Friday the 13th, 1965 Charles Waggener Williams Jr was born to us at Tyndall Air Force Base which was about 30 miles from Pensacola, Fl where we lived. I was 21 and his dad was 24 but we were pretty immature and sure had no clue about raising a child. We were however, very excited about the coming of our first born. We called him Chuckie which he grew to dislike after becoming a teenager, but he is still Chuckie to me.

We had only been married 15 months when he was born. Charlie(Chuck Sr) was serving his two years active duty in the Navy and we were stationed in Pensacola at a small base. We were dirt poor. We lived in a hotel room with a kitchenette just off the beach until just before he was born and we were able to rent a duplex with another navy couple from South Dakota. It had no air condition and all I had to keep me cool while carrying him was one little fan which went every where I did. One night the fan gave out in the middle of the night and I thought I would not see dawn. We managed to scrape up enough money together to purchase another. I also spent a lot of time in the Gulf floating trying to stay cool.

Chuck Jr’s birth was the easiest I had. Charlie took me to see the doctor the evening of the 12th because I had an eye infection and had been very nauseated and vomiting all day. The doctor met us at the hospital and once he examined me came out and pronounced that there were two things going on. I was having a reaction to the medication he gave me for my eye and I was in labor. Charlie about flipped out. The doctor sent him home to get my personal items while they got me settled. You should have seen that bag. I had not packed much because I thought I had a couple more weeks according to my last exam. When I first opened that suitcase it almost took my head off. He had stuffed everything into that little case in a nano second and the pressure behind it shot my belongings in every direction.

I had almost no pain during this labor. Charlie and I played cards and laughed while I turned down two shots for pain. The last hour was a little hard, but Chuckie was born without difficulty.

However, the next day I was told that our son was having some lung complications and would have to remain in the nursery. A military hospital then was a total different ball game from private hospitals. Mothers were all in one big ward and they went to the nursery first thing in the morning and obtained their baby and took care of them all day. Everyone in the ward was able to get their baby but me. It was really hard and I would go to the bathroom and sit and cry. A really insensitive nurse chewed me out one day because I did not go and stand at the nursery window during that time and watch my baby. I was so scared I just could not do it and she accused me of not loving my child. Well, that helped a lot.

We were finally discharged home a week later. We were so poor that we had to borrow the ten dollars that it cost to get us out of the hospital. Thankfully they gave us formula. All of my family came down to see their new grandson and nephew. My mom stayed a week with me and Chuckie since Charlie’s ship left port a few days after we got home and was to be gone 3-6 months. I should have packed up and move the two of us back to MS where I would have had the help and support of our family, but I chose to stay there so we could see Charlie one weekend a month. That turned out to be a bad choice for Chuckie and I. I was so ignorant on how to take care of a baby and so anxious about being alone that he became anxious and cried day and night.

Chuck Jr had a lot stolen from his childhood through circumstances most of which were beyond our control. Poverty, ignorant immature parents, death of a sibling and a handicapped brother that took so much of our time. I have a lot regrets about how I handled things but I also see the mercy and grace of God. Despite all the things that could have hindered him Chuckie has become a son of whom we are very proud. He loves the Lord, is a good husband and a great father and son. I don’t think we can take much credit for the man he has become, it is a working of the Lord we serve.

The old fable about Friday the thirteenth is not true for us. It was not bad luck for us it was a day that a true blessing was brought into our family. Happy Birthday Chuckie!!! We love you very much and we are proud of you son.