photo by The Rev. Jesse Brown
Tina was one of the first people I met at The Welcome Center.
She was also the very first person to call what we were doing "church."
Tina died last week following a long and difficult battle with small cell lung cancer. She was 42 years old.
I didn't learn Tina's birth name until her first hospitalization. Everyone on the street knew her as "Annie Mae Wilkes."When I asked her why she chose that particular name, Tina said that it was "country" and she was from a small town in Pennsylvania, New Ringgold, not far from Wilkes-Barre---which is how she chose her last name---Wilkes. But that's who Tina was...the country girl with the tough city exterior.
And there were many reasons why Tina had to be "tough." The death of two husbands, a serious accident that caused chronic pain leading to a heroin addiction which she was able to overcome, struggles in early childhood, and so much more; but through it all Tina never stopped loving and giving.
I used to tease Tina saying she was our unofficial "social worker" at The Welcome Center. She would make new folks feel welcomed and she would help others on the street become acquainted with resources and creative survival techniques. Tina organized our clothing boutique and often helped others to put together outfits; and when we first started showing movies at The Welcome Center, Tina was the one we called on to set up the VCR, fix the DVD, or do anything mechanical that we needed to be done.
I look at the afghan that is draped our one of the chairs in my office. The squares were knit by many different people from our community; but it was Tina who took charge of sewing the squares together. And that's what she did---Tina brought people together.
I remember the day Tina sat with us arond the table at The Welcome Center asking about a lump on the side of her neck. I asked Elisabeth, one of our volunteers and also a nurse to look at it. "Could be nothing," we told Tina, "but better to get it checked out." She did, but it was, indeed, something.
I spoke to Tina two days before she died. Her last words to me were, "I love you." That's something else Tina did---she loved.
Tina died in the arms of her mother, Barbara, who was there for her throughout this difficult illness. She was loved by so many, including her four children and her husband Cornell.
The photo above was taken Christmas 2008 shortly after Tina had begun chemotherapy. It was one of her favorites because she loved her "sassy and sexy" look. As independent as she was though, Tina wore the Welcome Church cross, knowing that she never was alone.
So, I share the poem that Tine wrote , hand written in purple ink for me because my name is Violet. It sits framed near my desk and I read it often:
Tina was one of the first people I met at The Welcome Center.
She was also the very first person to call what we were doing "church."
Tina died last week following a long and difficult battle with small cell lung cancer. She was 42 years old.
I didn't learn Tina's birth name until her first hospitalization. Everyone on the street knew her as "Annie Mae Wilkes."When I asked her why she chose that particular name, Tina said that it was "country" and she was from a small town in Pennsylvania, New Ringgold, not far from Wilkes-Barre---which is how she chose her last name---Wilkes. But that's who Tina was...the country girl with the tough city exterior.
And there were many reasons why Tina had to be "tough." The death of two husbands, a serious accident that caused chronic pain leading to a heroin addiction which she was able to overcome, struggles in early childhood, and so much more; but through it all Tina never stopped loving and giving.
I used to tease Tina saying she was our unofficial "social worker" at The Welcome Center. She would make new folks feel welcomed and she would help others on the street become acquainted with resources and creative survival techniques. Tina organized our clothing boutique and often helped others to put together outfits; and when we first started showing movies at The Welcome Center, Tina was the one we called on to set up the VCR, fix the DVD, or do anything mechanical that we needed to be done.
I look at the afghan that is draped our one of the chairs in my office. The squares were knit by many different people from our community; but it was Tina who took charge of sewing the squares together. And that's what she did---Tina brought people together.
I remember the day Tina sat with us arond the table at The Welcome Center asking about a lump on the side of her neck. I asked Elisabeth, one of our volunteers and also a nurse to look at it. "Could be nothing," we told Tina, "but better to get it checked out." She did, but it was, indeed, something.
I spoke to Tina two days before she died. Her last words to me were, "I love you." That's something else Tina did---she loved.
Tina died in the arms of her mother, Barbara, who was there for her throughout this difficult illness. She was loved by so many, including her four children and her husband Cornell.
The photo above was taken Christmas 2008 shortly after Tina had begun chemotherapy. It was one of her favorites because she loved her "sassy and sexy" look. As independent as she was though, Tina wore the Welcome Church cross, knowing that she never was alone.
So, I share the poem that Tine wrote , hand written in purple ink for me because my name is Violet. It sits framed near my desk and I read it often:
Hello and Welcome to this Church
Welcome to this church!
Won't you come on in, Jesus Christ lives here.
He'll relieve you of your sins.
Open up your heart. Invite the savior in.
You will never find a friend as faithful as him.
knock and the door will open.
Seek and you will find.
Ask and it will be given.
And you will find great peace of mind
Give you heart to Jesus
for he cares so much for you.
He will guide and lead you
in everything you do.
Read the Holy Bible!
Learn how Jesus wants you to live.
He'll give you peace and comfort
if only your heart you'll give.
Take him at his word
Become his dearest friend.
He'll always be there for you
to the very end!!
Tina Z.
May you rest in peace, dear Tina, in the arms of love and mercy. You will be missed by many.
