christian life, from beginning to end.
The depth of their gratitude to God is visible in their every action. They live to serve, embodying the Christian virtue of charity. Growing up dependent on the orphanage for their needs, Roscoe and Helen understand that everything they have is a gift from their Lord. They have not stored up treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.
Their treasure is in heaven, and they are rich in the currency of the Kingdom of God.
I am thankful to know these dear saints.
Here are Roscoe and Helen.
On the left, Roscoe and Helen are pictured holding their high school yearbooks. On the right, their high school diplomas hang in their living room and a photograph of the Barium Springs orphange superintendent, Mr. Johnson is displayed.
I won’t lie, this is my favorite! I love these two.
On the left, Roscoe and Helen are pictured holding their high school yearbooks. On the right, their high school diplomas hang in their living room and a photograph of the Barium Springs orphange superintendent, Mr. Johnson is displayed.
I won’t lie, this is my favorite! I love these two.
Scott + Dina || Married || Preview
Hello friends!
Tonight I am extremely excited to share with you just a few images from a wedding I shot last night. It was an intimate ceremony and dinner reception at the Riverview Grille.
Thank you Scott and Dina for sharing your wedding day with me! It was such a pleasure to photograph, and I hope you have a wonderful honeymoon!
P.S. Big thanks to Rebecca for shooting alongside me! You are the best!
Tonight I am extremely excited to share with you just a few images from a wedding I shot last night. It was an intimate ceremony and dinner reception at the Riverview Grille.
Thank you Scott and Dina for sharing your wedding day with me! It was such a pleasure to photograph, and I hope you have a wonderful honeymoon!
P.S. Big thanks to Rebecca for shooting alongside me! You are the best!
Hannah || Portraits
Hello, hello, and Happy Birthday Mr. Washington!
Today, I would like to share with you some pictures of an old friend. Hannah is an incredibly good dancer and one day will be a dancer for the Rockettes! We ran around our little hometown a few weeks ago to take some pictures of her dancing. We got the best light, and Hannah totally rocked it!
A Self-Portrait
I’ve been really inspired by Civil War era images lately. Here is my attempt at it.
Hannah || Senior Portrait
Hello, hello!
Today I am excited to share some photographs of my friend Hannah on the occasion of her senior year of high school! I have known Hannah since I was four years old and she was five. We’ve shared many crazy adventures-I mean, we did share elementary and middle school together. :) She moved “up North” a few years ago, but thankfully, comes back to Florida pretty regularly. When she was down for Christmas this year, we went around Downtown Deland and took some pictures. Anyways, I hope you enjoy these pictures of my friend as much as I do!
Today I am excited to share some photographs of my friend Hannah on the occasion of her senior year of high school! I have known Hannah since I was four years old and she was five. We’ve shared many crazy adventures-I mean, we did share elementary and middle school together. :) She moved “up North” a few years ago, but thankfully, comes back to Florida pretty regularly. When she was down for Christmas this year, we went around Downtown Deland and took some pictures. Anyways, I hope you enjoy these pictures of my friend as much as I do!
Jack + Mom || Portraits
Woohoo! Today I am happy to share some photographs I was able to take of Jack and his beautiful mother in December. Do you remember this from this past summer? I’m a little late on blogging, but hey! Better late than never. Enjoy!
Beates Family \\ Portraits
Hello! Sorry I have been a little MIA on the blog lately. The good news is that when I am not blogging, I am usually shooting.
I’m excited today to share with you my photographs of the wonderful Beates family. They woke up early and braved the cold in the name of some good photographs! Love you, Beates’s!
I’m excited today to share with you my photographs of the wonderful Beates family. They woke up early and braved the cold in the name of some good photographs! Love you, Beates’s!
A Single Frame…
Spending the day with good old Lightroom and a cup of coffee. Love this shot of my sister from Christmas. She looks like she stepped right out of 1943!
Holiday Recap 2012
Hey Hey!
Well, school is in cession and it is back to the grind for me! As I slowly return to this more structured routine, I am happily remembering my favorite memories from the holidays-a trip to Downtown Disney to look at the masterfully crafted gingerbread houses, fun with friends and family, an adventure at Sea World, the purchase of my first Polaroid camera (600 series), and a day at St. Petersburg beach with dear friends. Here’s to Christmas!
Well, school is in cession and it is back to the grind for me! As I slowly return to this more structured routine, I am happily remembering my favorite memories from the holidays-a trip to Downtown Disney to look at the masterfully crafted gingerbread houses, fun with friends and family, an adventure at Sea World, the purchase of my first Polaroid camera (600 series), and a day at St. Petersburg beach with dear friends. Here’s to Christmas!
