I was in Rebekah Home for Girls 1976-1977. At the time I was one of three twelve year old girls in the home. I went there initially to be with my sister as life at home was difficult and having attended church everyone was always smiling and happy or so it appeared. I remember singing "Living by Faith" and listening to the girls quote bible verses. My favorite was the testimonies. They sounded so heartfelt and perhaps some were, but once I went into the home I found out that the testimonials were more about saying what was expected and all in the name of survival. I later found as I sat in he choir that if you didn't smile, quote your verses with enthusiasm or say the right things you got the severe look from "Granny" remember her?
One of my saddest memories was of...I will call her Melissa H. I had grown quite fond of her and always had a great time, and perhaps the younger ones were looking for that motherly figure and I found that with Melissa H. I remember that on one outing to the doctor's office, she ran away. They brought her back 2 days later in the evening. I recall that there was a commotion around 1AM and we all peeked our heads out our doors and listened. We heard the lecture they gave to her, loud enough for all of us to hear, as this was just one of the many psychological games they played. They started using the paddle on Melissa H. I stopped counting after 30 and like others I went back in the room as I couldn't bear to listen anymore. Melissa H., never yelled or cried, the only sound was the paddle. I admired how strong she was never letting them defeat her. Yet, the next day I saw her in the hallway, and she appeared lost and distant, only passing by and patting me on the head saying, "Hey Kid". Perhaps it was her defense mechanism, we all did what we had to in order to survive.
I researched Rebekah Home for Girls doing various Google searches, and I came across a few blogs from 2005, 2008 that are no longer active based on posts and one that focused on girls who were in the home 1991 and onward. I wanted to create this blog for everyone, whether you were in Rebekah, Lighthouse for boys, Jubilee etc., and keep this one alive. I would love to hear your stories, what you learned, how you overcame and where you are at in life today if you feel so compelled to share.
One of my saddest memories was of...I will call her Melissa H. I had grown quite fond of her and always had a great time, and perhaps the younger ones were looking for that motherly figure and I found that with Melissa H. I remember that on one outing to the doctor's office, she ran away. They brought her back 2 days later in the evening. I recall that there was a commotion around 1AM and we all peeked our heads out our doors and listened. We heard the lecture they gave to her, loud enough for all of us to hear, as this was just one of the many psychological games they played. They started using the paddle on Melissa H. I stopped counting after 30 and like others I went back in the room as I couldn't bear to listen anymore. Melissa H., never yelled or cried, the only sound was the paddle. I admired how strong she was never letting them defeat her. Yet, the next day I saw her in the hallway, and she appeared lost and distant, only passing by and patting me on the head saying, "Hey Kid". Perhaps it was her defense mechanism, we all did what we had to in order to survive.
I researched Rebekah Home for Girls doing various Google searches, and I came across a few blogs from 2005, 2008 that are no longer active based on posts and one that focused on girls who were in the home 1991 and onward. I wanted to create this blog for everyone, whether you were in Rebekah, Lighthouse for boys, Jubilee etc., and keep this one alive. I would love to hear your stories, what you learned, how you overcame and where you are at in life today if you feel so compelled to share.
Hi Sandy, My name is Laurie (Hunt) I was at Rebekah home in the late 70's for 3 months and at the helpers home for 1 week and ran from there at around 6:00 am on a sunday morning while cleaning the employees kitchen with my bird dog! who ever heard of such a thing . I ran and ran not knowing where I was going to get away and found my way to a catholic family whom helped me , I had fire-ants all over my legs and climbed a tree and saw a house and explained to them and they told me not to worry they were catholic! lol ,they took me to the airport the next day to return home ,My father picked me up. etc.. I was home safe and sound. I have many pictures of the girls that I met in our red and white checked shirts and red skirts etc..lol I often wonder if their okay , there was a guy from the lighthouse boys who ,well thats another story , there are so many memories some good some awful. I am now fifty and try not to live in the past , but find myself thinking of different phases we go through, I hope this blog lets us find different ones , Thank you for contacting me , I will write again, Laurie
ReplyDeleteI totally agree w/trying to get away - I was set up - Granny was on the intercom in their trailer and some girls were w/me in our trailer - they were talking to me about running away - all the while Granny is listening on the other end - of course I wanted to leave - well needless to say their doublecross was costly to me - I thought they were for real!~What a nightmare that place was
DeleteHI Laurie,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your message. I agree there are many stories to tell and like you I don't like to live in the past, but I do believe our past can impact our future positive (hopefully) or negative.
