SUNDAY MEMORIES
Judy Wills
In my post of January 8, 2023, I mentioned my time in Dallas, Texas, my birthplace. In talking about the First Baptist Church of Dallas,
First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas – credit Fred Wills
I also mentioned Ms. Bertha Mills, the nursery worker who would take me on her lap and read a story. I have vague memories of that. My brother Bill says he really doesn’t remember that at all.
She wrote down some of her stories and published them in book form. It was published by The Story Book Press out of Dallas, Texas, and copyrighted in 1948. I have a copy of that book on hand.
Photocopy – front of the book
She had a way of telling a Bible story that children of all ages could relate to and enjoy and remember. She had a heart for children and to see them become believers in the loving Lord that she followed. God used her in mighty ways.
For instance, on the front flyleaf of the book, someone wrote:
The author of these stories has been connected with The First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas for many years, long enough for a generation of children to grow to young manhood and womanhood and bring their own little ones to the church. Many of them testify that the foundation for their faith was laid by these stories [from this book] and others, thereby proving the power of the story and especially the Bible story, to shape character. The stories were written during the early years of the author’s ministry. It has been proven through the years that adults enjoy them equally as much as do the children, so no attempt has been made to classify them as to age appeal. Several of them have been recorded by Miss Mills and are available.
I have also copied the front page that Miss Bertha wrote to myself and my brother Bill (he was called Billy back in those days).
The Bible Story Book was printed and copyrighted in 1948 by The Story Book Press. Miss Bertha had titles for her stories that included: Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah and the Ark, Jacob’s Dream, Ruth and Naomi, David and Goliath, The Story of Jonah, Daniel in the Lion’s Den, The Boy King – Joash, The Childhood of Jesus, (many stories of Jesus’ ministry), Jesus Dying and Living Again, The Prodigal Son, The Story of the Good Samaritan, The First Missionary Pal and Barnabas, The Christmas Story…and others.
Miss Bertha was a prolific writer. These stories were extremely well-written and entertaining – with the story of Jesus throughout. She loved her Lord.
Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .
Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.
After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.
Old Things R New 
I loved that post!
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