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THE BROOK REPORTER
Celebrating Lives of Ordinary People, in Ordinary Places
having
EXTRAORDINARY INFLUENCE Volume 1, Issue No 3
A Magazine about Widows and Women
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A Faithful & Loving Woman, Wife & Mother
Mastering Time
Through Wisdom & Love
~Preaching and Teaching is Her Calling~
~Loving & Mothering is her Nature~
Honoring Mrs. Gertrude Dukes
A Little Known Person, In a Little Known Place, Making a Known
Difference..
~~Loving, Teaching, Mentoring, Laughing~~
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Honoring a Woman of Godly Faithfulness & Love...
She Heeded the Call of Her Heavenly Master,
And Became a Pastor.
She Served Faithfully.
She has paved many trails,
To be followed by females and males.
There Is A Way That Seems Right Unto A
Man, But In The End, There Are The Ways
Of Death. Proverbs 14:12
She taught the way of Righteousness.
Proverbs 15:19- but the way of the righteous is
made plain.
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Gertrude Dukes
An Anchor, Guide, and Leader
Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother,
We Love You!
2013
Gertrude is A Virtuous Woman.. Proverbs 31:29
Many Daughters Have Done Virtuously, But Thou Excellest Them
All.
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Our Mother
We cant describe her
because words are
inadequate.
We cant name her
because a name cant tell
her worth.
We can praise her because she means the world to us.
We LOVE her because she is Our Mother.
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Gertrude Dukes Legacy of Love
Her Husband:
Johnny Dukes, Sr. (Deceased)
Her Children:
Johnny Dukes, Jr. (Deceased)
Josephine Dukes (Carstarphen) (Percy)
Norman Ray Dukes (Barbara)
Geraldine Dukes (Welch) (Henry Lee)
Clevon Dukes (Anita)
Gloria Dukes (Kid) (John)
Verdell Dukes (Davis) (Joe)
Mary Dukes (Westry) (Frank)
Host of Grand Children and Great Grand Children
Gertrude said at her 80th
Birthday Celebration: Im just so Happy,
Happy, Happy to make this 80th
birthday. If I try to put it in words I would find myself
repeating myself. Ill just say Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.
I love all of you. I
got to Love you. Jesus loved us all didnt he? Whether we were
right or whether we were
wrong. We got to love one another. The Word of God says love not
in word but in deed.
Its been some deeds done here today and I thank you. I hardly
have words to say but I
say one thing, wherever you go, whatever you do, pray for me
because Im trying to
make it. I believe that by the help of God, Im gonna make it.
There is nothing too hard
for God. When it gets too hard for us, its just right for God.
Mans extremities are
Gods opportunities. (May 10, 2008)
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Memories FromYour 80th
How has Gertrude influenced you? They said...
GertrudeYou have influenced my life by coming to
church and saying that we need to be in Sunday
School and Bible Lesson. Mary McCoy
GertrudeYou have influenced my life by teaching me to be on time
for
church and to work in the church and the community. And teaching
me to be
a blessing to people and to be faithful in all things. Love You!
No Name
Gertrude...Down through the years we have been friends. We have
never had
an argument or anything but love for one another. Bernice
Hudson
Gertrude...You influenced my life by the way you live and how
you enjoy
serving the Lord. I want to pattern my life to be just like you.
Rosie Stabler
GertrudeShe is my Aunt, the one I love so much. She loves
everybody. She lives a Christian Life. She is like a mother to me.
