Proven by the Birthmark

Synopsis: This story is about a child who was branded from birth by a father who failed to accept her as his own. His reasoning was that she did not look like the other children. She was very fair, and her resemblance was more like his wife's side of the family, which was unacceptable to him. As an infant, he was cared for by her grandmother and aunt until they were not able to do so. As she grew, she was considered incorrigible and accused of various things which she had not done. She was placed in foster care, where she faced many obstacles, even attempted rape. Because of one loving family, she found love and guidance which saved her life. She was taught that education will play a key role in your life if you adhere to it. She was taught how to protect herself, and to learn all that she can and never allow hate to control you or your thoughts.

After her foster care parents' untimely death, all that she was taught, she abided it by throughout her time in foster care and after she was on her own pursuing life. One important factor in her life was that her case worker believed in her and did not see in her the various things that she was accused of.

Autobiography: Williemae (Moorer, Fisher) Latimore. Born in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, in 1934. Moved to Philadelphia at age 6 and became ill with Rheumatic Fever. In and out of hospitals for five years from age nine to fourteen.

Her mother died when she was twelve, and her father left her in foster care in Philadelphia after the death of her mother. She remained there until she was fourteen and was sent to her father by the State.

Married at age sixteen, had two children. Lost her second child, Ronald, at age six months to

pneumonia. The marriage did not work out. She moved to New Jersey at age nineteen. Later remarried and had a total of ten children, one a miscarriage.

She worked in many Canning and Textile factories, Domestic work, and fieldwork until her health began to fail doing that type of work.

She enrolled in the county college part-time and continued to work full-time to support the family as a Clerk in the Department of Labor for the State of New Jersey Employment Service.

Associate Degree: from Cumberland County Colleg BA Degree in Psychology from Glassboro State College (now Rowan Univ) Job working for the State of New Jersey, starting as a Clerk and advanced to a position as Supervisor of Employment Counselor. Presently Retired after 25 years.

Love to write poems, stories, paint, draw, sew, knit, crochet and do various other crafts.