Look forward to hearing from you and stay in touch.
Sandy
y name is Leann and I was living at Rebekah from about 1974 until I graduated there in 1976. First, I would like to say that I honestly witnessed NO Abuse! Yes, some of the girls were paddled, however, how much verbal and physical abuse should an adult take, before some sort of discipline is adhered to. Now, calm down there my friends...I am not one for physical or mental abuse, however, some of the girls that came to Rebekah, had no respect for themselves, or anyone else and really needed some redirection, and yes it was done with love and care. Yes, they piped lined in bible verses, christian music, sermons, probably a little too much, but, if it could penetrate and help one girl, then that was great. I knew I was there for the long hall (until I graduated), so I probably conformed to most of the rules and regs,to make it a somewhat smooth path. Many nights, I would lay there and cry, not because I was being abused, but because I did not have a Dad or a Mom, that could put their arms around me and teach me to be a thoughtful and caring person. Thank goodness I inherited my Grandmothers genes, and am a thoughtful and caring person. Anyway, I met some great gals back then, and would love to really hear how they are doing, and I will name a few, please forgive me, if I do not mention your name, as I have not forgotten you, but may have forgotten your name....showing my 54 years of life for a minute, lol..Betty and Barbara, now they were a good pair of sisters, Cheryl, who had a beau from the lighthouse, that I believe she married, The Kennedy sisters, Cindy, Becky, and....?sorry, Sheila who played a beautiful piano, Lisa who had the nicest nails, once she got back to Rebekah, Shari, the tough one, and of course Donna, who roomed with her and the Camerons for abit, and Jackie, a unique gal all on her own....a nice and sweet spirit, although, I never told her that...The Camerons and The Weatherfords, all showed me Love, Kindness and respect...Think of all of you from time to time, and hope life has brought you all lots of sunshine and daisies....Leann Heil
ReplyDeleteHi Leann, do you remember Sheryl Brown? She played piano and I wonder if that's who you meant when you wrote Sheila.
DeleteI was at this horrid girls home in 1968-1969 -the other girls were so mean - two faced and the strappings were brutal - yes I know Granny and Papa - and I know how it hurts to get that strap. We were in trailers than but after I was gone built a home - was so glad to find this site!
ReplyDeleteRose At rebekah from 73 to 79, 2 stints, five years. My sisters Viola and Carla were there for a couple of yrs my last stay. Sandy Williams I remember you you were one of the little girls. You were friends with one of my sisters I believe it was Carla. I'm pretty sure we've run across each other in one or the other of the groups through the years. My how the years have flown. Thirty five years since I left. Sometimes seems like yesterday. I still wonder about my friends and search for some of them. In particular I am looking for Linda Foxx. I believe Linda was from around Atlanta Georgia. Brenda Tollefson from Denver. Ruth Anne Henry from Buffalo New York. and Mary Ana Botella from down around Brownsville. If Any of you girls ever show up please contact me? Post a reply here? I'd love to hear from you an know you're alright.
ReplyDeleteRose
Rose, hoping this is till active. Looking for someone who might have been runaway from Rebekah in at that time. She is an unidentified Jane Doe from 1980. The stories she told to people the day before she was found dead, is why she may have run from there. Please contact me if you get this. I have pictures that I would love for you to look at. lagann2002@yahoo.com
DeleteOne down Ruth Ann found :-D
DeleteOne down Ruth Ann found :-D
DeleteI was in the home, and I never experienced any bad situations, I loved Bro Roloff, If it wasn't for me going there I probably would of been dead or headed to hell, I am so thankful for my mother sending me, at the time I was sent I was telling her I hate her and saying you don't love me, well she did love me or she wouldn't have sent me, Thanks to her and the home, Im a Christian and I know I'm going to heaven. ;)
ReplyDeleteI was in the home, and I never experienced any bad situations, I loved Bro Roloff, If it wasn't for me going there I probably would of been dead or headed to hell, I am so thankful for my mother sending me, at the time I was sent I was telling her I hate her and saying you don't love me, well she did love me or she wouldn't have sent me, Thanks to her and the home, Im a Christian and I know I'm going to heaven. ;)
ReplyDeleteSo sick to my stomach and so angry - still!!! My sister was sent here by my step mom and dad - my sister escaped only because our natural mom found out my sister was sent away and a big court battle in Louisiana ensued. My sister has never been the same - her name was Dawn Lovett. She was 13/14 years old at the time......I hope the people who had a hand in this have truly sought forgiveness for the evil roles they played.....God help me to forgive!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat year? I was there in 1985 when the Barretts ran it . The most twisted , perverted in the name of God people it was horrible and the abuse was sexual as well as mental. I am 9 and still am haunted to this day
DeleteI am 49. I was one of two girls who ran and got away. Under armed guards police protection. It was in Belton Missouri
DeleteMy name is Tawni. I was at Rebekah in 1984-1985.