Since my mother has been
gone she has been there. She tells me how Good God is! Arolinia
King
Grandma you have been a very influential person in my life by
the way you love everyone no matter what their attitude or
lifestyle is and by your love
and strong belief in God. I always get on my knees at night and
pray that
you live many more years because strong black females like
yourself are
needed today. I love you Grandma to this day and will continue
to love you
everyday and every time I see or talk to you. J.P. Davis
Gertrude you have influenced my life by walking the walk and not
just
talking the talk. Debra McCaskill
Aunt you have been a very big influence in my life. You have
been an
Aunt, a second mother, and a big help to me in my marriage. By
talking to
you about many things in life, I think that I can make it. Aunt,
I look back
over my life with you in it, I can say, Aunt, we came a long way
by the Grace
of God. I love you Aunt. Madeline Faye
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Son, Clevon Dukes and
others celebrated your
80th birthday,
May 10, 2008.
Son Norman
Ray Dukes and
others
celebrated your
80th birthday,
May 10, 2008
A Good Friend celebrated your 80th birthday, May 10, 2008
Mrs. Irene Johns,
Life Long Friend
Lower Peach Tree, Alabama
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Reverend Clevon Dukes, Son
My Mother is just a Jewel. Often times when Im speaking with
her, she drops those great nuggets that are so significant. I
said
to her one time, Mom, how are you doing? She said, Son Im
just helping the Lord take care of me. She said, God is not
going
to do for me what I can do for myself. He will do those things
I
cant do. He wants me to help him take care of me. That is so
true.
I was telling her once about a senior mother in my church
that
had Alzheimers. Alzheimers had affected her mind. If I stood
in
front of her one minute she would in a minute or so say how
are
you doing thinking she had not spoken to me in a while. She
didnt miss bible study or Sunday School. If I say a chapter
and
verse, she could quote the scripture. I told Mom one day about
her because I pondered on that since she
could so easily forget other things. Mom said, son, the
scripture is not in her mind its in her heart. That
blessed me and my whole congregation when I shared that great
revelation. She hid the Word of God in
her heart so Alzheimers cant affect it. Thats the kind of Wisdom
I get from my Mom. I continue to draw
from that well and I thank God for her. I Love You Dearly
Mom.
Space is Reserved to add words about Mrs. Gertrude Dukes from
other children, grand children, great
grandchildren and close friends.
Clevon Dukes is your family contact. You can get information to
him and he will forward to the publisher.
A final copy of this magazine can then include your words of
appreciation to Mrs. Gertrude Dukes.
Also you can contact the publisher directly with your input.
Aundrey Carlton Wilkins.
2580 Kearney Street, Denver, Co 80207.
Email: [email protected]; call 303-399-2305
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------Mother Dukes------
------Wishing you a Happy Birthday-----
The Carlton Family
Chonna; Reseian; Ethel; Sandra;James;Aundrey;Vivian; Joyce
,Mother Dukes is Life, Sunshine & Beauty
Wishing You Many More Celebrations
May 10, 2013
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Aundrey Wilkins
and
Gertrude Dukes
Talk About Life
Q. Tell me about your life as a Minister of God. Whats the name
of your church? What
are some of the many responsibilities you have held over your
life?
A. My church is All Saints Holiness Church. I have been
Assistant Pastor, Elder,
President of the Mothers Board, President of the Choir,
Superintendent of Sunday
School, Eastern Star, and Associate Matron of Eastern Star. I
also was part of the
Mothers Band Bible Study, and the Prayer Band.
Q. I remember your husband, Mr. Johnny Dukes. How long were you
all married?
A. I got married September 3, 1944. I was married for 47 years.
I am the mother of
eight children, and I raised nine. I raised Tiffany, my daughter
Glorias daughter.
Aundrey: We will now just talk about your life and your beliefs.
Thank you for
allowing me to interview you. I am doing this because I was
shown in a dream that I was
to highlight widows and their impact in the world in a magazine.
So I want to hear how
God has walked with you as a widow. Anything you want to share
will be great.
Gertrude: Well I would like to let people know they are never
alone. Youre never
at a point where God is not using you. Sometimes our elderly and
widows will wear
themselves out serving so much. I had to let go of some of the
things I used to do. But I
know God still uses me. I still pray and try to encourage
others.
Aundrey: I know you pray. I know my mom prayed a lot. I had a
dream once that
showed me there were towns in Alabama, Lower Peach Tree, and
other places that were
saved from bombs and destruction because of Widows prayers,
including my mothers.
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Gertrude: Yes. Prayer gets the job done. He said call on him in
time of trouble and I
will hear. Sometimes we have to wait. The bible says they that
wait on the Lord will
renew their strength. David said he waited on the Lord. After
David waited, the Lord
heard him. We cant hurry God. He is not going to come all the
time quick. He knows
when he needs to come quick and when we need to suffer a while
before he comes. But
he is coming. I dont have any doubt in my mind, whatsoever. Ive
tried him too many
times baby. He didnt come all the time. So many times I had to
go through. One time I
was going through and I called Him in question. He said,
Gertrude, I heard you. But this
is something you got to go through and when you get through you
can tell someone else
how to go through. If I hadnt gone through it how could I tell
you about going through?
So many things we have to go through in order to be able to tell
someone else how to
go through so somebody can be a living witness. If I hadnt
waited on the Lord and let
Him take me through, then I couldnt tell anybody else what God
will do. When you
have experienced Him you can tell somebody else. Im a living
witness God is good.
He is an on time God. You got to wait sometime. Though he Tarry,
we just gotta wait.
When we wait, well be able to mount up and be able to make
it.
Things are coming our way. Thats why he says in the Bible think
it not strange
about the fiery things which are to try you. These things are to
try us. God knows
me. But Gertrude doesnt know me. But God know me. He let these
things come my
way so Ill know what God will do. Im a living a witness, God is
there all the time.
Just keep trusting and wait on him. He that trust in God shall
be at Mt Zion. Then he says
cast all your cares upon him. You may have to suffer but Got yet
loves you. I was
thinking this morning about what all God will do for us and what
he went through for us.
Think about all the beating and what ever they did to him. It
was for us and not himself.
I appreciate Him too for what he has done for me. God has
brought me thru some things.
I dont regret it. Im glad. I can tell someone else now. You dont
have to take nobody
elses word for it, because youll know for yourself.
Aundrey: My younger sister said something similar to that today.
She said now that she
is going through losing our mother, she has a different
perspective when others lose their
mother.
Gertrude: Yes, I have lost a mother, father, son, grandchildren,
brothers, sisters. I know
what its about. God took me through. I have to tell him
sometimes, Lord its Hard
but its Fair. (Laughing) .And you got to take me through. When
Jesus went
through, wasnt it hard on him? But he went through. The nails in
his hand and feet
how that must have hurt. He did it for the love he had for us.
But he turns around and
tells us that we got to love one another. We can go around
hating one another but you
wont be saved by Jesus. He says love even your enemy. You know
its going to take the
love of God in your heart to love and feed your enemy and you
know thats your enemy
too! You wont do it without the love of God. I thank God for his
love.
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Aundrey: What were some of the challenges being a church
leader?
Gertrude: It was hard to get folks to come to Sunday School
& church on time. Why
folks wont come on time? Im a believer that if they say 10
oclock, be there on time.
My training was to be on time even when we had to walk a long
way. I was raised near
the Old Peach Tree School and we walked to Mt Mariah Church and
were always on
time.
Aundrey: Yes, we walked all the way to Pleasant View Church. We
used to go piece
of the way with our cousin. If our cousin Geraldine went home
with us, when time to go
home we would walk part of the way to her home. Then she would
walk us part of the
way back home. (both laughing)
Gertrude: (Laughing) Those were good days. We used to walk piece
of the way with
our family and friends too. People dont want to walk and be
together like families used
to be. Do you want some fruit, an apple or orange?
Aundrey: No. I dont want anything but to hear you talk.
Gertude: Your mom and I would always call one another. I was a
grade ahead of your
mom. We kept each other lifted up. We need each other at all
times.