ReplyDeleteTawani. i was there 84.my name is maryann buckner. My Facebook is there
ReplyDeleteIm friends with others that where there.like una swalley and lea coonce.
Hook up we can talk it would be nice too hear frm u
Well I BET if any of the girls that were at Rebecca IN 197o to 1976 remember me the nick NAME chicken ha HA God Bless EACH and EVERYONE all i can SAY IS THIS IN spite OF THE FAILURES AT Rebecca and of course where we went from just 25 are 30 girls to 300 I must SAY it was difficult yes SOMETIMES it got BAD but I must say if I had not of went to roll off homes I would HAVE not LIVED I would HAVE died and also if I had not been made yes made to read the BIBLE and memorized THE chapters I would not of been able to fight my battles even TODAY I went there at 13 after being RAPED and sexually abused for YEARS AND ALONE I'm NOW 60 AND I THANK God FOR Lester ripoff AND Grammy papa AUNT Meijer AND just EVERYONE THAT truly did LOVE US so many but REMEMBER it only takes 1 bad Apple to try destroy WHAT IS GOOD and if anyone knows ME who reads THIS TEXT LOVE to hear FROM YOU MISS all my FAMILY AT Rebecca FROM 1970 to 1976 GOD BLESS AND GOD BLESS EVERY worker THAT EVER worked FOR at Rebecca that truly did LOVE me and all the GIRLS and to those that did NOT ask God for FORGIVENESS BECAUSE the hurts pains you caused not only for bro ripoff but to God's WORK BUT I must SAY I'm SURE I'm just 1 out of many more that can say Thank God FOR my oppurninty of being APART of ripoff minte
ReplyDeleteWho is this 😊 ? I was at Rebekah home in Corpus from 73 til 1974 My name Is Pam Johnson Wondering if you remember Ana Campbell?? She and I were roommates and best friends. We escaped and were brought back . And I went home few months later. Remember her last words were for me to come back for her ! Sad 😢 I could not . And have always wanted to find her ! If you recall anything about her or have any connection please respond. Thank you and God Bless !!
DeleteHi there, I'm writing on behalf of my mother, Sheryl Brown. I'm not 100% sure of her Rebekah dates, but it was definitely in the 70s. She was the daughter of Larry and Judy Brown, Larry worked on Roloff's planes and Judy worked in the kitchen. She also played piano and sang in the Honeybee Quartet and left shortly before the plane crashed. I'm trying to learn more about the home and that time because her stories are totally wild and heartbreaking. Much love to all of you!
ReplyDeleteHaley, I was in the Honeybee Quartet when your mom was. She played piano and sang high tenor while I sang alto. She was in the plane with us when it caught on fire in Thomasville, Georgia.
DeleteThat’s amazing! If you’re comfortable with chatting more, you’re welcome to email me - haley.freedlund@gmail.com
DeleteWhatever you don't know already, you don't want to know. Each of us had our own experience in this particular hell. While many of us in the home were jealous of the "farm girls", they, too, had their own hell.