Aundrey: Mom told me that one of your sisters was her best
friend. Recently Ive been
learning about your family. I didnt know your relations to the
Daviss that live near us
until a few years ago.
Gertrude: Its good to know your family and be together. But do
you know my
children shocked me when they surprised me for my 75th
birthday. I told them just come
see me and say Thank you to God for letting me see the birthday
but dont surprise me
again because it is too much on me and my heart. I appreciate
that they want to celebrate
my birthday though.
Aundrey: Mom didnt like for us to surprise her either. It was
hard to surprise her too.
Someone always let the cat out the bag. You remember Lucy Pearl
telling how she gave
it away one time when we were trying to surprise mom (both
laughing). I know its
more for the children too when we celebrate our parents.
Children that love their parents
want to honor them at any opportunity.
Gertrude: For my part, give me a few greens and bread and thatll
be enough for me.
(Laughing). But I appreciate the children doing what they do for
me.
Aundrey: I say, out of all you do, put your focus on just
spending time with your loved
one. We would be so busy preparing and cleaning when we came
home to see mom. A
few years ago I took off work for 3 weeks and came home- just me
and my son - and
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spent time with Mom. It was the best time ever. We sat on the
porch. Visited relatives.
Picked greens. Fed the cows. Cooking has never been my favorite.
So I loved just
sitting around and being with Mom.
Gertrude: I love cooking. Im not able to do much of it now but I
love it.
Aundrey: I never loved cooking. Mom would say sit down and just
spend time together.
Rather than so much time on preparing the party, food, etc.
Sometimes you just ought to
sit and listen=== hear your moms heart. She would tell me things
and Id have to say I
didnt know that happened to you. I learned I got many of my ways
from her that I
didnt know she had. Songs she liked. Food she liked (nuts). I
liked the same things.
Gertrude: (Laughing).. My daughter Geraldine said she didnt want
to be like me
because I let folks do me any kind of way. (both laughing). Now
after she got grown she
understood more. There is an old saying if you cant take it you
cant make it. In
this Christian life you going to take some things. Some things
you dont want to
take you got to take to be Christ like. Christ didnt want to
take all those bruises he
took. There are so many things that if we could hinder our self
from taking we would.
Christ could have hindered himself from taking what he took but
he didnt. He took it for
you, me, and all of us. That was the love he had for us. Thats
why he tells us that by
this will men know that you are my disciples because you have
love one for another.
Aundrey: What ever mom wanted to do I would usually stand with
her when others
may have thought she was too kind. We saw her be kind even to
people who had done
her wrong.
Gertrude: Its good to do good. The bible tells us to cast thy
bread upon water and in
many days it will come back. What you sow you reap. Sow
bountifully, reap
bountifully. Through it all we have to tell God thank you.
Quotes by Gertrude:
Sometimes I Tell God Its Hard, But since You Permitted It, I
Know Its Fair.
Old Age Is Honorable, But It Can Be Inconvenient.
There Is No Cure For Old Age.
THE END OF THE INTERVIEW
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Sharing Gods Love for Widows:
Mrs. Gertrude Dukes (mother) I hope
you enjoy this tribute to your life. You
have touched many lives making them
better and bearable when things seemed
hopeless. May your life deeds tontinue to
float on the many waters where you have
cast them and reach the hearts and homes
of many people to come through time upon
this earth.
You are a great mother, friend, minister, and servant of God. I
can
hear God already saying to you, Well Done my Good and
Faithful Servant, Gertrude. I love you. You have served me
faithfully to the end.
Publisher:
A Call to Love Ministries,
Aundrey CarltonWilkins (Anna), Founder/President
The magazine is intended to document nuggets of wisdom from
widows. Using their own nuggets from
life, we celebrate their lives by highlighting who they are as
an individual, and things they have done in
life. We can then preserve their legacy for generations.
1 King 17:9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to
Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have
commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
Contact Information: [email protected] email; Phone:
303-399-2305 Brook Reporter