ReplyDeleteHi my name is Holly, i was at Rebekah home 1976, i was 13 years old. the year of HELL on earth. I praise God I LOVE Him with my whole heart, but the year of beatings, lockup sheer pain in my soul hurt beyond all i could imagine. Praise God He loves each daughter and He will replace all we have lost. thank you Jesus
ReplyDeleteMy name is Lucretia Adams and I was taken there in the mid-late 70’s by my stepmother at the recommendation of my dear aunt Lola, my father’s elder sister. I was there til the state closed it down. I remember Fay and Robert Cameron who had ‘adopted’ Shari aka Ms Shari who was the PE instructor. I remember the twins (Vicki & Veronica) who were hall monitors/pets of bro Cameron. I was there when a tall 16-17 yr old girl with long dark curly hair and brown eyes by the name of Angie had become bro Cameron’s pet then suddenly ended up in lockup/solitaire at the end of the upstairs hall where they slid her food tray under the door.......I think I remember some rumors that she either got into a fight or something had transpired between she and bro Cameron and Granny ‘Fay’ Cameron found out. I sang alto in the choir for awhile, excelled in my PACE academics, etc BUT I remember being very scared, hungry and lonely there in spite of my abiding by the rules. There was just too much secrecy and ‘odd’ happenings so I was very grateful when Texas closed it down. Does anyone remember Barb from Kankakee, Illinois or Pam from Las Cruces, NM?
ReplyDeleteOmg! I remember you Lucretia. My maiden name was Angie Shroyer. Not the tall, dark haired angie. I was there when you were. In fact, you used to pluck my eyebrows for me, because I sucked at it. No kidding! Lol! Angie Knott, Kathy Tycer, Connie Kline, Leslie Kinney, April Richardson, Kathy Green,aka Shickon, are just a few of the girls that I remember. 3 of those girls became my good friends. I can still see everything so clearly.The actual Rebecca Home, the cafeteria where we ate our meals, the school, even the fenced in cement area that we let out on. I would like to just go back and walk the halls of the home and the grounds. The thing is, I don't know why. About 2 years ago, all of a sudden I just started thinking about it, and the place started to be in my dreams, for whatever the reason. I did get licks once for singing a Peter Frampton song.Seriously! I remember Sharon Gupton, aka Guppy, Renee Lalli, Renee Richardson, Crystal Fletcher, and yes, the twins Vickie and Veronica. People used to call me Little Shickon, but Leslie Kinney called me Little Chink. Why, I have no idea. She was so funny! Sometimes it just doesn't seem real. And I couldn't stand Mr. and Mrs. Cameron!
DeleteHi Lucretia,
DeleteI remember your name, and Vicky and Veronica, Kathy Green, and some of the other names... we're you thinking of Pamela Happ? Kinda short and blonde? My first night there my roomies were Lana Tipton and Renee Richardson... my best friend was Reggie Brown...I was at Rebekah in 79 and one of the 33 girls whose parents didn't bring her home when the state was threatening to close Rebekah down and send the remaining girls to TYC. We were all put on a bus and went from Texas to Bethesda, where girls were treated inhumanely, and they were pregnant... that place felt worse than Rebekah, then we ended up in Culloden Georgia at one of the campgrounds for another couple of Roloffs "rescue" homes. Anyhow, long story, as it was for all of us. My name is still Angie Gesualdo (although I go by Angela now). I remember Miss Shari too, and the Wagners... never forget how tall Mr. Wagner was. I was pretty quiet and did not stand out in any crowd so most probably wouldn't remember me. Anyhow, I do not have many good things to remember from there, in fact, some pretty bad memories. I am happy to say that much later in life, I finally discovered God was loving, and not someone just trying to punish us all the time. Anyhow, it was good to see a familiar name on here. For whatever reason I started thinking about that journey from Texas to Georgia and I searched Google to find pics and found this conversation. I hope you are doing well.
Barb from kankakee il..how are you doing?contact me if you want
DeleteMy name is Pam. I was there in 85 to 86 when it was in Belton, Missouri. That place messed me up for years! Made me run from God for over 25 years. Finally living a normal life.
ReplyDeleteI went to The Park Avenue elementary school and then to The Rebekah Christian school from late 79-'82. I remember some of the experiences from there. From whippings to laps for not only the Rebekah Girls, but also for the elementary school kids as well. You could see the look of sadness in those girls eyes when they went upstairs into the building behind the Rebekah home. We were downstairs. I do a Podcast on youtube called The Hammer Podcast where I interview kids from troubled teen homes, and some Rebekah, Bethesda girls came on, they said that it's really therapeutic for them to finally tell their story. https://www.youtube.com/c/thehammerpodcast
ReplyDeleteAnyone remember my first wife Barb Moyer 72/73. She told us many horror stories. One day she was gone. Parents handcuffed her and took her to Rebekah. There a year.
ReplyDeleteWe had no idea what happened to her until she returned a year later. She was a different person for sure. That place must've been a hell.